The GMC Canyon was already one of the most stylish pickup trucks you could buy if you were shopping for a midsize truck in Woodbridge, Vaughan, Brampton, Kleinburg, Mississauga, or anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area. The all-new 2023 GMC Canyon doesn’t just raise the bar for rivals in the midsize pickup truck segment; it gets close to putting it out of reach. The new styling is enough to make many want to own one, but the new Canyon gets even more desirable when you find out more about what’s going on underneath that stylish exterior.
Depending on what you consider to be a trim level and what is just an upgrade package for an existing trim, there are either four or five trim levels in the 2023 GMC Canyon lineup. The entry-level model is the Elevation, which is standard rear-wheel-drive with four-wheel-drive available. The rest of the range goes to the AT4, AT4X, and the range-topping Denali, which are all standard four-wheel-drive.
The ultimate 2023 GMC Canyon comes in the shape of the AT4X Edition 1 Package, which the manufacturer describes as subject to “extremely limited availability.” It’s not certain how many will be produced, but this exclusive model is something really special. The Edition 1 takes the already sensational AT4X specification and adds two underbody cameras with washers, a reconfigurable bed rail system, trim-specific 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, a Comeup winch, plenty of skid plates, a 30-inch light bar, and a unique AT4X Edition 1 bumper with a safari bar.
With its new front grille and narrow LED lights that promote an increasingly bold, aggressive, and imposing stance, the all-new 2023 GMC Canyon begs you to investigate further. The taller stance is partly thanks to increased ground clearance due to 2.0- and 3.0-inch factory lifts, which is the first clue telling you the new Canyon is more focused on off-road performance than ever. The AT4 was already a capable performer off-road, but the AT4X goes further in that direction, and the Edition 1 Package is a mountain goat on four wheels.
But despite a lot of advanced off-road and other technology on board the new Canyon, there’s also a simplification of the specifications this year that many shoppers will welcome. There are still plenty of choices for you to get the right truck for your needs, but a lot of what were relatively superfluous configurations are no longer offered. Therefore, the Canyon is now exclusively available as a crew cab model with a short bed and a single powertrain.
Some people insist that statistics can be manipulated to say or prove anything you want, but some numbers just don’t lie. For a start, the engine under the hood of every 2023 GMC Canyon is a 2.7-litre turbo-four that develops 310 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque, which goes to the wheels through a quick-shifting new eight-speed automatic transmission. There are no different tunings here. Every model in the range gets the High Output version, which helps to deliver some serious capability.
The maximum towing and hauling capacities vary by trim level and specification, but they still make excellent reading. The AT4X Edition 1 is all about off-road capability and less about towing and hauling, so it can tow up to 2,495 kg (5,500 pounds) and haul up to 458 kg (1,010 pounds). The best towing comes from the Elevation, AT4, and Denali models, which can all handle a best-in-class 3,493 kg (7,700 pounds). The model with the highest payload capacity is the Elevation at 744 kg (1,640 pounds) in rear-drive form and 721 kg (1,590 pounds) in four-wheel-drive form.
As well as excellent towing, hauling, and off-road capability, the 2023 GMC Canyon also includes the very latest safety and river-assist technology, such as underbody cameras, a Head-Up Display, and a fully digital driver information centre. Experience all this and more with a test drive in the new Canyon from Roy Foss Chevrolet Buick GMC here at 2 Auto Park Circle, Woodbridge, ON, or call us at (905) 850-1000 for an appointment that fits your schedule.
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