2021 GMC Canyon Review

Name: 2021 GMC Canyon Review
Brand: GMC

Price Range: $27,807 - $35,700

GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab Pickup Exterior Shown

GMC Canyon Denali Crew Cab Pickup Exterior

2021 GMC Canyon Elevation Standard Crew Cab Pickup Exterior

+100

The Canyon Denali is a different sort of midsize pickup. It's less focused on off-road adventure (although it's still capable) and more geared toward trailering and on-road comfort. A civilized cabin, punchy V6 engine, smooth eight-speed transmission, and excellent infotainment tech make it a standout in the class.Read full review

See all features & specs

Price & Payment

62 cars

$32,332 avg. price

Min$

Max$

See listings

Appraise This Car

For sale nearby

62 listings

Sort by:

See all for sale

GMC Canyon model years

GMC Canyon for Sale

GMC Canyon types

Crew Cab
Extended Cab

2021 GMC Canyon Review

byKurt Niebuhr^{Senior Vehicle Test Editor
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.}

Pros

Big towing capacity with gas V6 and diesel four-cylinder engines
Maneuverable size, along with well-mannered steering and handling
Comfortable ride over most surfaces

Cons

Front seats can feel small to larger people
Rivals offer more in-cab storage with rear seats folded

What's new

Renamed trim levels
Minor revisions to standard equipment
New grille design for Canyon Denali
Part of the second GMC Canyon generation introduced for 2015

Overview

Mechanically similar to the Chevrolet Colorado, the GMC Canyon has struggled to establish its own identity in the midsize pickup truck segment. For 2021, GMC looks to change that, and it gives the top of the line Denali enhanced cabin materials and a new grille reminiscent of the one on the full-size Sierra 1500 pickup.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 GMC Canyon Elevation Standard 4dr Extended Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.13 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$180/mo

$216/mo

Avg. Compact Truck

Calculate my fuel costs

There's also a new AT4 trim level. It's mostly just a replacement for the previous All Terrain trim level, but it does come with all-terrain tires and a special suspension to improve the truck's off-road capability. Both speak to the truck's versatility, provided you're looking to buy a Canyon in one of its more expensive trims.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.6

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.0/10

How does the Canyon drive? We tested the Denali trim level, which comes with the 3.6-liter V6. It delivers solid thrust and pulls with authority. Our test truck reached 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, which is quick for a midsize truck. It also steers and brakes with commendable precision and composure, and car-like handling is one of the Canyon's strengths.

The Canyon can also mix it up off-road, with decent articulation and a two-speed transfer case standard on 4WD models, but you'll need to remove its unnecessary, low-hanging chin spoiler first.

Comfort

8.0/10

How comfortable is the Canyon? While the Canyon is unmistakably a pickup from the outside, the cabin comfort and features are far from basic pickup fare. The Denali trim's seats offer good comfort on long drives despite the firm backrests and not much lateral support. The rear seats, though, are fairly flat and upright. Adults won't want to stay back there too long.

Fundamentally, the Canyon is refined and road trip-ready, unusual traits for a midsize pickup. It offers good noise isolation and effective climate control. And the ride, while slightly bouncy if there's no cargo in the back, settles down nicely once you drop a few hundred pounds in the bed.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? The Canyon's interior is laid out logically, with simple and effective knob interfaces, plenty of space up front, and a wide range of seating adjustments. This alone sets the Canyon apart from its Tacoma rival, which has a fairly narrow range of comfortable driving positions. The rear seats offer an abundance of headroom, but taller passengers may come up short on legroom.

The tall windows and large windshield give drivers a commanding view of the road ahead, although rear-quarter visibility is limited. The rearview camera helps while backing up. The Canyon's tall seats make getting in and out nearly as much work as entering and exiting a full-size truck. The side step bars help here.

Technology

8.0/10

How’s the tech? The Canyon infotainment system is easy to use and feature-rich. It has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration as standard. The optional Bose system is a nice upgrade, but volume doesn't get as high as we'd like. For device charging, there are two USB ports up front and two in back. GMC's Wi-Fi hotspot setup is also one of the easier systems to use as it offers a 4G LTE connection and can handle up to seven devices.

Forward collision alert and lane departure warning are optional and a bit sensitive, but they work as advertised. Otherwise, we'd like to see the inclusion of blind-spot monitoring on the options list.

Towing and Storage

7.5/10

How are the towing and storage? The Canyon V6's maximum tow rating of 7,700 pounds is among the best you'll find for a midsize pickup. The bed is somewhat basic and lacks some of the extra features (such as additional tie-downs) of its rivals, though you can add a variety of dealer-sourced accessories to spruce it up. The tailgate lip and bed sides are high and can make loading difficult, although handy bumper steps address this issue somewhat.

When it's time to haul things inside instead of people, the backseat-folding design is inferior to the competition. The rear seats flip up, but the floor is marred by obstructions and you can't lay items flat. There are enough storage nooks for small items, but some competitors offer more. Child seats can be accommodated, but the Canyon doesn't make it easy to install them.

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the V6-powered rear-wheel-drive Canyon at 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Our driving experience suggests you'll be able to match these numbers in real-world driving without too much difficulty.

Value

7.0/10

Is the Canyon a good value? The Denali trim, which we tested, makes the Canyon one of the pricier midsize pickups on the market. For all but the most creature-comfort-obsessed buyers, it isn't worth the extra cost over a well-equipped and mechanically identical Chevrolet Colorado. You're buying a little extra cush, a badge and an image, not a more capable Canyon.

But five years (or 60,000 miles) of roadside assistance and a complimentary service visit are useful, while the five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty is typical for the class.

Wildcard

7.0/10

Having fun with trucks generally involves some off-roading, but the Canyon makes a compromise in terms of front ground clearance versus competitors such as the Tacoma or Frontier. The Canyon AT4, with its extra off-road hardware, should give some added ability, but the low front fascia still limits the approach angle. It's removable, but it's a hassle.

On the road, the Canyon is quite competent. It's not quite as refined as the Honda Ridgeline perhaps, but the Canyon is more capable than the Honda in towing, payload and off-road ability. The Canyon tries to mimic the look of GMC's larger Sierra and largely succeeds, but in the trade, it's harder to reach the bed and cabin.

Which Canyon does Edmunds recommend?

We usually wouldn't go for the most luxurious trim level on a pickup truck, but we think the Canyon is best in its newly enhanced Denali trim. We like the long list of standard equipment included for the price as well as the simplicity it brings by allowing you to bypass ordering multiple equipment packages. We like its standard V6 engine too. The optional diesel engine is likable, but we don't think its substantial price is worth the gain in fuel economy.

2021 GMC Canyon models

The 2021 Canyon is offered in extended-cab and crew-cab body styles. The crew cab comes with either a short cargo bed or a long bed. There are four trim levels: the Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4 and Denali. You also have your choice of one of three engines.

The standard engine on the rear-wheel-drive Elevation Standard and Elevation is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (200 horsepower, 191 lb-ft of torque). It's mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Next up is a 3.6-liter V6 (308 hp, 275 lb-ft) with an eight-speed automatic. It's standard on the AT4 and Denali trims levels and optional on the Elevation Standard and Elevation trims.

Finally, there's an optional turbocharged 2.8-liter diesel four-cylinder (181 hp, 369 lb-ft) that's coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. All Canyon trim levels are available with four-wheel drive (standard on the AT4).

Elevation Standard
Starts you off with:

18-inch wheels
Tilt-only steering wheel
7-inch infotainment touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
Four-way adjustable power driver's seat (manual recline)

Elevation
Adds more features with:

Sliding rear window
Leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
Body-colored exterior door handles
LED foglights
Remote-locking tailgate

AT4
Includes added off-road capability with:

Special 17-inch wheels with off-road tires
Hill descent control
Unique off-road suspension
Transfer case shield

Denali
Adds significantly more features such as:

20-inch wheels
8-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation
Six-way power driver's seat and four-way power passenger seat
Wireless charging pad
Leather upholstery
Bose audio system
Special interior and exterior trim
Heated and ventilated front seats
Spray-in bedliner

The Denali also comes standard with:

Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Rear parking sensors

Many of the standard features on the Denali trim level are available on lower trim levels.

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

See pricing history

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Excellent

#3 out of 8 among Midsize Trucks

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the GMC Canyon from 2008-2022.}

$464/yr

vs. $451/yr
for Average Midsize Truck

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.65x/yr

vs. 0.79x/yr
for Average Midsize Truck

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

14%

vs. 13.6%
for Average Midsize Truck

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 GMC Canyon.

5 (41%)

4 (20%)

3 (3%)

2 (13%)

1 (23%)

3.4

39 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 39 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Better than all the rivals

M. Levine, 02/23/2020

2020 GMC Canyon Denali 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

This truck is actually fun to drive. Adequate power from the V6, Nice brakes and steering that actually gives feedback. The interior although a bit dated is nice enough. I previously owned a 2016 Colorado but stepped up to the Canyon. All in all a great truck!

2020 Canyon All-Terrain 4x4

Kovich, 03/06/2020

2020 GMC Canyon All Terrain 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB w/Cloth (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

After intensively researching new midsize trucks, I felt it was clear that the Colorado/Canyon twins were the best options (although I prefer the "truckier" front end of the Canyon). The V6/8 speed combo works fantastically well together in the city and on the highway-- it never feels out of breath, even in steep mountain driving. The Canyon drives and handles much smaller than it is-- …

2021 AT4 GMC Canyon

Bob S., 03/04/2021

2021 GMC Canyon AT4 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.1 ft. SB w/Leather (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

I've got a little over 2K on my 2021 Canyon AT4 Quad cab short bed. There is nothing I don't like about this mid size pickup. Really glad with the redesign body in 2021 vs. prior years. The ride is smooth, seats are firm and comfortable. Enjoy the remote start. Have had to get use to actually putting a key into the ignition again. The tow rating of over 7K fits with our towing needs …

Ready to trade in my 2020 Canyon

C.B., 06/08/2020

2020 GMC Canyon SLT 4dr Crew Cab SB (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

This truck is...disappointing. Mainly due to the glitchy electrical system. Radio issues, cruise control issues, power seat issues, shifting gear issues, and brake issues. And it is only 2 months old!!!

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 GMC Canyon, so we've included reviews for other years of the Canyon since its last redesign.

See all 39 reviews of the GMC Canyon

Write a vehicle review

2021 Canyon Highlights

Type:

Crew Cab

Trim:

Elevation Standard

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$28,700
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$180/month
Seating	5 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	7,000 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Canyon models:

OnStar System: Provides emergency crash notification, stolen-vehicle notification, and remote locking and unlocking.
Driver Alert Package: Includes forward collision and lane departure warning systems. This package is optional on the Elevation Standard, Elevation and AT4 trims (standard on the Denali).
Tire Fill Alert: Provides an audible and visual confirmation when tire pressure is added to a tire that is low.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover3 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover21.4%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Acceptable
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Acceptable
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

People who viewed this also viewed

Chevrolet Colorado
2.9 average Rating out of 14 reviews.
Starting at $29,500

See Chevrolet Colorado Inventory

Toyota Tacoma
4.5 average Rating out of 19 reviews.
Starting at $31,500

See Toyota Tacoma Inventory

Ford Ranger
5.0 average Rating out of 3 reviews.
Starting at $32,670

See Ford Ranger Inventory

2021 GMC Canyon Review

Price & Payment

For sale nearby

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2021 GMC Canyon Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 GMC Canyon Elevation Standard 4dr Extended Cab SB (2.5L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.13 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Towing and Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Canyon does Edmunds recommend?

2021 GMC Canyon models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Better than all the rivals

2020 Canyon All-Terrain 4x4

2021 AT4 GMC Canyon

Ready to trade in my 2020 Canyon

2021 Canyon Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2021 GMC Canyon info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Gmc

Other models

Join Edmunds