2021 GMC Canyon vs 2022 GMC Sierra 1500

The 2021 GMC Canyon, a second-generation model, had been on the market since 2015, following a two-year hiatus. This break was likely beneficial, given the first generation's lacklustre performance. The Canyon received its first refresh after six years, featuring an enlarged grille and revised front bumper, aligning its aesthetics more closely with the full-size GMC Sierra. Despite these updates, the Canyon largely retained its original design, which was less of an issue in the midsize pickup market, where competitors like the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma also had older designs. The interior of the Canyon prioritized functionality with a sensible control layout, though it featured hard plastics and average fit-and-finish. The trims available included Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4, and Denali, each offering varying levels of features and luxury.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced new Denali Ultimate and AT4X variants, expanding its lineup to eight trims. The Sierra appeared larger and more aggressive, thanks to an updated grille, front fascia, and headlight design. The Denali's grille adopted a "tri-linear" theme, while the Denali Ultimate featured dark-coloured "Vader bars." The Sierra's interior saw significant changes, with a redesigned dash and new materials, enhancing the cabin's spacious feel. The AT4X trim, designed for off-road driving, offered a luxurious interior with premium leather and wood trim, while the Denali Ultimate featured full-grain leather and open-pore wood. The Sierra's exterior design remained largely unchanged, but it offered a CarbonPro cargo bed and MultiPro tailgate, along with new paint options.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Elevation, AT4, and Denali trims featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine with 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 2.8-litre Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel engine was also available, delivering 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Canyon's base engine struggled with performance, making the V6 a more appealing option, though it required aggressive throttle input for lively performance. The Duramax engine offered strong torque but was limited by its six-speed transmission. The Canyon AT4, equipped with the V6 and 4WD, excelled off-road with features like an automatic locking rear differential and hill-descent control. The Canyon's towing capacity reached 3,493 kilograms (7,700 pounds) with the turbodiesel engine, and it had a maximum payload capacity of 734 kg (1,619 pounds).

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered four engine options, including a 2.7L turbo four-cylinder with 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-litre Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine's towing capacity increased significantly, with certain 2WD models rated up to 5,987 kilograms (13,200 pounds). Other engine options included a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, and a 6.2L Ecotec3 V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Sierra's ride was smooth and comfortable, with the Denali Ultimate offering a quiet and compliant experience. The AT4X trim impressed with its off-road capabilities, featuring Multimatic DSSV dampers, e-locking differentials, and a high ground clearance. The Sierra's off-road test showcased its capabilities, though the terrain was not overly challenging.

The 2021 GMC Canyon was available in Extended Cab and Crew Cab variants. The Extended Cab featured rear-hinged half-doors and small jump seats, suitable for children or small items. The Crew Cab offered more usable rear-seat space with four full doors. The Canyon's driving position was commanding, but seat adjustment was awkward. Storage space included a centre console, small door trays, and cupholders. The Canyon offered two bed sizes: a short bed measuring 1,567 mm (5-foot-2) and a long bed at 1,880 mm (6-foot-2). The Extended Cab came with a long box, while the Crew Cab offered both options. The Canyon featured GM's CornerStep rear bumper for easy bed access and an EZ lift-and-lower tailgate with remote power locking.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 boasted impressive roominess and utility, with best-in-class cargo capacity even in its short bed. Front headroom measured 1,093 mm (about 43 inches), while rear-seat headroom averaged just over 1 metre (about 40 inches). Front legroom was 1,131 mm (44.5 inches), with double-cab rear-seat passengers enjoying 894 mm (35.2 inches) of legroom and crew cab occupants having 1,102 mm (43.4 inches). The Sierra's interior offered ample storage, though the gloveboxes were small. Ergonomics were somewhat perplexing, with low-positioned screens and numerous knobs and buttons. The AT4X trim featured off-road controls in two locations, adding to the complexity.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system had crisp graphics and an easy-to-use menu layout, with hard buttons and dials for convenience. An optional 8-inch screen with navigation was available on the Elevation and AT4 trims, and standard on the Denali, which also included HD radio and a wireless charging pad. The Denali trim featured a 4.2-inch colour driver display for easy access to vehicle settings and information.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered larger display screens, with a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen on most trims. The infotainment system included Google built-in, Bluetooth, OnStar, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The Denali models featured an interactive start-up screen with topographical maps. The infotainment screen was fast and responsive, though distinguishing between in-car and smartphone maps could be confusing. The larger touchscreen allowed for personalization and dual modes, with options like a 15-inch head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system available on higher trims.

The 2021 GMC Canyon's standard safety features included a rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring system, front-and-side-impact airbags, traction control, and the Teen Driver system. The Driver Alert package, standard on the Denali and optional on other trims, added forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, and rear parking alert. The Denali also featured an upgraded HD backup camera and Hitch Guidance for towing.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced GM's Super Cruise, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system, as a standard feature on the Denali Ultimate. Super Cruise offered hands-free driving with automatic lane changes and trailering capability. The Sierra featured up to 14 camera views, including a bed view camera, and a GCW Alert for overload detection. GMC Pro Safety, the automaker's suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, included forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, and more. The Sierra received mostly "Good" crash safety ratings from the IIHS but had a "Marginal" grade in the front-passenger small overlap test and a "Poor" grade for headlights. The NHTSA awarded Sierra 2WD models four out of five stars for crashworthiness.