GMC is spreading the word that its all-new 2023 Canyon midsized pickup is ready to tackle the Toyota Tacoma and others in the class. We’ve already seen what the upcoming Chevrolet Colorado, the Canyon’s corporate cousin has to offer but now it’s GMC’s turn. The YouTube channel The Fast Lane Truck and presenter Tommy Mica provide an early look at the AT4 and AT4X, the offroad-focused versions of the truck.
GMC Streamlines 2023 Canyon Powerplant
We learn that GMC has axed the gas-powered 3.6-liter V6 and Duramax diesel engines found in the previous Canyon generation. In their place, the brand will only offer a turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four that’s appeared in the larger Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. It’s also the same powerplant that sits under the hood of the 2023 Colorado.
Nick, the Canyon’s chief engineer, explains the decision to go with a single engine choice comes from the high torque of the new Canyon powerplant. According to the GMC, the estimated output is 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, which tops the V6 and diesel.
Aggressive Outside, Premium Inside
Mica delivers praise for the Canyon’s new looks. Its upright grille, menacing headlights, and squared-off wheel wells reinforce an aggressive style. This appearance helps this GMC stand out against the Colorado and clearly targets the Tacoma.
Inside, the all-new cabin represents a “100-fold” improvement over the existing model. An 11-inch center-stack touchscreen gives the interior a needed boost into modernity and the redesigned seats convey an upscale touch. There’s even a shoutout for a power moonroof, a first for a Canyon.
Four Trims For The 2023 GMC Canyon
GMC offers the new Canyon in four versions, each promising a lifted look and offroad capabilities. Starting off the lineup is the Elevation, with a starting price near $40,000. Next up the rung is the luxury-oriented Denali trim, with such niceties as perforated leather upholstery and open wood trim.
Promising enhanced offroad credentials, the AT4 comes standard with four-wheel drive, a multi-mode terrain selector, and a two-speed transfer case. The AT4X builds off this with a one-inch taller ride height, upgraded suspension components, and a desert driving mode.
GMC is selling a limited-run AT4X Edition 1 with a $63,500 starting price. The brand expects the 2023 Canyons to start rolling out of GM’s Wentzville, Missouri, factory in early 2023.
Sources: YouTube/TFL Truck, GMC