Competes with: Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma
Looks like: The new Colorado with a different grille and badging
Powertrains: Rear- or four-wheel drive; turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine producing 310 horsepower and 430 pounds-feet; eight-speed automatic
Following in the footsteps of its Chevrolet Colorado cousin, the GMC Canyon is also redesigned for the 2023 model year. Like the Colorado, the Canyon has a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an increased off-road focus, but GMC is taking things a step further than Chevrolet.
Related: 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Comes in 3 Off-Road Flavors
GMC says all 2023 Canyons will come with a standard lift from the factory — which doesn’t really make it a “lift” as much as a “standard ride height” — and an “ultrawide” track for added stability. All Canyons will also be powered by a high-output, turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine good for 310 horsepower and 430 pounds-feet of torque (that matches the performance of the 2.7 in the Colorado’s ZR2 trim; other Colorados have lower-output 2.7-liter powerplants). Like the Colorado, the 2023 Canyon will also only come in a single body style: crew cab with a short bed.
The Canyon will be available in four trims: Elevation, Denali, AT4 and the new AT4X, which joins the Sierra 1500 AT4X as the most hardcore factory off-roaders in the GMC lineup. The AT4X will share many of the same upgrades as the Colorado ZR2.
Like the Colorado, the Canyon is bigger, wider, taller and beefier-looking than its predecessor, better resembling its Sierra 1500 big brother. The new Canyon also lacks the prior generation’s front air dam; that should be good for off-roading but may have an adverse impact on fuel economy. All Canyon models come standard with large off-road tires, with the Elevation, AT4 and Denali trims getting 32-inch tires and the AT4X getting 33-inch mud-terrain tires.
Other updates include standard LED lighting, trimmed body corners (again for improved off-roading capabilities), extra skid plating on the AT4X, and, like the Colorado, a standard storage compartment integrated into the tailgate.
The AT4X will also be available in an Edition 1 Package that adds aesthetic and functional enhancements like unique badging, an “enhanced” front skid plate, a bed-rail system, a winch, a unique front bumper with a safari bar, and a 30-inch grille light bar.
GMC says that at least the AT4X (and likely all trims) will have an 11.3-inch touchscreen display with a Google-based operating system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Elevation and AT4 models will have an 8-inch digital gauge cluster, while the Denali and AT4X models will have an 11-inch digital cluster.
GMC says the interior design of each Canyon trim will be unique, highlighting features like leather upholstery and laser-etched wood trim in the luxurious Denali trim and the AT4X-exclusive Obsidian Rush interior color with Ceramic White accents.
Optional features include a 6.3-inch head-up display and a premium seven-speaker Bose stereo for the AT4 (standard on Denali and AT4X).
Powering every Canyon will be a high-output version of GM’s turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 310 hp and 430 pounds-feet of torque. Like the updated Colorado, this engine will be paired with an eight-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the Elevation, while four-wheel drive is standard on all other trims.
Front and rear electronic locking differentials are available but come standard on the hardcore AT4X. Drive modes include Normal, Off-Road, Tow/Haul and Terrain; the AT4X adds a high-speed Baja mode.
GMC says the suspension is lifted around 2 inches over the previous model on the Elevation, AT4 and Denali trims. Ground clearance is 9.6 inches standard or up to 10.7 inches on the AT4X. The lesser models get an off-road suspension, while the AT4X uses Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve shocks as in the Colorado ZR2.
Maximum towing capacity ranges from 5,500 to 7,700 pounds, while payload capacity varies from a low of 1,010 pounds in the AT4X Edition 1 to 1,640 in the RWD Elevation.
Standard safety tech includes forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, and automatic high beams. Blind spot warning with steering assist and rear cross-traffic alert are available in the Safety Plus Package; rear pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system are part of the Technology Package.
For off-roading safety, waterproof front- and rear-facing underbody cameras with washers are available to provide a better view of obstacles.
Production of the Canyon begins with the AT4X in spring 2023. GMC says the 2023 Canyon will start at around $40,000, while the AT4X Edition 1 will cost $63,350 (not including destination).
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By Fred Meier and Brian Normile