2021 GMC Canyon

The prices for the 2021 GMC Canyon starts at $27,595 for the base Elevation Standard trim and ranges up to $42,095 for the top of the line Denali trim. Speaking of engine options, the 2021 GMC Canyon gets a total of 3 engine options - a base 2.5L I4, a more powerful 3.6L V6, and the torquiest of the lot - a 2.8L turbocharged Diesel engine, available with the Denali and AT4 models.

The 2021 GMC Canyon's towing capacity of 7000 lbs. and the sweet ride and handling characteristics really lend this pickup a competitive edge over its rivals such as the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado, 2021 Toyota Tacoma, and the 2021 Ford F-150. So is the 2021 GMC Canyon really worthy? Scroll down our 2021 GMC Canyon's review as we try and find the answer to this. 

The 2020 GMC Canyon's trim lineup consisted of three trim levels - Base, SLE, and SLT. However, that's not the case with the trim lineup of the 2021 GMC Canyon, as the auto-marque has reshuffled and renamed the Canyon's trim lineup for the model year 2021. 

The 2021 GMC Canyon comes in a total of 4 trims - Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4, and Denali. Out of these, we review the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 and the 2021 GMC Canyon Denali separately. The prices of the 2021 GMC Canyon initiate from $29,495 for the base Elevation trim and ranges up to $45,595 for the top of the line Denali trim. 

Model	Elevation Standard	Elevation
MSRP (RWD) (2.5L)	$29,495	$33,095
MSRP (RWD) (3.6L)	$30,980	$34,580
MSRP (4WD) (3.6L)	-	$38,195
Key Features	17" Dark Argent Metallic cast-aluminum wheels	Black Off-Road assist steps
	17" all-terrain Blackwall tires	Black Rocker Guards
	20" low gloss-Black aluminum wheels	Black tailgate handle
	Black GMC Emblem	Body-color rear bumper
	Daytime Running Lamps	Locking tailgate
	Keyless Entry Keypad	Off-Road lights
	2-way manual front passenger seat	All-weather floor liners
	4-way power driver seat	Automatic climate control
	6-speaker audio system	Door locks, power

The 2021 GMC Canyon Elevation Standard and the 2021 GMC Canyon Elevation can be configured with two engine options - a base 2.5L Inline-4 and a more potent 3.6L V6 engine. Both these trims of the 2021 GMC Canyon come standard with rear-wheel drive.

There is no option of a 4WD drivetrain on the base Elevation Standard model, whereas, the 2021 GMC Canyon Elevation 4WD comes at a price of $38,195. One more thing worth noting here is that the base 2.5L 4-cylinder engine of the 2021 GMC Canyon is not configurable with a 4WD option. 

Apart from the standard features, GMC also offers a number of additional packages for the 2021 Canyon so as to amp-up its appeal. Some of the most prominent packages on offer with the 2021 GMC Canyon and their price are as follows:

• Power Package: $1850
• Sport Bar and Lighting Package: $2295
• High Elevation Package: $1400
• Exterior Convenience Package: $815
• Driver Alert Package: $690
• Performance Skid Plate Package: $375
• Interior Protection Package: $260

Out of all these packages, we specifically suggest you check-out the Driver Alert Package as it adds highlights such as lane-departure warning and front collision warning, which ensures the overall safety of the driver and crew.

Though there are a number of ways and techniques for deriving the actual reliability and ownership experience of a vehicle, one of the most trusted ways is to call attention to what the JD Power says about it. The JD Power Report gives ratings to vehicles on certain parameters like the Quality, Driving experience, resale value, etc. The ratings are mainly based on reviews by car-owners.

Speaking of the GMC Canyon, the 2020 GMC Canyon bagged a total score of 77 out of a maximum of 100, which happens to be a decent score.  Below is a further breakdown of this score:

• Overall quality and reliability: 73/100
• Driving experience: 69/100
• Resale: 85/100
• Dealership experience: 87/100

Since the 2021 GMC Canyon will be a carryover model, with just some subtle tweaks, we expect the same score to imply on the new model as well.

As per the data available on the NHTSA site, there has been no recall made for the 2021 GMC Canyon. It is also worth noting the fact that there were no recalls made for the 2020 model either. Lack of any kind of recalls clearly indicates how well the car is built and how well the company has tested the parts used in the car in order to ensure that no problems arise in the vehicle due to faulty part design or bad construction quality. 

Category	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Total
Tax Credit	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Insurance	$731	$757	$783	$810	$839	$3,920
Maintenance	$373	$618	$648	$1,431	$1,540	$4,610
Repairs	$0	$0	$111	$263	$383	$757
Taxes & Fees	$1,532	$111	$111	$111	$111	$1,976
Financing	$1,498	$1,205	$892	$558	$202	$4,355
Depreciation	$5,331	$1,174	$1,112	$1,304	$1,234	$10,155
Fuel	$1,718	$1,769	$1,822	$1,877	$1,933	$9,119
Real cost of ownership	$11,183	$5,634	$5,479	$6,354	$6,242	$34,892

Speaking of the ownership costs, the GMC Canyon seeks a total of around 35,000USD over a span of 5 years. This amount includes a number of costs such as insurance, taxes and dealership charges, depreciation, repairs, fuel, financing, etc.

Warranty

GMC offers a three-year overall limited warranty which is valid till 36,000 miles. Apart from that, the car also gets a powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes early. The various warranty covers by the American automakers are as follows:

Criteria	Period
Limited Warranty	3 years or 36,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty	5 years or 60,000 miles
Complimentary Maintenance	1 visit for the year

GMC provides for competitive coverage in the mid-size pickup truck segment against its arch-rivals. The warranty offers provided by GMC motors are quite reasonable and enough for its market audience.

Miles Per Dollar

We had put an estimate of $47,205 for 5 years, 15,000 miles each year. This equates to 34,892 for 75000 miles, that is, a running cost of 2.14 miles per dollar! This calculation includes many factors like depreciation, fuel costs, and insurance. This is also a very subjective parameter as many of the factors depend on how the car is driven and maintained.

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We'd recommend you to go for the 2021 GMC Canyon Elevation as it is the only trim here that offers a 4WD drivetrain. In order to maximize the potential of this truck, you should opt-in for the optional 3.6L V6 engine paired to a 4WD drivetrain. 

Moreover, the 2021 GMC Canyon Elevation offers all the comfort features, space, and performance to ensure that the crew reaches its worksite on time and with all the essentials.

Is buying a used GMC Canyon Crew Cab a good option?

It is always a sensible decision to buy a used car, as it saves you a lot of money while giving you a larger selection of options within your price range. Moreover, when you buy a used car, you do not take a hit on the depreciation factor.

Buying a used GMC Canyon Crew Cab is a good idea if you have a tight budget with desperation to purchase and the new updates and features don’t seem to be a boon to you. The purchase of a used truck will save any person thousands of dollars with almost the same performing abilities and cargo space. It is an economical way to go unless the new note-worthy feature and configuration updates have no real-life application.

The basic GMC Canyon offers 3 engine options, 2 drivetrain options, and 3 transmission options. The base powertrain of the 2021 GMC Canyon comes in the form of a 2.5L Inline-4 engine that's good for belting out 200 hp and a peak torque of 191 lb.-ft.

The second engine option of the 2021 GMC Canyon Crew Cab is a 3.6-liter V6 engine, punching out 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque yoked to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Most buyers opt for this powertrain because the smaller 2.5L engine feels inefficient for a mid-size pickup truck like this. 

On the transmission front, the 2021 Canyon has an option to upgrade the standard 6-speed automatic transmission to the 8-speed automatic transmission which is really smooth. With the 8-speed automatic incorporated, the engine fires off while gaining momentum without any friction, and can carry the maximum towing capacity of 7,000 lbs. 

Models	2021 GMC Canyon	2021 Chevrolet Colorado	2021 Toyota Tacoma	2021 Ford F-150
MSRP	$29,495	$26,395	$27,325	$28,940
Engine	2.5L NA I4 engine	2.5L NA 4-cylinder engine	2.7L I4 DOHC 4-cylinder engine	3.3L Naturally Aspirated V6
Drivetrain	RWD	RWD	RWD	RWD
Transmission	6-speed automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed automatic	10-speed automatic
Power	200 hp @ 6300 RPM	200 hp @ 6300 RPM	159 hp @ 5200 RPM	290 hp @ 6500 RPM
Torque	191 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM	191 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM	180 lb-ft @ 3800 RPM	265 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM

The GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado share the same powertrain with a 2.5L I4 engine belting out 200 ponies. However, Colorado has a significant price advantage here as it offers identical power outputs and torque but at a much more economical price. Moving on, the 2021 Ford F-150 gets a 3.3L Naturally aspirated V6 engine as standard that belts out 290 hp which is the best in class power figures. 

2021 GMC Canyon Crew Cab Acceleration and Braking Performance

As mentioned above, the GMC Canyon Crew Cab is one of the quickest mid-size premium pickup trucks in the market. The 2021 GMC Canyon goes from 0-60 MPH in just 8.5 seconds and the quarter-mile time is just 16.5 seconds at 82 mph, which Is decent but definitely could have been better according to the horsepower of the engine on the spec sheets. 

The braking performance of the 2021 GMC Canyon is better than most as well. In a test, the truck's response to the brakes was exceptionally good. The Canyon can brake well with maximum towing capacity as well. The large brake rotors provide an impetus to better braking abilities. The acceleration and braking performance are quite outstanding considering its rivals.

Models	2021 GMC Canyon	2021 Chevrolet Colorado	2021 Toyota Tacoma	2021 Ford F-150
0-60 MPH	8.5 secs	8.4 secs	9.4 secs	7.5 secs
Quarter-Mile (seconds)	16.5 seconds	16.2 seconds	14.7 seconds	15.2 seconds
Top Speed (MPH)	130 MPH	135 MPH	116 MPH	130 MPH
60-0 (feet)	121 feet	123 feet	119 feet	128 feet

The Canyon is beaten by its rival when it comes to acceleration and quarter-mile timings. Toyota Tacoma seems to show great braking performance but disappoints in acceleration. The 2021 Ford F-150 proves to be the fastest in the segment, in 0-60 mph as well as quarter-mile timings. The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado too has good speeding abilities despite the muscular and gigantic size of the car.

2021 GMC Canyon Towing and Payload Capacity

Pickup trucks are not really meant for setting drag-strips ablaze, what they are really intended to do is to tow and carry stuff. The 2021 GMC Canyon gets a 2.5-liter Inline 4 under the hood that makes 200 hp and 191 lbs.-ft. of torque. With this engine setup, the 2021 GMC Canyon can tow a total of 3500 lbs. and has a payload capacity of 1440 lbs.

However, bring in the more potent 3.5L V6 engine that tucks in 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque to the 2021 GMC Canyon, and the towing capacity increase to 7000 lbs. whereas the payload Capacity increases to 1531 lbs. that means, you can tow your everyday gigs with comfort and ease.

Models	2021 GMC Canyon	2021 Chevrolet Colorado	2021 Toyota Tacoma	2021 Ford F-150
Towing Capacity (Maximum)	7000 lbs.	7700 lbs.	6800 lbs.	9200 lbs.
Payload Capacity (Maximum)	1531 lbs.	1551 lbs.	1620 lbs.	1920 lbs.

Speaking of the rivals, almost all the contenders of this segment are more or less in the same ballpark in terms of towing and payload capacity, except for the 2021 Ford F-150. The 2021 Ford F-150 posts a maximum towing capacity of 9200 lbs and a maximum payload capacity of 1920 lbs, making it the best in the segment. 

2021 GMC Canyon Ride and Handling

The 2021 GMC Canyon is a pickup truck and definitely drives like one. Be it the unpaved road or the town streets the GMC Canyon is always a delight to drive. The dimensions of the GMC Canyon lend it the capability of soaking the harshest of bumps and breaks without transmitting them into the cabin. The GMC Canyon's ride quality strikes a fine balance between being robust and soft.

However, despite such a massive size, the 2021 GMC Canyon is not that difficult to maneuver in city traffic either. The feedback from the Canyon's steering wheels is absolutely spot-on and gives you a genuine idea about what's happening on the front-end. The Canyon is not a corner-carver, courtesy of its hefty weight, there is a considerable amount of body roll. However, it can still handle some sharp turns at sedate speeds. 

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The 2021 GMC Canyon Crew Cab has great gas mileage with the 3.6-liter V6 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic that cranks 300 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque produces good miles per gallon. The 2021 GMC Canyon delivers 20/25/22 in the city, highway, and combined, respectively. 

The fuel tank capacity of this 2021 GMC Canyon is about 21 gallons which is great considering the engine under the hood of such a massive truck. The mpg figures will be deducted by 1 in each if a 4-wheel-drive is integrated. 

Models	2021 GMC Canyon	2021 Chevrolet Colorado	2021 Toyota Tacoma	2021 Ford F-150
MPG (City)	19	19	19	19
MPG (Highway)	25	25	22	25
MPG (Combined)	22	22	21	22
Fuel Capacity (gallons)	21	21	21.1	23
Range (city/highway/combined) (miles)	399/525/462	399/525/462	401/464/443	437/575/506

When it comes to fuel-efficiency, all the rivals are more or less in the same ballpark here. However, the Ford F-150 has a significant advantage here as it delivers same efficiency figures even with greater power. Moreover, the 2021 Ford F-150 has the best in class fuel-tank capacity, which makes it a serious mile cruncher. 

The American automakers have ensured that the design of the interiors of the 2021 GMC Canyon is comfortable, spacious, and functional. This truck is more about optimum utilization of the simple features, instead of flashy or flamboyant aspects on the inside with zero sensibility with the functions. The truck has wonderfully spaced out front seats. 

There is enough leg space, shoulder space, and headspace for those who stand 6-ft tall. The elevated rear-seats are comfortable but long hours will be a stressful situation. 3 adults need to be squished for a long drive, the backseats have limited legroom.

Models	2021 GMC Canyon	2021 Chevrolet Colorado	2021 Toyota Tacoma	2021 Ford F-150
Seating Capacity	5	5	4	4
Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)	41.4/57.5/45.0	41.4/57.5/45.0	39.7/58.3/42.9	40.8/66.7/43.9
Rear Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)	38.3/56.2/35.8	38.3/56.2/35.8	34.9/56.5/24.6	N/A

The Canyon may not have much room for carrying suitcases inside the truck, but it sure has better cargo-bed volume and storage space for loose items than its competitors. It is a commercial pickup truck and having good enough cargo space is inevitable. 

It has a deep center-console bin, multiple door pockets, and other miscellaneous spots throughout the cabin that provide a haven for loose items to be assorted. The inside comes swathed in leather upholstery with very basic materials on the other parts of the truck.

Some of the most eminent standard interior and convenience features of the 2021 GMC Canyon are:

• Passenger-side visor mirror
• 2 12V DC power outlets
• Rear under-seat storage tray
• Bin instrument-panel storage
• Rear door bins
• Rear cupholders
• Air conditioning
• Full floor console with covered box
• Retained accessory power
• Auto-locking doors
• Day-night rearview mirror
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• Front cupholders
• Dashboard storage
• Keyfob (front doors) remote keyless entry
•  

How’s the 2021 GMC Canyon Crew Cab infotainment system?

The Canyon’s touchscreen infotainment system is intuitive and minimalistic. It doesn’t have the best infotainment system in the business; it is very basic for a near-luxurious commercial truck. The screen is user-friendly but the rubberized knobs for volume or tuning and the excessively hard buttons aren’t the industry standard. 

The 7-inch color touchscreen infotainment system on the 2021 GMC Canyon is average as the touchscreen display is a bit too basic. The truck does have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as the smart device integration. With a standard 6 speaker setup, the audio quality is decent. However, you can definitely upgrade to a premium 7 Bose speaker set up which is a lot better than the basic one.

Some of the most prominent standard infotainment features of the 2021 GMC Canyon are:

• 6 speakers
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot capable internet access
• Steering-wheel mounted audio controls
• 1 1st row LCD monitor
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• Radio data system
• Primary monitor touchscreen
• Wireless phone connectivity
• Integrated roof antenna
• SiriusXM AM/FM/Satellite with seek-scan
• Voice activated radio

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The 2021 GMC Canyon has a good exterior design with a premium and brawny feel. The 2021 GMC Canyon gets a redesigned front grille that further accentuates its street presence.

The 2021 GMC Canyon's look is characterized by clean and sleek lines that possess functionality and eye-catching handsomeness. The hood has indentation around a section that is actually bulging upwards, which makes the truck look really bulky. The rear headlights have a C-shaped LED which looks really well.

The bold grille, red towing hooks, sporting fender flares, rounded rectangle elements, and the front and back fenders flaring out make it the standout features that increase the significance of such incorporations. The Canyon is going to be dressed appealingly with aggressiveness and muscularity to its frame.

Models	2021 GMC Canyon	2021 Chevrolet Colorado	2021 Toyota Tacoma	2021 Ford F-150
Curb Weight	3,943 lbs	4,050 lbs	4,305 lbs	4,069 lbs
Length	212.4”	212.7”	212.3”	209.1”
Width	74.3”	74.3”	74.4”	79.9”
Height	70.7”	70.4”	70.6”	75.6”
Ground Clearance	8.3”	8.3”	9.4”	8.7”
Wheelbase	128.3”	128.3”	127.4”	122.8’

Chevrolet Colorado is the longest of the lot, and hence it translates better into much bigger cabin space, whereas the Ford F-150 stands out to be at the bottom of the pile. Toyota Tacoma's 9.4-inch ground clearance lets it wade over large boulders, and take on uncharted roads quite easily. GMC Canyon's lighter curb weight also helps it to achieve competitive acceleration figures too.

Some of the most noteworthy exterior features of the 2021 GMC Canyon are:

• Front license plate bracket
• 2 front tow hooks
• Tailgate
• Rear step bumper
• Galvanized steel/aluminum body material
• Power remote heated manual folding side-view door mirrors
• Chrome grille
• Body-colored door handles
• Convex driver and passenger mirror
• Front bumper with chrome rub strip
• Reverse opening rear passenger doors
• Body-colored front and rear bumpers
• Power door mirrors
• Heated door mirrors

The GMC doesn’t offer the best safety available in the segment and is far behind when it comes to safety aspects with its competitors. It doesn’t live up to the standards set by its rivals in the market. 

The 2021 model hasn’t been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Although the previous-gen GMC Canyon earned a 4-star rating by the NHTSA but wasn’t voted as the Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. Irrespective of everything, it lacks the advanced active safety features and driver-assistance technology to prevent accidents.

Some of the most prominent safety features aboard the 2021 GMC Canyon are:

• Remote activated perimeter/approach lights
• Manual adjustable front head restraints
• Underbody mounted spare tire w/crankdown
• Remote keyless entry
• Side-impact bars
• Electronic stability
• Forward Collision Alert
• Height adjustable front seatbelts
• Four-wheel ABS brakes
• 6 airbags
• Occupant sensing airbags
• Traction control
• 4 ABS channels
• 2 rear head restraints
• Daytime running lights
• Panic alarm
• ABS and driveline traction control
• Security system
• Electronic stability control with anti-roll

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What makes the Toyota Tacoma so reliable?

Being an off-road-oriented truck, how safe is the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4?

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2021 GMC Canyon Crew Cab vs 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab

The 2021 GMC canyon Crew Cab and Chevrolet Colorado are twins under the General Motors umbrella. They are very similar in almost all aspects of the vehicle. The same standard features, towing capacity, fuel capacity, powertrain, and many other similar things. The trucks are closely ranked in the compact pickup truck market. 

They both have similar reliability ratings by J.D. Power. The Canyon gets that extra Brownie point because of the tad bit nicer interiors. The Chevrolet is a very purist pickup truck but the GMC Canyon has better features and creature comforts on the top-tier trims. The Canyon is beaten in the acceleration and spacing aspect while most other aspects are similar. Colorado is a better choice here because of the equal and better features and attributes with lower cost.

2021 GMC Canyon Crew Cab vs 2021 Toyota Tacoma 

The Toyota Tacoma and GMC Canyon are equally good, and you cannot go wrong in choosing either of them. Although the 2021 Toyota Tacoma’s price is a bit steeper, it still provides the same value as the Canyon Crew Cab. The Canyon crew cab can tow and haul more cargo but the fuel economy is better achieved by Toyota Tacoma. 

The GMC canyon provides the extra oomph with the acceleration and braking performance, the Toyota Tacoma is an all-rounder. Overall, both are fine automobiles that do their job well.

2021 GMC Canyon vs 2021 Ford F-150

The Ford F-150 has had a long livery and the 2021 model takes it a step further as the F-150 has received an extensive overhaul for the model year 2021. The Ford F-150 is the best selling pickup truck in the United States and positions itself as a value for money offering. 

The 2021 Ford F-150 comes at a starting price of $28,940, and for this price it gets a 3.3L V6 engine pumping out 290 hp as compared to the 2.5L I4 engine of the 2021 GMC Canyon that churns 200 ponies. The Ford F-150 performs better than the GMC Canyon in almost all aspects and is definitely the greater choice among the two. 

All in all, the GMC Canyon Crew Cab is an excellent choice of pickup truck for all purposes. The truck has everything you’re looking for in a pickup truck. It has the good-looking exterior, incredible performing capabilities, good safety features, comfort and convenience, smooth and firm handling, customizable configurations and so much more to suit all your needs. It is one of the best options in the market.

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• Find Top Deals on Used Ford F-150 for Sale.

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2021 GMC Canyon FAQs:

Is the GMC Canyon the same as the Chevy Colorado?

The brands GMC and Chevrolet come under the GM giant. And to keep the costs in check, they both share the chassis and the powertrain. The build quality varies but they both offer a similar amount of kit for the price.

Is the GMC Canyon 4 Wheel Drive?

As standard, the 2021 GMC Canyon comes with a rear-wheel drivetrain. However, the option of getting a 4WD is also there and costs a few bucks extra over the selected trim's MSRP. However, the new 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 gets 4WD as standard. 

How many miles can a GMC Canyon last?

If properly maintained and taken care of, a GMC Canyon can easily last for 200,000 miles. 

Do GMC Canyons hold their value?

Yes, the GMC Canyons are very good at retaining their value. The GMC Canyon has a J.D. Power Resale Score of 85/1000, which shows that its resale value is constantly high. 

What is the annual maintenance cost of the GMC Canyon?

The annual maintenance cost of a GMC Canyon, on average, ranges from $220 - $237, depending upon your service provider.