Review: The 2023 GMC Canyon Is The New King Of The Hill

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GMC introduced the all-new Canyon nearly a year ago and since then we’ve been eager to get behind the wheel. Last weekend, the automaker invited us out to North Carolina where we had the chance to drive every trim level including the off-road-focused AT4X. We took it all over Asheville on pavement, and gravel, and then deep into the woods where few vehicles can go.

What we learned is that this new mid-size pickup features enough content and capability that we can see a future where buyers happily pick it over the larger Sierra. Here’s a breakdown of everything we liked, all of the stuff we didn’t, and why we think the Canyon is the new king of the mid-size truck mountain. 

The 2023 GMC Canyon starts at $38,095 but can get a lot more expensive very quickly. The top-of-the-line AT4X trim level starts at $56,995 before destination. All trims aside from the base Elevation trim come standard with 4WD. Regardless of price, all Canyons come with the same eight-speed automatic transmission and a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 310 hp (231 kW) and 430 lb-ft (582 Nm) of torque. 

That’s tied for the most power in the segment with the 2023 Nissan Frontier and it leads the class in terms of torque by at least 120 lb-ft (162 Nm). It can also tow up to 7,700 pounds (3,492 kg) which is also class-leading even if only just above the Jeep Gladiator’s 7,650-pound (3,469 kg) towing capacity. Here’s a deeper dive into each trim level and what’s on offer. 

A Design That Plants Its Own Flag

Photos Stephen Rivers/Carscoops

GMC stressed that it didn’t simply want to create a smaller version of the Sierra with the way it styled the Canyon. We’d say it achieved that goal quite clearly. It’s done so by using front grille design elements to point at the GMC badge while the LED daytime running lights nod to the wide-set grille from the Sierra. Unlike the Sierra with its high-set headlights, the Canyon features low-set headlights with high-set turn signals.

Each one features angular wheel wells but the Canyon gets sharper body lines with harder creases. Designers put some effort to add those angles despite the engineering, packaging, and regulatory challenges surrounding them. 

More: GMC Teases New Extreme Canyon AT4X AEV Edition Behind Cloak

There are great little details baked into the design too. A stylized landscape sits atop the tailgate with nods to Moab, UT, and Ouray, CO. There’s a ruler engraved back there too and a small storage box is incorporated as well. The Canyon now stands out not just from the rest of the mid-size truck segment but from the Sierra and Sierra HD as well as its corporate cousin the Chevrolet Colorado quite nicely too now. 

Hits And Misses In The Canyon

Photos Stephen Rivers/Carscoops

For the most part, things continue on that positive upward trend in the cabin where soft-touch materials are flanked by attractive design elements. A new 11.3-inch infotainment screen is standard across the lineup and looks fantastic. It also features physical buttons for climate control, parking sensors, driver safety aids, and more. Every Canyon gets a fully-digital gauge cluster too. Lower trim levels make do with an 8-inch unit while upper trim levels get an 11-inch screen. A heads-up display is also standard on the AT4X and the Denali. 

On the other side of the coin, the little details are a letdown for us. Sure, we like the camo-esque wireless charging pad and some of the exposed stitching but those features only go so far. A lot of the interior features very obviously cheap plastic and it’s not really hidden from view. On top of that, many of the surfaces already showed wear and tear despite their newness. 

The switchgear, for example, the window switches, continue to be very underwhelming on a vehicle that can cost north of $55,000. That’s even more frustrating after the Chevy Trax, the other car we drove on this trip, really impressed us on that level despite being the entry-level model for its brand. 

Fuel Economy

Back in August of last year, GMC unveiled just about everything associated with the Canyon but curiously left out fuel efficiency figures. It stands to reason that it might have done that because the all-new Canyon gets worse fuel economy than the one it replaces. At best, it gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg combined. To achieve that, you’ll need the base trim level and rear-wheel drive.

Adding 4WD drops that figure to 19 and going with the AT4X and its mud-terrain tires sees fuel economy fall to 18. That final figure is lower than any stock 2022 GMC Canyon regardless of trim, engine, or tire choice. Over the course of our testing, we got less than 13 mpg combined, albeit with a lot of off-roading mixed in.

Good On Road But Better Off Road

Photos Stephen Rivers/Carscoops

Unlike most vehicles that we test, the GMC Canyon offers two very different driving experiences. First, it’s surprisingly easy to drive on the road. The Sierra, for example, is a bit of a gigantic brute. The Canyon feels appropriately sized for the road and for the trail. The Multimatic dampers do a great job of smoothing out the bumps. Visibility is good too and we really like how adjustable the seats and the steering wheel are. 

Push on the stop pedal and there’s a bit more travel and sponginess than we’d like but once past the 50 percent input mark it firms up and delivers good performance. It’s easy to see the Canyon being used as an everyday commuter too as it’s quiet, even with the available 33-inch mud-terrain tires. 

When the road runs out, the Canyon, especially the AT4X trim, can continue on with very little fanfare or concern about what lies ahead. When GM brought us out to the desert last year to drive the Sierra AT4X, the trail it picked, Diablo Drop Off, ended up not being all that tough. The one they picked for the Canyon AT4X, Rich Mountain Road, would’ve almost undoubtedly stranded the Sierra. On the other hand, the Canyon had exactly zero issues getting up and down the trail without a single snafu or slowdown among a group of 10 or so pickups.

That included a number of technical sections, tight turns, and undulating earth with mud, standing water, and rocks beneath. The trail was so tight that it seems as though just about every Canyon AT4X likely came away with new pinstriping, courtesy of the branches beside the trail, on the paintwork that’ll need correction after the fact. Having a wide array of drive modes and some awesome off-road tech made what would’ve been a challenging trail for most SUVs or trucks a literal drive in the park. 

For one thing, the AT4X comes with a number of somewhat oddly named terrain modes including Normal, Off-Road, Tow/Haul, Terrain, and Baja. Each one adjusts various features to improve grip and traction. For example, Terrain mode introduces brake drag to enhance stability off-road. We used each mode on our trip up through Rich Hill Mountain Road along with the electronically locking front and rear differentials. What made things even easier though were all of the cameras. 

The AT4X has no less than 10 different camera angles that one can use to see exactly how to attack the trail. That includes an overhead view and two underbody cameras complete with their own washing system for when things get dirty out there. Each camera adds another layer of confidence while exploring the great outdoors. The skid plates, locking differentials, and 33-inch tires all make the AT4X feel like overkill even when the trail itself is technical and too tough for most SUVs and trucks. 

Climbing Higher Than The Competition

Photos Stephen Rivers/Carscoops

GMC very clearly compared every other mid-size truck during its development journey. In terms of on-road comfort, none of its rivals really come close. The Jeep Gladiator offers better off-road capability and customizability but on the road, it’s a basket case compared to the Canyon. The Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Ford Ranger offer a lower price but customers focused on price could still cross-shop the Chevy Colorado. GMC Canyon shoppers likely aren’t as strapped for cash so we expect it to remain the top luxury midsize pickup for some time. Who knows though, maybe the all-new Ford Ranger or Toyota Tacoma will leapfrog it. 

Photos Stephen Rivers/Carscoops