2024 GMC Canyon

This truck went to the gym as part of its 2023 redesign, as evidenced by the sculpted, ab-like fenders you’ll see down its sides. C-clamp taillights round things out at the rear, but don’t look for the trick stepladder-cum-workspace offered on the bigger Sierra.

The Canyon’s interior features two screens. The 11.0-inch instrument cluster that’s newly standard this year works well with the 11.3-inch touchscreen at the top of the center stack. Base Elevation trucks don’t impress for trim, but laser-etched wood, quilted touches, and soft leather dress up the Denali considerably. AT4 and AT4X models come in right in the center, with largely price-appropriate trim throughout. GMC is a bit light on available interior hues, though, and the standard black headliner gives this cabin a somewhat cramped feel. 

Even the Elevation will be fine for light-duty off-roading thanks to nearly 10 inches of ground clearance. AT4 models add a limited-slip rear differential and revised bumpers that improve approach and departure angles. 

The top AT4X version has a 3.0-inch lift that squeezes more than an inch of additional running ground clearance due to its standard skid plates. Revised front and rear bumpers deliver even better approach and departure angles. Front and rear locking differentials, soft Multimatic internal-bypass shocks, and 33-inch tires deliver even more capability. The AT4X also upgrades other versions’ Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, and Terrain drive modes with a Baja mode. 

There’s a downside to the AT4X, though: its payload slides by about 400 pounds to 1,250 pounds, and its tow rating slips from other versions’ 7,700-pound rating to just 6,000 pounds. 

This year’s new AEV version ups the ante with an additional 1.5-inch lift, beefier bumpers, skid plates, and wheels—for a hefty cost, no doubt. 

How fast is the GMC Canyon?

It’s plenty quick. GMC offers just a single tune for the standard 2.7-liter turbo-4, unlike the related Chevy Colorado. Here, the engine is rated at 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. This Sierra 1500-sourced engine works well here, providing punchy response from the get-go. It’s a refined operator, too, with limited in-cabin snarling. The standard 8-speed automatic works well, but we wish it had a manual gear control mode for descending hills when left in Drive. Manual control only works when the transmission is put in Low mode. 

Quick-responding steering provides good highway stability and a relatively nimble feel around town. Limited body lean even in the most off-road-oriented versions makes the Canyon a joy to drive, at least by midsize truck standards. With MacPherson front struts and leaf springs at the rear, the Canyon rides better with a load in the back than it does unladen. It’s comfy enough for daily-driver use, especially in Elevation and AT4 versions that aren’t as floaty as their high-riding siblings. 

Rear-seat riders will find big doors but just 34.7 inches of legroom, which trails many small crossovers. The bench itself is upright and the high roof offers decent head room, particularly without the optional sunroof. 

Interior trim is drab in the base Elevation, but it gets nicer in AT4 guise thanks to soft-stitch panels on the dash and optional leather. AT4X versions have red-and-white leather, which seems like an unusual choice for an off-road vehicle. The Denali mixes luxury-grade wood and leather with the same hard plastic trim found in other versions. It’s ritzy, if a little rough around the edges. 

That point is erased by the NHTSA’s four-star rating, which applies to both rear- and four-wheel-drive versions. 

A base Elevation with rear-wheel drive costs $37,595. It’s outfitted with an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, a well-designed 11.3-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, Google Built-In with navigation maps, cloth seats, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Four-wheel drive ups the ante by $3,300, and any hue other than white is $400. (Note that Chevy doesn’t charge as much for the same paint.) 

Which GMC Canyon should I buy?

If you’re going to add anything to the base Elevation with four-wheel drive, you might want to step up to the $44,595 AT4. It adds a 2-speed transfer case, 18-inch alloy wheels, a power-adjustable driver seat, automatic climate control, and a tilt/telescoping steering column. It’s also the gateway to leather seats, Bose audio, and a wireless charging pad. 

Go light on options and you can keep an AT4 to $50,000 or so, while still enjoying adaptive cruise control and leather trim. 

How much is a fully loaded GMC Canyon?

The Canyon Denali runs $52,595 to start with leather seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, and cooled front seats, and Bose audio. For a few grand more, the $55,895 AT4X goes in a decidedly different direction with its factory lift kit, widened stance, and locking front/rear differentials. 

It’s not hard to take a Canyon north of $60,000 with options, though. And the new AEV package will likely set a new price record for this midsize truck. 

The AT4X is even worse at just 17/20/18 mpg, and the new AEV might be even lower.