The GMC Canyon enters its third generation in existence for the 2023 model year and it’s a completely different midsize truck.

We know GMC to be a premium brand positioned above Chevrolet in the GM hierarchy. Typically, we look to Chevy for the rugged capabilities such as off-roading, towing, or everyday work. The GMC lineup, while rugged, typically has a bit of an easier life, unless the GMC truck is put into service to haul a travel or horse trailer. The new Canyon changes the game completely.

Every Model of the New Canyon has an Off-Road Personality

There are five trims offered for the new Canyon, and only four of them matter. The top AT4X Edition 1 trim won’t be around for long and its meant as an introduction at the top level to this midsize truck. That leaves us with Elevation, AT4, Denali, and AT4X in that order. That’s right, the Denali trim is not at the top any longer, that’s the first thing you have to get used to. All trims come with standard 4WD except the Elevation model. Even the RWD Elevation has an off-road personality and can take you on some trails, giving you a complete off-road lineup in this truck.

Only One Build and a Higher Price Tag

Every model of the new GMC Canyon comes in the Crew Cab short bed configuration. You might think this simplification would deliver a lower price, but that’s not the case. The base price of the 2023 Canyon midsize truck is about $40,000, which is nearly $10,000 more than the 2022 versions. What makes this truck cost so much more than it has in the past? Let’s take a look and find out.

All Trims Receive the New High-Output Engine

The half-ton GM trucks share their 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with the midsize models for the 2023 model year. In the Canyon, the only output is the High Output version. This means the Canyon receives 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. This engine mates to a new 8-speed automatic transmission. You might expect the reduction to one powertrain to reduce the price, but that’s not the case. This new setup is stronger than any of the previous versions, delivering the towing and payload numbers desired.

Incidentally, the payload for the new Canyon is 1,640 pounds for the Elevation model in RWD. This number drops as more equipment is added and the AT4X has a payload rating of 1,250 pounds. The Three lower trims can tow up to 7,700 pounds and the AT4X can pull as much as 6,000 pounds behind this truck.

The New Midsize GMC Truck is Much Bigger than Before

Another reasons the 2023 GMC Canyon is more expensive than the previous model is the increase in size. The front axle moves forward 2.9 inches which delivers a 3.1-inch increase for the wheelbase. The three lower trims receive a 2.0-inhc factory lift compared to the outgoing model while the AT4X is 3.0 inches higher. The width of the 2023 version is 10 inches greater than the current Canyon model. This wide track gives you a much larger truck than we saw in the second generation for this GMC pickup.

Does the Size Increase Translate to Better Off-Roading?

Yes, it does. The base Canyon now sits 9.6 inches off the ground while the AT4X has 10.7 inches of ground clearance. The Elevation model has 32-inch tires while the AT4X rides on 33-inch Mud Terrain tires. The Denali trim does receive 20-inch wheels, but still has a set of off-road tires underneath.

The standard approach angle for this GMC truck is 33.3 degrees while the AT4X is 36.9 degrees. In the lower three trims, the wheels travel is now 15 percent grater than before while the AT4X has a 30 percent increase over the previous truck.

The Tailgate has a Special Feature

The tailgate of the new GMC Canyon has a water-tight cavity that can be used for either keeping water in or out of the area. This means you could take a few drinks on ice and use this space like a cooler or put some items in there that you can’t allow to get wet when you’re driving. This feature is optional for the Elevation trim but standard on the other models.

In addition to the water-tight cavity, the tailgate now has a halfway up position and can handle longer loads up to 500 pounds. This means you don’t have to angle items over a closed tailgate to take them with you in the new 2023 GMC Canyon.

How Big are the Screens in this Truck?

The Elevation and AT4 models have an eight-inch digital gauge cluster while the Denali and AT4X offer eleven inches of size for this feature. All trims have an 11.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment screen, offering the desired connectivity when you head out on the road. Headlight controls are only offered in the touchscreen, but your climate and audio controls include the redundancy of buttons and knobs to give you the tactile feeling you desire.

When you choose the Denali or AT4X trims, you’ll have a 6.3-inch head-up display.

Plenty of Safety in this Truck with One Omission

All models of the 2023 GMC Canyon come with:

• Automatic emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Active lane control
• Automatic high beams

With the option of:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Surround-view camera system

If you’re hoping to have Super Cruise in the GMC Canyon, you’ll have to wait to a later model year. This feature is not an option for the 2023 version of this truck.

Will You Drive this New GMC Midsize Truck?

The GMC Canyon becomes a complete off-road truck that has all of the tricks and features you want for heading out into the wilderness. If you’re looking for a truck that handles every obstacle and muddy situation you’ll find, it will be extremely hard to find a truck that does a better job than the new Canyon.