2018 GMC Canyon Expert Review
Reviewed by Stefan Ogbac
The 2018 GMC Canyon gets a leather upholstery option on the All-Terrain trim.
Trim Levels (Interior and Exterior Options)
The 2018 GMC Canyon is a midsize truck that's available in two bed lengths and two cab styles. It slots below the larger, full-size Silverado 1500 and is available in rear- or four-wheel drive configurations.
Canyon SL: Standard features included on the base trim include a rearview camera, a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, a six-speaker audio system, vinyl upholstery, and a 3.5-inch multi-information display.
Canyon: The Canyon builds on the base SL trim with 16-inch alloy wheels, a power-operated driver's seat and projector headlights with LED accents.
Canyon SLE: Moving to the SLE trim gets you a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, four USB ports, 17-inch alloy wheels, steering wheel controls, an automatic locking differential in four-wheel drive models, 4G LTE connectivity, a 4.2-inch multi-information display, and the EZ Lift and Lower locking tailgate.
Canyon SLT: The SLT trim adds 18-inch alloy wheels, remote start, a power-operated passenger seat, automatic climate control, a sliding rear window, heated front seats, and chrome side mirrors and door handles.
Canyon All-Terrain: The off-road-oriented Canyon All-Terrain adds an off-road-tuned suspension, 17-inch dark alloy wheels, faux carbon fiber interior accents, red contrast stitching on the seats, hill descent control, and a transfer case shield.
Canyon Denali: As the range-topping trim, the luxury-oriented Canyon Denali adds 20-inch alloy wheels, navigation, a Bose premium audio system, side steps, a heated steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, and ventilated front seats.
Key options such as navigation and the Bose premium audio system are available as options on lower grades of the Canyon.
Performance and Fuel Economy
The 2018 GMC Canyon comes standard with a 2.5-liter I-4 rated at 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque. A 3.6-liter V-6 with 308 hp and 275 lb-ft, and a 2.8-liter turbodiesel I-4 with 181 hp and 369 lb-ft is optional. A six-speed manual is standard on the base 2.5-liter I-4 and a six-speed automatic is optional. Diesel-powered Canyons come exclusively with the six-speed automatic while the 3.6-liter V-6 comes with an eight-speed automatic.
EPA fuel economy ratings for the base engine are 20/26 mpg city/highway for rear-drive models and 19/24 mpg with four-wheel drive. Trucks with the V-6 are rated at 18/25 mpg with rear-wheel drive or 17/24 mpg with four-wheel drive. The most efficient models is the diesel-powered Canyon, which is rated at 22/30 mpg for rear-drive trucks and 20/28 mpg with four-wheel drive.
Safety
The 2018 Canyon received a four-star rating from the NHTSA (out of a possible five stars). In IIHS testing, the crew cab version received a Good score on all crashworthiness tests except for the passenger side front small overlap impact where it hasn't been tested yet (Good is the highest possible score). Extended-cab models didn't do as well scoring Good on all crashworthiness tests except for driver's side front small overlap and side impact tests where it got an Acceptable rating. Both cab variants of the 2018 Canyon received a Poor score on the headlights test. The truck also received a Basic rating since it's available with forward collision warning (Superior is the highest rating for the front crash prevention test). Lane departure warning is available only on certain trim levels.
Utility
With the base four-cylinder engine, the 2018 Canyon can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped. Trucks powered by the V-6 engine are more capable with a tow up to 7,000 pounds of payload. The most capable Canyon is the diesel-powered model, which can tow up to 7,700 pounds in rear-drive configuration or 7,600 pounds with four-wheel drive.
Extended-cab models can haul 1,599 pounds of payload in rear-drive configuration or 1,559 pounds with four-wheel drive. Crew cab models with the short bed are rated at 1,605 pounds of payload in rear-drive guise and 1,528 pounds with four-wheel drive. The Canyon crew cab with the long bed has the least maximum payload at 1,555 pounds in rear-drive guise or 1,459 pounds with four-wheel drive.
What We Think
In a 2017 First Test, we said that the new eight-speed automatic paired to the 308-hp 3.6-liter V-6 offers strong acceleration despite only having a slight bump in output. Denali models offer plenty of creature comforts but lack certain features like a moonroof, push button start, and fully powered front seats. Ride comfort is excellent and for a truck, the Canyon handles reasonably well. However, the eight-speed automatic is reluctant to give downshifts unless you floor it.
Cool Fact
The GMC Canyon's 3.6-liter V-6 is shared with a number of General Motors products including the Chevrolet Colorado and Camaro.
Key Competitors
- Chevrolet Colorado
- Toyota Tacoma
- Honda Ridgeline
- Nissan Frontier
- Used full-size truck
