2022 GMC Canyon Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The current-generation GMC Canyon, which arrived for the 2015 model year, has a premium look and feel compared to most of its rivals. This is especially true of the luxury-oriented Denali trim, which features a unique chrome grille, 20-inch diamond-cut machined alloy wheels, chrome assist steps, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, heated and ventilated perforated front leather seats, open-pore Ash wood trim, sill plates and floor mats embossed with the "Denali" logo, and a Bose premium audio system.

Even the more rugged AT4 off-road version comes with premium features like a black chrome grille and surround, LED signature lighting, unique 17-inch wheels, soft-touch instrument panel, premium heated leather front seats with Kalahari accents and "AT4" embroidered on the headrests, and available Bose audio. While the look and feel of the AT4 is decidedly "off-road," the cabin is an inviting, luxurious place to be, and the various off-road bits on the outside give the truck a bold, capable look.

Of course, things normalize as you continue to descend the trim level ladder to the Elevation and base Elevation Standard trims. There, you'll find typical GM switchgear and materials. Still, on the whole, the Canyon's material quality—both inside and out—is above expectations for the class.

One of the main knocks against midsize pickups is that they don't offer the gaudy horsepower, torque, towing, and hauling specs that their full-size counterparts do. While it is true that even the most capable midsize truck can't match the performance of the least-capable full-size truck, today's midsize trucks are still quite competent. The GMC Canyon exemplifies that, offering three powertrains that really cover the bases.

Buyers can choose from a 200-horsepower 2.5-litre four-cylinder, a 308-hp 3.6-litre V6, and a 181-hp 2.8-litre Duramax turbodiesel four-cylinder engine with a stout 369 lb-ft of torque. The latter two engines have a maximum tow rating of 3,175 kilograms (7,000 pounds) when the truck is equipped with the available Trailering package. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard; a four-wheel drive (4WD) drivetrain is available on all trims. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard with the base four-cylinder and the diesel engine, while the V6 engine works with an 8-speed automatic. While not "heavy duty" by any stretch, the Canyon offers plenty of capability for most buyers.

While one can best describe the performance of the base four-cylinder engine as adequate but uninspiring, our test vehicle—a 2022 GMC Canyon AT4 4WD—came with the V6/eight-speed automatic combination. Power from the V6 is abundant, even while hauling the extra weight of the AT4's various off-road bits, and the eight-speed automatic transmission shifts effortlessly and at just the right points. We've also sampled the 2.8-litre turbodiesel during previous drives of the Canyon (and its Chevy Colorado twin) and can attest to its robust capabilities, both regarding towing and fuel efficiency.

In terms of ride and handling, the AT4's 31-inch Wrangler Duratrac off-road all-terrain tires were a bit noisy at highway speeds but didn't noticeably compromise on-road grip. While the big off-road tires resulted in a slightly higher ride height, the corresponding wider stance provided stable handling, even at speed. Overall, the Canyon felt solid and steady both on and off the pavement.

If you do decide to take the Canyon off-roading, rest assured the AT4 is up to the task. Standard AT4 off-road equipment includes the aforementioned Duratrac tires, an Autotrac two-speed electronic transfer case, special off-road suspension, auto-locking rear differential, transfer case shield, and hill-descent control. Our test vehicle also had the optional front and mid skid plates, off-road rocker protection, 17-inch gloss black aluminum wheels, all-weather floor liner, spray-on bedliner, and black AT4 badges.

Admittedly, the GMC Canyon may not be known for its off-roading prowess, but the AT4 with these options is now a worthy rival to the Jeep Gladiator.

The Canyon is available with an extended cab and 6'2" (188 cm) bed, or a crew cab with either a 5'2" (157.5 cm) or 6'2" bed. The cabin feels quite spacious in crew cab form, even for rear-seat passengers. There's plenty of room for six-footers in the back. However, the back seat of the extended cab model isn't quite as commodious. If you plan to carry more than one extra adult, splurge for the crew cab. One nice feature is the rear folding bench seat that allows for storing items underneath it.

Getting into and out of the Canyon is easy thanks to the vehicle's crossover SUV-like seat height. With full-size pickups, you must climb up and in to take your seat. Not so with the midsize Canyon, in which you simply slide in and out. Once seated, the chairs in the Canyon are comfortable and supportive, our test vehicle offering power driver and front passenger seats (including lumbar), as well as heat for the front seats. An available heated steering wheel and sliding rear window were also appreciated, as was the optional wireless device charging pad.

Owing to the AT4's taller ride height, visibility was excellent. The rearview camera and rear park assist make backing the somewhat longish Canyon stress-free. The cargo bed with two-tier loading and 13 tie-down points makes carrying and securing your gear a breeze. Also, the integrated corner step rear bumper makes accessing items in the pickup bed easy.

The GMC Canyon isn't what you'd consider laden with the latest in-vehicle technologies. Still, the Elevation Standard trim covers the basics with a standard 7-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system. Step up to the Elevation trim for a larger 8-inch touchscreen that includes Bluetooth streaming audio for music with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The AT4 adds the aforementioned optional wireless smartphone charging pad, while the top Denali trim adds navigation, a high-definition rearview camera, and several driver-assist features (discussed below).

Every new Canyon comes with a free trial of SiriusXM satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, and OnStar telematics.

Our AT4 was equipped with the optional GMC infotainment system with navigation, which included the 8-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in-vehicle apps, and the Bose premium audio system. Like most GM infotainment systems, pairing a smartphone and using Apple CarPlay in our test Canyon was straightforward and drama-free. The Bose sound system didn't disappoint, either.

As one might expect, the list of standard and available safety features on the 2022 GMC Canyon is thin at the bottom but expands as you climb the trim level (and price) ladder. The base Canyon Elevation Standard doesn't come with any advanced driver aids but does have some valuable features, including tire-fill alert and the Teen Driver system, which helps parents monitor their teen's driving habits, set audio system volume and vehicle speed limits, and includes Buckle-to-Drive. This feature prevents the driver from shifting from Park for up to 20 seconds if they don't fasten their seat belt.

Available on the Elevation and AT4 and standard on the Canyon Denali is the Driver Alert package, which comes with forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, and rear parking assistance. Note, however, that rear park assist is only available on models equipped with leather seats. Conspicuous by their absence are features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane-keeping or lane-centring assistance technology, none of which are available on the Canyon. GMC will need to make these features available soon—even if it's just on the Denali—to keep the Canyon competitive.

The 2022 GMC Canyon earned four out of five stars for overall crash protection in tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It received four stars for frontal crash protection, five stars for side protection, and three stars for rollover resistance.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2022 Canyon earned the highest-possible "Good" ratings in all of the organization's crash tests save one. In the front passenger-side small overlap test, the truck received a "Poor" rating in the Structure and Safety Cage category. In terms of crash avoidance and mitigation, the Canyon received the lowest "Poor" rating for its headlights, as well as the lowest "Basic" rating for its vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. Additionally, the Canyon received a "Marginal" rating for its LATCH child-seat anchors.

Pricing for the 2022 GMC Canyon starts at $31,828 (not including a $1,950 destination charge) for the Elevation Standard. The Elevation starts at $36,528, the AT4 has a base MSRP of $42,248, and the top Denali trim starts at $49,448. The 2022 Canyon's base price is about $3,600 more than the related Chevy Colorado and about $3,600 less than the 2022 Ford Ranger.

For further comparison, base prices for the Toyota Tacoma and redesigned 2022 Nissan Frontier are $40,350 and $39,998, respectively. The Canyon's base price looks even more appealing if you expand the competitive set to include the Jeep Gladiator ($49,315) and Honda Ridgeline ($45,535). However, the Gladiator offers more standard capability, and the Ridgeline comes standard with a crew cab, all-wheel drive (AWD), and a V6.

Our test vehicle was a U.S.-spec 2022 GMC Canyon AT4 4WD in Cayenne Red Tintcoat, a combination not offered in Canada. With an optional exterior paint colour, Jet Black leather seats and Kalahari interior accents, the Power Package ($2,585), Exterior Convenience Package ($1,145), Performance Skid Plate Package ($590), GMC Infotainment System with Navigation package ($1,480), Driver Alert package ($415), wireless device charging ($75), and a 3.42 rear axle (no charge), the rough equivalent in Canada would cost $50,648 with destination fees.

According to Natural Resources Canada, the 2022 GMC Canyon with the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine returns combined city/highway fuel consumption of 10.9 litres per 100 kilometres combined (11.4 L/100 km combined with 4WD). The turbodiesel engine coupled with RWD achieves 10.1 L/100 km combined (10.5 L/100 km with 4WD), while the V6 with RWD gets 11.3 L/100 km combined (12.1 L/100 km with 4WD). During our week of testing, we averaged an indicated 13.6 L/100 km in mostly city driving. With a fuel tank capacity of 79 litres, our maximum travel range would be approximately 580 kilometres, though your results may vary.

The Canyon's three-year/60,000-kilometre limited bumper-to-bumper warranty and five-year/100,000-kilometre powertrain coverage are nothing special. Still, as good as the Canyon is, at about $50,000 with sales tax and all of the various fees factored in, that's a steep price to pay for this mid-size pickup truck.

Note: Images show a US model.