Third-Generation GMC Canyon Debuts with Tough, Pricey AT4X Model

• The 2023 GMC Canyon adds a twin to the off-roading ZR2 Colorado in the form of the AT4X.

• GMC's mid-size truck has been redesigned with a wider track and strong proportions.

• Along with the beefed-up exterior, the new Canyon also features a redesigned interior with an 11.3-inch touchscreen.

Two weeks after Chevy unveiled the new Colorado, GMC pulled the sheet back, shedding light on squared-off styling for the mid-size GMC truck. From the look of things, GMC has been force-feeding the Canyon scoops of pre-workout and creatine for the last year in a bulking effort. It worked. The 2023 Canyon is entering its third generation alongside its GM sibling, the Chevy Colorado.

GMC is eager to stay on the more luxurious end of the mid-size-truck market, hitting the Canyon with a spritz of luxury. Each trim line comes with a color scheme unique to that trim. The Canyon sits on a new, wider track than previous years and comes with 2.0 inches of lift on Elevation, AT4, and Denali trims, with 3.0 inches reserved for the AT4X.

The new AT4X will come at a $64,000-plus price, nearly $20,000 higher than the 2022 ZR2's MSRP. That price launches it past competitors including the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Ford Ranger Raptor, landing it in the ballpark closer to off-roading monsters like the Bronco Raptor. According to GMC, the price of the Elevation will also be going up, starting at an estimated $41,495. The AT4, which GMC told us was the most popular Canyon sold in the last generation, is priced at a more reasonable $42,495.

All New Everything

Much like with the Colorado, GMC is paring down the options this year. Each Canyon will come in a four-door crew-cab configuration. Unlike with the Colorado, each new Canyon will come equipped with the same 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. No official fuel economy numbers have been published yet, and none were supplied by the manufacturer, though the engines are equipped with active fuel management and stop/start technology. Equipped with the trailer package, the new Canyon will be able to tow up to 7700 pounds. That figure drops to 6000 pounds in the AT4X model, and a further 500 pounds for the AT4Xs equipped with the Edition 1 package.

The Canyon improves its approach angle this year to 36.9 degrees. Slightly worse than the 38.3-degree approach of the Chevy ZR2 but better than the 35.0-degree approach on the Tacoma TRD Pro. The improved approach angle comes with the front air dam being removed, and the front axle moving farther forward. The 17-inch wheels found on the AT4X are wrapped in 285/70R-17 Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires to provide optimal traction in suboptimal conditions. Elevation and AT4 trims will come ride on 18-inch wheels, with Denali trims riding high on 20s.