2025 GMC Canyon review

The Canyon will appeal to truck shoppers who prefer something smaller than a bulkier full-size pickup yet still need a vehicle ready for heavy lifting and rock-crawling adventures right out of the box. Unlike a number of competing midsize pickups, the Canyon does not offer a basic workhorse trim that’s big on value but short on frills. It’s available in four trims–Elevation, AT4, Denali, and AT4X–and even the base version is equipped with an 11.3-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, four-wheel drive, 18-inch wheels, and an off-road suspension. 

Rather than the variety of configurations typically found in this category, GMC provides the Canyon in a single body style, consisting of a five-seat crew cab and a five-foot cargo bed. There is also only one engine: a turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The lack of variety might deter some buyers, yet there’s no doubting the Canyon provides excellent payload and towing capabilities. The AT4 models are clearly geared toward truck shoppers intending to go off-road (or at least look the part). As the range-topping model, the AT4X is outfitted with a further beefed-up suspension featuring a three-inch lift, plus electronic front and rear locking differentials.

The second-generation GMC Canyon was engineered to offer a more premium cabin and refined driving dynamics than what’s considered the norm for midsize pickup trucks. To its credit, when properly equipped, the Canyon could haul and tow as much (if not more) than many of its direct competitors. After a two-year hiatus between generations, the Canyon arrived for the 2015 model year with a choice of two engines, two cabin sizes, and the option of either a manual or an automatic transmission. A turbodiesel engine was added for the 2016 model year.

By 2022, the Canyon still had the stump-pulling diesel or a potent V6. Despite not being the newest kid on the block, it offered a comfortable ride and well-mannered steering. True, the cabin was starting to show its age, though the control layout remained user-friendly and the infotainment system was easy to use and came standard with wired Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.