Last last month, the 2023 Chevy Colorado was revealed as an all-new next-generation Ford Ranger competitor ahead of the latter model’s launch in the U.S., which is set to happen next year. GM also debuted the next-gen ZR2, a high-performance off-roader that will compete directly with the new Ranger Raptor, which will also be launching in the U.S. for the very first time in 2023, likely for the 2024 model year. However, the Ranger/Ranger Raptor will be doing battle not only with the Colorado ZR2 and Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, but also the new 2023 GMC Canyon and its off-road-focused AT4X variant, too.
Like the 2023 Chevy Colorado, the 2023 GMC Canyon features sharper, edgier styling on the outside when compared to its predecessor, giving it a far more aggressive appearance. Taller and wider than the current-gen model, the new Canon also offers improved approach, departure and breakover angles for off-roading purposes, along with one single configuration – crew cab with a short bed, just like the Colorado. Elevation, AT4, and Denali trims sit two inches higher than before, while the AT4X has been lifted three inches.
The third-generation 2023 GMC Canyon stays true to the brand’s more luxurious reputation with an all-new interior featuring a head-up display for the AT4X and Denali, as well as an 11.3-inch infotainment screen and an 11-inch digital gauge cluster for higher trims, while lesser models get a smaller eight-inch gauge display. Denali models also receive open-pore wood on the dash with a laser-etched design, along with quilted leather on the dash, seats, and door panels.
In terms of powertrains, the 2023 GMC Canyon gets one, like the Colorado – GM’s turbocharged 2.7L four-cylinder powerplant, but unlike its Chevy counterpart, is only available with one output across the board – 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Canon offers up to 7,700 pounds of max towing capacity. Wheel and tire options range greatly by trim, from 17-20 inches, with the off-road-oriented AT4X riding on 285/70R-17 Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT rubber.
Pricing for the 2023 GMC Canyon will start out at around $40,000, while the range-topping AT4X Edition 1 – which adds a host of goodies including a front bash bar, skid plate, a 30-inch light bar in the front grille, 17-inch beadlock wheels, a winch, and unique badging – will cost buyers at least $63,350. Production is currently scheduled to begin in early 2023, with the AT4X following in the spring.
We’ll have more on everything Ford’s competition is up to soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for 24/7 Ford news coverage.
Comments
Sometimes I think that GMC only exists is so the BUICK dealers can sell trucks just like the CHEVROLET dealers do. Otherwise it’s more of the same duplication and overlap that has been the epitome of GM forever. Nice truck just the same.
Way, way back in the olden days, there really were differences. GMCs were generally fitted with bigger wheel bearings, heavier brakes. Other examples: the Chevy might have a beefed version of the 2-speed PowerGlide automatic, when the GMC got the 4-speed HydraMatic. The bigger engine in a GMC might be a Pontiac “straight 8”.
Later on, GMC became a brand for agencies that sold makes that offered no truck line of any kind. An example was an AMC dealer in Pasadena CA that had GMC, and did a brisk business in trucks all the way up to Class 9.
Yes, GMC’s were known to be the ‘Work truck’, and Chev was street/small errand truck. Ford never bought out or merged other truck companies, so they came out with the F150 F250 f350 etc, then the SuperDuty line. Well, they bought Mercury I guess, but I don’t know if Mercury had a truck before Ford bought them, or Ford made the Mercury truck.
Material quality looks nice in the pictures, but the design seems off to me. Does not fit with a truck!
I think MERCURY trucks were built and sold in Canada only. The only real reason the MERCURY division existed was so LINCOLN dealers would have a lower cost brand since FORD and LINCOLN/MERCURY were separate dealer networks at one time.
Great, another 60K truck. Looks nice, but the 2.7 litre, 4 cylinder sounds like a bunch of nails rattling around in a coffee can.
Regardless of engine type, people aren’t going to like the way it sounds. I remember how people disparaged the old 6.8L v10 saying it sounded like Angry Grandpa after his giant taco.
4 poppers are here to stay so what can you do? Get used to them or don’t drive. Who says you have to buy the 60k version?
40.000! The out going Canyon is like 25,000 ish. Like the interior but stop paying for this nonsense
I’ll buy the one with the most rustfree panels as that’s the biggest issue in the rust belt- no one wants a rust bucket that’s only a few years old