2020 GMC Canyon

The line-up for the 2020 GMC Canyon is strong and vast. It is available in six trims out of which the SL is the base trim. In its base trim, it gets 16-inch aluminum wheels, LED projector-beam headlamps, cruise control, a 7.0-inch touchscreen display, a 6-speaker audio system, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, single-zone manual air conditioning, 4-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, 2-way manually adjustable passenger’s seat, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration.

If these seem fewer features for your liking then opting for higher trims is sensible. The next-in-line trim SLE unlocks some interesting features. It is priced at $31,000 and gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen display as its infotainment system. It also adds features like 4G LTE Hotspot compatibility, HD radio, 2 USB ports, enhanced multi-color driver information, etc. Apart from that it also gets a 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, keyless entry, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. 

The All-Terrain is priced at $37,900 and comes along with almost all features standard till the SLE trim. It comes with an AWD drivetrain as standard. It further adds 17-inch aluminum wheels with special all-terrain tires, an upgraded suspension, hill-descent control, and upgraded cloth upholstery. It can also be equipped with leather upholstery, found in the SLT and Denali trims. The top-tier trim Denali is the most stylish and performance-focused out of all the trims. It is priced at $40,500 and comes with 20-inch wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, and a heated steering wheel.

Which trim should you buy?

Out of the vast trim line-up of the 2020 GMC Canyon, the All-Terrain offers the best deal. It comes with an AWD drivetrain as standard, some mechanical upgrades, and gets an upgraded interior and infotainment system as well. Some additional packages can also be availed according to your preference. The base price for this trim is $37,900 which is quite a bit cheaper than the AWD Denali trim. 

The highly versatile 2020 GMC Canyon Crew Cab can be equipped with three different engines. The standard engine found under the hood is a 2.5L Inline-4 which is rated at 200 hp and 191 lb-ft. This engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with an option of sending power to the rear wheels or all four wheels. 

Going up the trim ladder will unlock a more powerful 3.6L naturally aspirated V6 engine which is coupled to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. This engine is capable enough to produce 308 hp and has a peak torque of 275 lb-ft. This combination is powerful and smooth but it takes a hit on fuel economy. There’s a third engine available on the Canyon which is a 2.8L Inline-4 which is powered by Diesel. This engine is specially designed to deliver more fuel economy and better towing capacity. 

With the standard 2.4L engine, you’ll be able to tow 3,500 pounds and it has a payload capacity of 1,600 pounds. Opting for the diesel engine will increase the towing capacity to 7,700 pounds. The acceleration performance from the base engine is also lackluster and takes some time to get to higher speeds, but the V6 and the diesel engine do a much better job in this regard and both the powertrains haul cargo much more effortlessly.

The GMC Canyon is the most expensive truck by just a whisker. It is, however, the slowest in terms of 0-60mph and quarter-mile times. It takes 9.0 seconds to reach 60 mph and 17.1 seconds to complete a quarter-mile. The fastest and the most powerful truck in the segment is the Ford Ranger. It can produce 70 hp more than the Canyon and it takes only 7.0 seconds to reach the 60 mph mark. It does a quarter-mile in 14.7 seconds.

How well does the 2020 GMC Canyon Crew Cab handle?

The handling of the Canyon is one of its strong suits. The steering is well-weighted and extremely responsive. It gives you a car-like feel while maneuvering this large truck. Regardless of the terrain, i.e. on-road or off-road, the Canyon performs well. The AWD system is especially better suited for off-road adventures. 

If off-road is where you’ll be taking your truck most, then the All-Terrain trim is the best choice for you. It offers all-terrain tires and an enhanced suspension. Other trims get an independent coil type front suspension and a 2-stage multi-leaf type rear suspension. This setup provides a comfortable ride throughout, by damping in harsh bumps and roads very well.

2020 GMC Canyon Crew Cab Braking Performance

The braking performance of the Canyon Crew Cab is decent. It features the biggest brake rotors in the segment. It has a 12.2-inch front brake rotor and a 12.7-inch rear brake rotor which carry out the braking duties in any given condition well. The Automatic Locking Rear Differential system locks in the rear wheels on gravel or any slippery surface which helps in gaining traction. This in return is confidence-building and provides more safety to the passengers. Some driver aids like hill start assist hill descent assist and rear trailer control help in enhancing the braking performance as well.

The Canyon Crew Cab is the heaviest truck in the segment by just a few pounds. The Chevrolet Colorado, its corporate sister, has the same brake rotors and is also similar in weight. The smallest brake rotors in this class are fitted in the 2020 Toyota Tacoma and hence it travels the farthest in the 60-0 panic braking test. The Ranger has the shortest stopping distance while both the GM-Chevy twins lie between them with identical figures.

As almost all of the pick-up trucks are fitted with a similar-sized engine, they offer a similar fuel economy. The Canyon is not exactly the most efficient but it provides decent returns. The figures mentioned in the table below are for the base 2.4L engine with the RWD setup. Opting for the AWD will hamper the fuel economy a bit. The numbers drop down to 19/24/21 MPG (city/highway/combined).

The optional 3.5L V6 engine does worse. With the RWD it is rated at 18/25/20 MPG and with the AWD it manages to provide 17/24/19 MPG. However, the diesel engine does better than all of these engine and drivetrain combinations. For the two-wheel-drive, the numbers are 20/30/23 MPG and for the all-wheel-drive setup, the numbers are 19/28/22 MPG.

Both the GM motors products are fitted with a 21-gallon fuel tank and offer a pretty decent driving range due to good fuel economy ratings. The best fuel economy in the segment is provided by the Ranger, while the Tacoma has the highest thirst for fuel. Due to the small gas tank capacity of 18 gallons, the Ranger doesn’t do well in terms of range, while the Tacoma gets similarly sized tanks as the Chevy Colorado and hence also takes a bit of a hit in the driving range. 

The interior of the 2020 GMC Canyon Crew Cab is simplistic, functional but somewhat disappointing. The dashboard has no personality to it, but it consists of a big infotainment unit with a number of buttons and knobs. Wooden trim, hard and soft plastic are seen all around the interior. The front seats are spacious but its automatic electronic assist is finicky. The driver’s seat is 6-way power-adjustable while the passenger’s seat is 4-way manual adjustable. 

The rear seats are far from being comfortable. As compared to the front seats, the rear seats feel a bit cramped in terms of headroom and legroom. There is no rear air conditioning vent which is disappointing. By going up the trim ladder, features like heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, etc become accessible. Cruise control, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, leather-wrapped steering wheel are also some of the features seen inside the Canyon.

As far as cargo bed volume is concerned, both the Canyon and the Chevy Colorado have the same capacity of 41.3 cubic feet. This, however, is outperformed by the other two trucks mentioned above. The best-in-class cargo volume is offered by the Tacoma. The Chevy and GM trucks both offer the best cabin space though which is far more superior to the other two. The Tacoma is the biggest loser in this comparison as it has the tightest front and rear-seat legroom. Some of the highlights of the interior are:

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Single-zone automatic climate control
• Cruise control
• Keyless entry (optional)
• Keyless ignition (optional)
• Leather upholstery (SLT and Denali)
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The trims below SLE get a 7.0-inch touchscreen display as their infotainment system while SLE and higher trims get an 8.0-inch touchscreen display. The screen is placed high on the dashboard with a number of buttons and rubberized knobs below to help you manipulate the functions. Both these setups are intuitive and have a user-friendly interface. 

The functions and menus are simple to get used to and the icons are large enough to be visible from both the driver and the passenger seats. This system is paired with a 6-speaker audio system. Both SLT and Denali trims get an optional 7-speaker Bose audio system. Whereas Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and USB ports are standard on all trims. Some key infotainment features include:

• 4G LTE Hotspot compatibility
• HD radio
• Multi-color driver information display
• USB ports and SD card reader
• Navigation system (optional)
• Voice recognition 

The exterior styling of the 2020 GMC Canyon Crew Cab has been somewhat similar for quite a while now but it has been aging well. The front fascia features a strong muscular personality. It all starts from the massive grille up front, followed by huge projector-beam LED daytime running headlamps. The front bumper is equipped with tow-hooks and subtle fog lamp housing. 

However, fog lamps are added to the exterior as optional on lower trims and standard on higher trims like All-Terrain SLT and Denali. The hood is stylishly contoured adding more charisma to the Canyon. A common trait found in pick-up trucks is their boxy-shaped exterior. The Canyon is boxy shaped but its curvy fenders, body lines, and window shapes make it look attractive from the side. 

The base trims of the Canyon are equipped with 16-inch aluminum wheels, while the All-Terrain trim gets 17-inch wheels and the top-tier trim features 20-inch wheels. The rear end of the truck is characterized by a huge GMC badge in the middle, a set of attractive taillights, a big body-colored rear bumper with CornerSteps, a remote locking tailgate, and a single exhaust outlet.

The Tacoma has the tallest profile among the four trucks mentioned above and also has a 9.4-inch ground clearance which is again the highest of them all. The Colorado and the Canyon have the longest wheelbase of 128.3 inches which opens up so much cabin space while the Ford Ranger is the widest with a width of 77.8 inches. All three trucks other than the Tacoma have roughly the same ride height which is about an inch lower than the Toyota. Some of the highlights of the exterior are:

• 16,17 or 20-inch wheels (depending on the trim)
• EZ-lift and lower tailgate, a remote locking tailgate
• Front fog lamps
• Heated power-adjustable, manual-folding side-view mirrors
• Projector-beam LED daytime running headlamps
• Rear bumper CornerSteps

The 2020 GMC Canyon Crew Cab is not up to mark when it comes to crashworthiness. Its safety scores are just about satisfactory which may raise flags for the buyers. It earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA. This includes a 3-star rating for the overall side pole test and a rollover test. The IIHS had similar concerns. It was given an “Acceptable” rating for front and side tests and it also earned a “Poor” for headlight rating. The GMC Canyon is equipped with a wide range of active and passive safety features along with some optional features. Some of the safety equipment includes:

• StabiliTrak, stability control
• Electronic traction control
• HD rear vision camera
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Lane departure warning with lane keep assist (optional)
• Forward collision warning (optional)
• Ultrasonic rear parking assist (optional)
• Cruise control

2020 GMC Canyon Crew Cab vs 2020 Chevrolet Colorado Crew Cab

There’s not much to debate or compare here. Both are the products of GM and both are well-known for their hauling capabilities. They are identical in terms of power figures, interior space, fuel economy, and exterior dimensions. The only difference between the two is the price point. The Chevrolet is $900 cheaper but it looks less rugged than the GMC. Making a choice between the two is completely based on the consumer. 

2020 GMC Canyon Crew Cab vs 2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

The 2020 Toyota Tacoma is an incredible machine. It is one of the most attractive-looking pick-up trucks in the market. Compared to the 2020 GMC Canyon, the Tacoma has better safety scores, and it's also equipped with better safety and driver-assist features. The GMC however, has better towing capacity and is much more fuel-efficient. As both offer a decently comfortable ride, it depends on your preference for a pick-up truck. If you’re looking for a performance-oriented truck then the Canyon is the better choice of the two. 

2020 GMC Canyon Crew Cab vs 2020 Ford Ranger SuperCrew

The 2020 Ford Ranger is another strong competitor and a fellow American pick-up truck. The Ranger is fitted with the most powerful engine in the segment and is also the most fuel-efficient. Having said so, it still falls behind the towing capacity of the GMC Canyon. The Ranger has better safety scores and is better equipped with safety and driver-assist features than the Canyon. This makes the Ranger a more reliable and hence a more desirable truck than the GMC.

The new GMC Canyon Crew Cab is a wise and logical choice for a pick-up truck. It has excellent towing and payload capacities and is frugal at the same time. For 2020, it has improved performance and dynamics than its predecessor. It performs well against its rivals and outperforms them in many aspects. One major letdown is its safety scores and its lack of safety features. Overlooking the reliability of a truck is not the best decision but it surely satisfies in terms of performance.