We fully expected the 2024 GMC Canyon to be an off-road champ but its city manners are a surprise. It earns a 6 out of 10 for its sprightly turbo-4. Ride quality and towing ability are impressive for a midsize truck, too.
Nearly all versions are. On all but the base Elevation, GMC includes a 2-speed transfer case with a convenient automatic mode suitable for use on any kind of terrain. Base Elevation versions are rear-wheel drive, while four-wheel-drive models have a simple single-speed transfer case with no low range.
Even the Elevation will be fine for light-duty off-roading thanks to nearly 10 inches of ground clearance. AT4 models add a limited-slip rear differential and revised bumpers that improve approach and departure angles.
The top AT4X version has a 3.0-inch lift that squeezes more than an inch of additional running ground clearance due to its standard skid plates. Revised front and rear bumpers deliver even better approach and departure angles. Front and rear locking differentials, soft Multimatic internal-bypass shocks, and 33-inch tires deliver even more capability. The AT4X also upgrades other versions’ Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, and Terrain drive modes with a Baja mode.
There’s a downside to the AT4X, though: its payload slides by about 400 pounds to 1,250 pounds, and its tow rating slips from other versions’ 7,700-pound rating to just 6,000 pounds.
This year’s new AEV version ups the ante with an additional 1.5-inch lift, beefier bumpers, skid plates, and wheels—for a hefty cost, no doubt.
How fast is the GMC Canyon?
It’s plenty quick. GMC offers just a single tune for the standard 2.7-liter turbo-4, unlike the related Chevy Colorado. Here, the engine is rated at 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. This Sierra 1500-sourced engine works well here, providing punchy response from the get-go. It’s a refined operator, too, with limited in-cabin snarling. The standard 8-speed automatic works well, but we wish it had a manual gear control mode for descending hills when left in Drive. Manual control only works when the transmission is put in Low mode.
Quick-responding steering provides good highway stability and a relatively nimble feel around town. Limited body lean even in the most off-road-oriented versions makes the Canyon a joy to drive, at least by midsize truck standards. With MacPherson front struts and leaf springs at the rear, the Canyon rides better with a load in the back than it does unladen. It’s comfy enough for daily-driver use, especially in Elevation and AT4 versions that aren’t as floaty as their high-riding siblings.