Looking for a midsize pickup truck but not sure which one to choose? Check out our comprehensive comparison of the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado to help you make the right decision for your needs. Read now and find the perfect truck for you!
Performance & Mileage Parallel
Both GMC and Chevrolet axed the previous engines in favor of a more powerful and efficient 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine.
For the new Colorado, Chevrolet offers only one engine choice, but the engine comes with three different levels of power. The 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine inside the WT and LT offers 237 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque. The costlier Z71 and Trail Boss trims offer a Turbo Plus variant of the engine, capable of churning out 310 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque.
Both the Turbo and Turbo Plus engines can tow up to 7,700 pounds, making them excellent machines for daily work. The top-line ZR2 offers a “High-Output Engine” cranking out 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Although this unit offers more torque, the towing capacity is limited to 6,000 pounds because of modifications. Although this unit has higher torque, changes have reduced the towing capacity to 6,000 pounds.
Unlike the Colorado, GMC sells the Canyon with just one engine. All variants come with the 2.7-liter turbocharged high-performance engine as standard equipment. This machine generates 430 lb-ft of torque and 310 horsepower. Towing capacity ranges from 7,700 pounds in the AT4, Elevation, and Denali trims to 6000 pounds in the AT4X trim and 5,500 pounds with the AT4X Edition 1 Package installed. The Canyon, on the other hand, has a 21.5-gallon gasoline tank, which will extend the vehicle’s range.
Although we don’t know how quickly either of these trucks will accelerate, we anticipate the GMC Canyon to be quicker than the Colorado. The smaller curb weight and the greater wheel diameters are the two main causes of this. The GMC Canyon’s base model weighs 4,430 pounds, whereas the Colorado’s base model weighs 4716 pounds more. Additionally, the Canyon’s lower-level vehicles, which have 9.6 inches of ground clearance, perform better off-road.
Design Comparison
You already know how much the old GMC Canyon needs a revamp if you are familiar with it. Thankfully, GMC gave the Canyon the herculean look it merits. The fascia of the Canyon has a bad-boy appearance with a huge headlight unit that features DRLs that are L-shaped and extend from the top to the bottom. A set of LED lamps is included in this unit for the low beams, and a sizable LED lamp is included for the high beams.
The new grille features a distinctive design with a honeycomb grille concealed under rectangular chrome or black accents. The AT4X trim also has a redesigned off-road bumper with a bigger winch, a performance skid plate, a safari bar, and a new 30-inch LED bar for enhanced visibility at night. These additions make the trim look sportier.
After eleven long years, Chevrolet has finally unveiled the third-generation Colorado. The façade of Colorado has been remodeled, giving it a powerful and contemporary look. The new Colorado appears meaner and more posh than the previous model. A pair of wedge-shaped headlamps with a set of dazzling bi-LED headlamps and thin DRLs take center stage on the Colorado’s fascia.
A sizable black grille with honeycomb housings and a thick black belt with a Chevy “bow tie” and ZR2 or Z71 badges are displayed in the fascia’s center. The hood has more definition than before, and Colorado looks more muscular thanks to the sculpted body lines. Overall, Colorado appears more seasoned and toned. Therefore, due to its sportier look, more features, and more rugged appearance, we prefer the GMC Canyon’s exterior design.
Interior Comparison
The Canyon features a stunning cabin, which is unusual for pickup trucks, to say the least. The interior has a very premium appearance, with a modern design and high-quality materials used throughout. The luxury factor is increased by robust seating materials, high-quality hard plastics, leatherette accents, and high-quality interior components. Accents made of open-pore wood or carbon fiber are available for the dashboard. The majority of interior components are also embellished with quilted leather surfaces or white leatherette with red stitching.
Interior-wise, the Colorado and Canyon are pretty similar, and it looks fantastic for a work truck. Nevertheless, Chevrolet has embellished the Colorado’s interior with tough materials and assured superior quality. A metal-looking component separates the two displays on the dashboard in a similar fashion. The controls are quite user-friendly, well labeled, and ergonomically positioned, much like the Canyon’s dashboard. Interior trim made of Artemis or jet black is used to embellish the dashboard’s components.
The Colorado and Canyon seats are both quite comfortable and spacious. Premium leather, vinyl, or cloth seats are available. Living inside is fairly pleasant thanks to the front seats’ 40.3-inch headroom and 45.2-inch legroom. For medium-sized people, back passengers have 34.7 inches of legroom and 38.2 inches of headroom.
Infotainment & Related Features
Colorado provides heated front seats, power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, premium fabric seats, or perforated leather seats. The driver has an 11.3-inch touchscreen, an 8- or 11-inch instrument cluster, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Colorado provides the Chevrolet Safety Package, rear cross-traffic alert, ACC, HD rearview camera, and pedestrian alert as safety features.
The GMC Canyon is more expensive than the latter, but it adds all the aforementioned features as well as a seven-speaker Bose audio system, an 11-inch instrument cluster, a 6.3-inch HUD, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The Denali trim level and AT4X both gain the inclusion of a safety alert seat.
The GMC Canyon AT4X is the first pickup truck to have an off-road safari bar, a 30-inch LED bar, and a front and rear underbody camera with a wash function, making it more equipped than the Chevrolet Colorado.
Verdict
It’s very clear from a comparison of the two vehicles that the GMC Canyon is the better vehicle. It includes a more powerful engine as standard equipment, a brawnier exterior, a plusher interior, and more advanced amenities. But those looking for a truck on a tighter budget should head to Colorado. You can create a Canyon for $30,975 and a Colorado for $28,250 on their respective websites, with two-wheel drive and the most affordable trims and body choices.
The Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger are two current rivals that offer strong options. In contrast to the recently updated Ford Ranger, which features an F-150-inspired appearance and a Raptor performance variant, the Toyota Tacoma is scheduled for an overhaul in 2024 that could include an electric version.
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