The 2022 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.
Not everybody needs the size or capabilities of a full-size pickup truck. Thankfully, there's a half-size smaller in the form of the midsize truck class where the 2022 GMC Canyon resides. It's essentially the same as the Chevrolet Colorado, with the differences mostly coming down to styling and the Canyon's unique, luxury-oriented Denali trim level. As with the Colorado, the Canyon offers a diesel engine that offers a robust 7,700-pound towing capacity. So if you want a plush midsize truck and often hook up a trailer, this could be your truck.
For 2022, there are no significant changes to the GMC Canyon since it seems possible that a full redesign is in the works for 2023. Armed with this information, it might make sense to wait and see what the next generation has to offer. You could also investigate other midsize pickups such as the Honda Ridgeline, Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma. But overall this is a likable truck. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our test team's full take on its comfort, utility and more.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Average
7.6
out of 10
We drove the 2022 GMC Canyon on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
8/10
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
8/10
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
8/10
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
8/10
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 since 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
7/10
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 much difficulty.
Value
7/10
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/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
7/10
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 and 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.
The 2022 Canyon is offered in extended-cab and crew-cab body styles. There are four trim levels: the Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4 and Denali. You also have your choice of one of three engines.
Which Canyon trim does Edmunds recommend?
We suggest stepping up to the top Denali trim if your budget can handle it. For the rather sizable price, you get a very long list of standard features plus the more powerful V6 engine. Speaking of engines, if you're planning to do any towing you might want to spring for the diesel option for its added torque. Otherwise, we recommend sticking with the gasoline engines since the diesel doesn't offer significant fuel savings.Compare 2022 GMC Canyon trim levels
The 2022 GMC Canyon has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #3 out of 8 among Midsize Trucks. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent
#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
$464/yr
vs. $451/yr for Average Midsize Truck
Frequency
0.65x/yr
vs. 0.79x/yr for Average Midsize Truck
Severity
14%
vs. 13.6% for Average Midsize Truck
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
1 recall found
Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
Recall Number:
22V375000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
N222368320
Number of vehicles affected:
1631
Defect Description:
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado vehicles equipped with a manual passenger seat. The front passenger seat may have a hook attachment that was not properly welded, allowing it to separate from the inboard track of the seat frame.
Defect Consequence:
An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will inspect the front passenger seat and replace the cushion frame, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222368320.
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 … and we do have the tow package. The milage is quite good and auto 2/4x works great.
I have owned my 2022 GMC Canyon Elevation for 7 months and I've been very pleased thus far. It now has approx 7500 miles on it and I've done one dealer-sponsored oil change/service @ 5000 miles. I did have it rust-proofed last fall, I added a tonneau cover and a spray-in bed liner. In December, I did change out the Goodyear Fortitude tires for 4 new snow tires and I'm glad I did. … The Fortitude tires were horrible in snow. The rubber is too hard to grip in snow and the tread is not aggressive enough for snow and I had trouble stopping. After switching to 4 new snow tires, it's been great. Most times, I use AUTO 4WD vs full time 4WD and sometimes I don't use 4WD at all. It has the trailering package so I get the automatic locking rear differential and that really works great in snow. I am very pleased with the truck at this point. I towed with it last October and it had plenty of power to pull a trailer with 2 full size ATV's on it. The 8-speed automatic transmission has been trouble free although it has the common hard shifting issue if it's cold from first to second gear. After it warms up that goes away. The only issues I have with the interior are the seats and the sometimes finicky Infotainment system. It has the upgraded Elevation Premium interior which gives you the upgraded Bose Infotainment system with NAV, leather seats, etc. I would think for a $43K truck, the seats would include power recline but this truck doesn't. The manual adjustment is pathetic--they are 6 way power seats--not 8 power. Also, the Infotainment system is wonky at times. Usually it resets itself after shutting the truck off and then restarting it. I kept the Onstar, Wi-fi hotspot and Sirus. I guess I am spoiled now with all of the technology. I am very pleased with my purchase at this point and would recommend the truck to anyone, although the 2022 model year was the last for this generation truck. The V6 is no longer available so I'm glad that I got the last year.
Great truck. Had a 2016 Colorado and this is very similar. Loved the Colorado. Wish interior was upgraded. Also wish the back window was not manual. No front camera and no tow hitch
My transmission is already having issues. When I put it in reverse it jerks really bad. You can definitely hear metal banging. This started with less than 230 miles on the truck. Not it has 707 miles and today on the freeway at 55 mph it stated shaking violently. I went straight to the dealership where I purchased it. They advised me it was the steering column linkage. The dam truck has … a floor shifter lol. This truck looks expensive but it's a real POS!!!! I bought on 05282021, the dealership won't even give me a loaner vehicle to check the vehicle out for 2 weeks. Besides that to top it off the paint on the left fender has a major manufacturer defect. Tge paint is messed up and they said they have a body shop will repair it. Keep in I bought this truck brand new with 6 miles on it. Vehicle purchased a Suburban Buick GMC Cadillac of Costa Mesa, Ca I'm extremely upset and disappointing that they would rather me drive an unsafe vehicle for 2 more weeks and jeopardize my safety and my families. If anyone from general motors corporate reads this please help me thank you
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2022 GMC Canyon, so we've included reviews for other years of the Canyon since its last redesign.
2021 Midsize Truck Comparison: Tacoma vs. Ranger vs. Frontier vs. Colorado & Canyon
Midsize trucks can do it all. Quickly becoming the right size for many shoppers, midsize trucks are capable of towing, hauling and heading off-road. In this video, Ryan ZumMallen from Edmunds compares four of the top pickup trucks you can buy to see which is the best midsize truck for 2021. For this truck comparison, Ryan has the redesigned 2022 Nissan Frontier and puts it… up against the top-rated Toyota Tacoma, the Ford Ranger and the GMC Canyon (the Chevy Colorado is covered as well). Ryan spends time with each truck and discusses their respective strengths and weaknesses, and he gives you his pick for best midsize truck and why. So if you're on the hunt for your next midsize truck, look no further than our 2021 midsize truck comparison test of the 2022 Nissan Frontier, 2021 Toyota Tacoma, 2021 Ford Ranger, and 2022 GMC Canyon.
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
4 out of 5 stars
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.
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