Competes with: Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma
Looks like: The new Colorado with a different grille and badging
Powertrains: Rear- or four-wheel drive; turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine producing 310 horsepower and 430 pounds-feet; eight-speed automatic
The Canyon will be available in four trims: Elevation, AT4, AT4X, and Denali.
Exterior
The Canyon is bigger, wider, taller and beefier-looking than its predecessor, better resembling its Sierra 1500 big brother. The new Canyon also lacks the prior generation’s front air dam; that should be good for off-roading but may have an adverse impact on fuel economy. All Canyon models come standard with large off-road tires, with the Elevation, AT4 and Denali trims getting 32-inch tires and the AT4X getting 33-inch mud-terrain tires.
Other updates include standard LED lighting, trimmed body corners (again for improved off-roading capabilities), extra skid plating on the AT4X, and, like the Colorado, a standard storage compartment integrated into the tailgate.
The AT4X has aesthetic and functional enhancements like unique badging, an “enhanced” front skid plate, a bed-rail system, a winch, a unique front bumper with a safari bar, and a 30-inch grille light bar.
Interior
All trims have an 11.3-inch touchscreen display with a Google-based operating system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Elevation and AT4 models have an 8-inch digital gauge cluster, while the Denali and AT4X models will have an 11-inch digital cluster.
Optional features include a 6.3-inch head-up display and a premium seven-speaker Bose stereo for the AT4 (standard on Denali and AT4X).
Under the Hood
Powering every Canyon will be a high-output version of GM’s turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 310 hp and 430 pounds-feet of torque. Like the updated Colorado, this engine will be paired with an eight-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the Elevation, while four-wheel drive is standard on all other trims.
Front and rear electronic locking differentials are available but come standard on the hardcore AT4X. Drive modes include Normal, Off-Road, Tow/Haul and Terrain; the AT4X adds a high-speed Baja mode.
Ground clearance is 9.6 inches standard or up to 10.7 inches on the AT4X. The lesser models get an off-road suspension, while the AT4X uses Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve shocks as in the Colorado ZR2.
Maximum towing capacity ranges from 5,500 to 7,700 pounds, while payload capacity varies from a low of 1,010 pounds in the AT4X Edition 1 to 1,640 in the RWD Elevation.
Safety
Standard safety tech includes forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, and automatic high beams. Blind spot warning with steering assist and rear cross-traffic alert are available in the Safety Plus Package; rear pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system are part of the Technology Package.
For off-roading safety, waterproof front- and rear-facing underbody cameras with washers are available to provide a better view of obstacles.
*MSRP and Invoice prices displayed are for educational purposes only, do not reflect the actual selling price of a particular vehicle, and do not include applicable gas taxes or destination charges.
