Pickup trucks don’t have significant changes as often as cars or SUVs do. But when they do enter a new generation, it is a drastic difference from the outgoing model. Take for example the all-new 2023 GMC Canyon Denali. Nearly every part on this truck has changed from the previous generation.
Performance
Engine – One change to the 2023 GMC Canyon that may not sit well with some is the replacement of the inline-4, V6 and Duramax turbo-diesel engines. This 3rd generation GMC Canyon is only available with a 2.7L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It produces 310 hp & 430 lb-ft of torque (231 kW & 583 Nm). The power of this 2.7L engine is similar to that of the old V6 while the torque is more than the diesel. With the power output of this engine, the 2023 Canyon Denali feels decently quick for something that weighs 2,204 kg (4,860 lbs). It doesn’t feel like there’s too much turbo lag once the engine is in its “sweet spot” but the peak torque figure is reached as a pretty high 3,000 rpms. Most turbo engines these days produce peak torque at around 2,000 rpms. But regardless, GM has managed to cut costs by combining the power of the V6 with the torque of the diesel. However, this engine doesn’t fix everything.
Fuel Economy – This new engine is rated for 13.2 L/100km (17.8 MPG) in a city and 10.9 L/100km (21.6 MPG) on a highway. The city fuel economy is better than that of the old V6 but highway fuel economy is not. Furthermore, the Duramax diesel engine had better fuel economy in both scenarios. During my time with the truck, I averaged 12.5 L/100km (18.8 MPG) which is within the rated fuel economy numbers but I feel like I probably could have achieved better numbers with the turbo-diesel engine. What’s more, I averaged the same fuel economy figure in the Toyota Tacoma which has a big V6 engine. So while the new 2.7L turbo engine is powerful, it doesn’t replace the diesel’s excellent fuel economy figures.
Transmission – Paired with this turbo 4-cylinder engine is an 8-speed automatic transmission. In everyday driving situations, the transmission shifts gears very smoothly. They’re hardly noticeable. But when you need a burst of acceleration to overtake another vehicle, this transmission is very slow to react. It takes a few moments before the transmission downshifts to the appropriate gear. Additionally, you can actually feel the truck slowing down, momentarily, until the transmission finally selects the appropriate gear for the burst of acceleration. The driver can take over controls via the buttons on the side of the gear selector but the manual mode is even slower to react than a stab of the throttle.
Braking – One area of the 2023 GMC Canyon’s powertrain that does not need any improvements is the braking system. The brakes are strong and the brake pedal inspires confidence when you put your foot on it.
Handling – The GMC Canyon is not a baja truck or some form of sports truck. That means that the steering is light for ease of maneuverability but it feels stable through corners and at highway speeds. The 2023 Canyon sits a bit higher off the ground due to the standard 2” factory lift but it is also wider than the previous generation. Overall, it’s an easy truck to drive whether it’s on back country roads or in a bustling city.
Capability – This new truck is capable of towing up to 7,700 lbs and carrying up to 1,360 lbs. But don’t plan on carrying very long items because, for the time being, the 2024 Canyon is only available as a crew cab with a 5-foot bed. The box’s total length is 61.7” by 58.1” in width. The width between the wheel gaps is 45.5”. The bed has two tie down points at each corner along with a 120-volt plug and bedlighting. The tailgate is damped and features a small storage compartment inside it that is waterproof. There are also GM’s corner bumper steps which make getting into the bed a lot easier.
As for off-road capability, in Canada the 2023 Canyon comes standard with 4×4. As I mentioned earlier, this truck has a factory 2” lift with the AT4X trim receiving a 3” lift along with more knobbly off-road tires. This Denali is also equipped with a 2-speed transfer case and an automatic locking rear differential. This diff will only lock once it detects wheel spin. You cannot lock it whenever you, the driver, want to. You’ll have to go for the AT4X trim if you want to manually control the locking differentials.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The GMC Canyon Denali strikes a good balance between a comfortable ride and driving dynamics. With an unladen bed, the suspension doesn’t make the truck feel too bouncy over potholes or uneven road surfaces. It smoothly absorbs the bumps and feels almost like a big SUV.
One thing that I would change are the seats. The padding is a bit too firm and on longer journeys, your bum could feel numb.
Interior Space – The new Canyon is a little bit bigger than the outgoing model. However, the interior passenger volume is not a drastic difference between the two. Front occupants still have plenty of legroom and headroom with a tall driving position. Rear occupants don’t have as much space as the front occupants but the Canyon has a bit more space than its mid-size truck competitors. There is a little bit of storage underneath the 60/40 rear seats but it’s not a lot.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The Canyon Denali is a quiet truck while driving through a bustling city or down a highway. Engine noise is not too loud, even when accelerating at a normal pace from a stop. It is, however, more noticeable when you have your foot to the floor. Wind and road noise are equally well isolated from the cabin with minimal intrusion at highway speeds. The truck is equipped with an auto start/stop function that is smooth to turn off and on the engine. If you don’t like it, there’s a physical button on the dashboard to turn this function off.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – Like many vehicles in today’s market, the GMC Canyon is more expensive than before. The 2024 GMC Canyon Elevation 4WD starts at $45,603 CAD ($39,300 USD) with the 2WD version, that is only available for the American market, starting at $36,000 USD. This Canyon Denali starts at $59,603 CAD ($51,000 USD) with the as-tested price of $61,698 CAD ($53,350 USD).
Gadgets – In terms of features, the Canyon Denali doesn’t stray too much from the previous generation Denali. It can still be equipped with heated & ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, sunroof, dual zone automatic climate control, a head-up display, a wireless phone charging pad, surround view cameras, and much more.
Some key differences include keyless entry with push button start, a full digital driver instrumentation display with different customization options, and the updated GMC infotainment system. It is displayed on an 11.3” touchscreen with sharp resolution and good looking graphics. It runs on Android Automotive with Google functions built-in.
Interior Design – I cannot say how the updated GMC Canyon’s interior look and feel is on lower trim levels but on this Denali, it is a really nice place to be in. The quilted leather looks great as does the wood trim. The truck keeps physical controls for most commonly used functions, except for one. More on that in a bit. But one material that I do not like is the gloss black across the climate controls and on the center console around the gear selector. It attracts dust, fingerprints, scratches, and who knows what else. It will not look good after a few months if it is not taken care of.
The one feature that no longer has physical controls is the headlight function. The left steering wheel stalk operates the wipers, turn signals, and the high beams. The truck has auto on/off headlights which turn on when the ambient light is darker or when the wipers are turned on. However, if the driver wants to turn on the headlights & taillights when there is fog for example, you have to press a tiny little red icon on the touchscreen and then select from the options that appear. When the truck is stationary, this is easy. When you’re moving down a bumpy road, this is much more difficult and very distracting. Not only do you have to shift your focus away from the road ahead but it’s hard to press that little red icon when driving over bumps.
Safety – The 2023 GMC Canyon comes equipped with just enough standard safety features. Some of which include forward collision alert with emergency braking, lane departure warning with lane keep, 6 airbags, Teen Driver, and more. But while it may not come with standard rear cross traffic braking or blind zone steering assist or HD surround view cameras, these features are available as options on the base Elevation trim.
Warranty – The 2023 GMC Canyon Denali is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle warranty and a 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. In America, these warranties are 3 years / 36,000 miles and 5 years / 60,000 miles respectively. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – The all-new 2023 GMC Canyon Denali is a big change from the outgoing model. It is still one of the most capable and spacious mid-size trucks with well thought out features such as the bumper step or tailgate cargo box. But it’s not all perfect. While the new engine is powerful, it’s not as efficient as the old diesel or some competitor V6 & turbo 4-cylinder engines. Additionally, the lack of headlight controls could be a major distraction to some but a lot will not like the one and only cab/box configuration. This could have consumers looking at other brands for a truck with a bigger bed.
Thank you to GMC Canada for providing the vehicle. www.GMCcanada.ca
2023 GMC Canyon Denali Gallery
