The GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado are well-known light-duty work trucks from General Motors. These midsize pickup trucks are similar since they’re built using shared powertrains. If you’re thinking of buying a reliable, midsize pickup truck, these two GMC offerings will impress when on the road and offroad.
But: Is the GMC Canyon the same as a Chevy Colorado? Since General Motors own both makes, it’s been customary for some model years of these vehicles to be almost identical. They have differences based on looks and styling, but they’re virtually the same truck underneath.
How do these two popular work machines compare? Here’s a comparison of the GMC Canyon vs. Chevy Colorado to help you pick a truck that suits your needs.
Make and Model
The Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon are basically twins in styling, capacity, and capabilities. The reason is that General Motors produces both brands, and the trucks share the same technology and concepts. They are also among the top-tier compact trucks thanks to their well-rounded features and performance.
While the 2022 GMC Canyon and 2022 Chevrolet Colorado have different appearance and style, they share many comparable parts. They have the same engine options, are powered by comparable powertrains, and have the same power handling. They even share the same cargo and passenger space.
The Canyon is the one with the GMC badge, making it the more upscale of the two. It does have a swankier set of features and accessories especially in the range-topping trim.
Similar comparisons can be made with past model years of these two trucks.
Winner: Tie
Trim Levels
The Colorado and the Canyon both come in four trim levels.
The Elevation Standard serves as the Canyon’s basic model. The Elevation is the next level and has amenities like a remote start system and LED fog lights. The Canyon AT4 is an excellent pick if you want a vehicle for off-road driving. The trim comes with towing hooks, hill descent control, and specialized off-road suspension. The Denali is the GMC Canyon’s top-tier trim level, and features aluminum wheels, rear vision camera, heated leather seats, wireless charging, and a Bose audio system.
On the other hand, there are four trim levels of the Chevy Colorado and one special edition. The Colorado standard model is the WT trim, and the next is the LT trim. The last two top trims are the ZR2 and Z71, which are both customized with better off-roading capabilities. The ZR2 Bison is the Chevy Colorado special edition.
Winner: GMC Canyon
Engine and Transmission
GM chose to offer the same three engine options for both models.
The 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine makes 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed transmission. The engine features variable valve timing and direct fuel injection for fuel economy.
The 3.6-liter DOHC V6 gas engine produces 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and is 4WD.
The 2.8-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel I-4 only has 181 horsepower than the gas variants, but it produces 369 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a 6-speed automatic and is 4WD. The engine has a direct injection, exhaust brake, and double overhead camshafts.
If you want to go off-road, you’re better off getting variants with the 2.8L diesel or the 3.6 V6 since they’re the ones with 4WD.
Winner: Tie
Exterior
Is the GMC Canyon bigger than the Colorado? Considering that these two pickup trucks are presented in the same body styles, their freight and cargo capacities are identical.
These trucks come in three different body styles. You have two choices for box length in either the Canyon and Colorado: a 5-foot-2-inch box and a 6-foot-2-inch long box.
The truck box for Extended Cab models is 6’2″ long, whereas Crew Cab buyers can choose between a 5’2″ or 6’2″ box. The Crew Cab body design with the more extended box results in a bigger truck due to the larger passenger compartment.
The GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado are similar in width.
Winner: Tie
Interior
If there’s a forgiving word to describe the interior of these trucks, it would be “functional.” They feel minimalistic but durable due to the abundance of hard plastics and solid surfaces. Getting the range-topping trim that features leather seats does give a bit of a luxury feel to the trucks.
The Canyon and the Colorado have the same cabin dimensions. Those in the front seats will have a comfortable 41.4 inches of headroom, which decreases to 36.7 inches and 38.2 inches, respectively, in the back for Extended and Crew Cab pickups. Be aware that the smaller Extended Cab has only 28.6 inches of back seat legroom, while the larger Crew only has 35.8 inches.
The 2022 model years can seat up to five passengers across two rows. Both trucks’ front seats provide an elevated road view, comfortable padding, and lots of head and leg room. Although none of the crew cab versions’ rear seats are roomy for people, they should be sufficient for shorter drives.
Winner: Tie
Technology
Both of these General Motors compact trucks offer several modern technological features.
A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system is a standard offering on the 2022 Chevy Colorado. Additionally, the Colorado is designed to support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay features. The Chevy Colorado has a six-speaker sound system and two USB connections. There are also a few add-ons you can choose from, including cruise control, a remote locking tailgate, and keyless entry capabilities.
The Canyon shares many of the same features as the Colorado, including an Apple CarPlay, a standard seven-inch touchscreen, Android Auto compatibility, and a six-speaker audio system. A sliding rear window, cruise control, and LED lights feature on higher model levels. The Denali boasts more features, including a spray-in bed liner, a heated steering wheel, a Bose premium sound system, and an 8-inch touchscreen.
Winner: GMC Canyon
Performance
The 2022 Chevrolet Colorado and 2022 GMC Canyon offer similar engines and towing capacities. The base engines have a towing capability of 3,500 pounds and a hauling capacity of 1,460 pounds. Those figures increase to 7,000 pounds for towing capacity and 1,550 for payload in the V6 models. The turbodiesel has the highest towing capacity and the lowest payload at 1,460 pounds. It can tow up to 7,700 pounds.
The models with V6 engines provide most buyers the best value regarding power and towing. The turbodiesel might be the best choice if you’re looking for a more pocket-friendly option. It is excellent for towing and gets fantastic fuel mileage for a truck.
The ZR2 and ZR2 Bison versions of the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado, which feature extensive off-road enhancements, make it a standout in this category. These models include hill descent control, locking front and rear differentials, and more robust suspension.
The 2022 GMC Canyon AT4 has off-road capabilities as well. The AT4 is designed with transmission skid plates and rock panel protectors and has 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The Colorado ZR2 models’ capabilities can’t be matched by the AT4, despite the AT4’s reasonable capability.
The bottom line is that these two pickup trucks are quite popular in the market for their performance. Despite not being quite as agile as a car, their suspension performs a fantastic job of minimizing most road jitters. Both trucks have quick steering and are relatively simple to drive in small parking spaces.
Since the Colorado has more trims for off-roading, it gets the nod.
Winner: Chevy Colorado
Safety Features
Both compact trucks received identical safety scores and offered the same safety features. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2022 model year of both vehicles four out of five stars.
Both models’ standard safety features are minimal but include a rearview camera. General Motors vehicles also have Teen Driver Technology, which is a system that coaches new drivers on safety habits like reminding drivers to buckle their seatbelts and warning them if they’re speeding.
Additional features include cruise control, rear parking sensors, lane departure warning, and forward collision alert systems.
Winner: Tie
Fuel Efficiency
The fuel efficiency of these trucks is identical. The base rear-wheel drive variants of the 2022 Colorado and 2022 Canyon get 19 mpg for city driving and 25 mpg for highway cruising. The variants equipped with the V6 gasoline engine are less fuel-efficient, managing just 18 mpg in the city but maintaining 25 mpg on the highway. The turbodiesel engine has the best fuel economy, getting 20 mpg on city roads and 30 mpg on highways.
Winner: Tie
Reliability
So, which is more reliable, a Canyon or Colorado? The 2022 Chevy Colorado narrowly edges out the 2022 GMC Canyon regarding reliability. The 2022 GMC Canyon notched 79 out of 100 in predicted reliability score. The Colorado got 82 out of 100.
Winner: Chevy Colorado
Price Point
Both compact trucks are competitively priced for this segment, but the Chevrolet has a slight advantage. Compared to the Colorado’s $25,000 base trim price, the 2022 GMC Canyon’s base price is $27,000. But the Denali costs much more, starting at $41,200.
The GMC Canyon’s Denali trim level is basically what sets the model apart from the Colorado. At this trim level, the Canyon is an excellent choice if you’re seeking a luxurious midsize pickup truck.
But if you want to get the most bang out for your buck, go for the Chevy Colorado. With a base price of around 25,000 dollars, the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado offers most of the benefits of the fancier GMC Canyon. Of course, that is just the starting point. As you climb in price, several different trims, bed lengths and body configurations exist.
Winner: Chevy Colorado
And the Winner Is: Chevy Colorado
It may be tricky if you’re trying to decide between the GMC Canyon vs. Chevy Colorado. Both trucks offer substantial towing capacities, solid off-road capabilities, decent gas figures, and straightforward infotainment systems. Both trucks offer an option for an extended or crew cab with 5-foot-2-inch or 6-foot-2-inch bed lengths.
These two are so similar that you have to nitpick to declare a winner in this showdown. Still, the Chevy receives the victory due to its slightly better predicted reliability score, lower price, and superior off-roading ability.
The Chevy Colorado is virtually identical to the GMC Canyon in many ways. Still, it separates itself with a lower base price, more off-road options, and a sleeker front end. These pros make the Chevy Colorado perfect for the more traditional pickup truck enthusiast.
