2026 GMC Canyon vs 2025 Nissan Frontier

Equipped with a V6 engine, body-on-frame construction, and competitive towing and payload ratings, the 2025 Frontier gets several improvements that should help it to better compete with newer rivals. All Canadian Frontiers come with more standard safety features and a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Towing capacity is up, more versions offer a long cargo bed option, and Nissan refines the look and feel of its only pickup.

Verdict: Those changes make the 2025 Nissan Frontier more appealing. Not only that, but compared to some alternative models, the Frontier offers more comfortable front seats and a higher sense of quality. A V6 engine such as Nissan’s is increasingly rare, too. But what the Frontier needs is a more compelling value equation.

Don’t expect variety in the 2026 Canyon. There are four trim levels, but this midsize truck is available only in a crew-cab, short-bed configuration, equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive (4WD) is standard in Canada. For the 2026 model year, a new Coastal Dune paint colour debuts, the Canyon AT4 is available with a Nightfall Essential Package, and you can add a lift kit to the AT4X.

Verdict: The GMC Canyon isn’t a bargain, but it’s an undeniably appealing truck. Good looks, a stout powertrain, user-friendly tech, and terrific off-roading capability are the selling points. The Canyon’s fuel economy, value, and safety ratings need improvement. Nevertheless, it's a likeable pickup truck.