2026 GMC Canyon
3rd generation (2023–present)
Spec plateChecked Sep 2026
- Starting price
- $38,900
- 4x4 from
- $42,200
- Max towing
- 7,700 lb
- Max payload
- 1,640 lb
- Most power
- 310 hp
- Ground clearance
- 12.2 in
AT4X AEV Edition
Our verdict
The Canyon is the Colorado with a better interior and a higher starting price, and its AT4X is a ZR2 by another name, DSSV dampers and two lockers included. The AEV Edition adds 35s and real armor. The trade-off is towing, which drops to 5,500 lb on the AEV truck.
Best for
Midsize buyers who want Colorado ZR2-level hardware with a nicer cabin, or an AT4 with a rear locker and a lift without going all the way to AT4X.
Skip it if
You're price-shopping or need more than a 5-ft bed, since the mechanically identical Colorado starts much lower.
Strengths
- Two-inch lift and wide track are standard on every Canyon
- AT4X pairs Multimatic DSSV dampers with front and rear electronic lockers
- AT4X AEV Edition: 35-in tires, 12.2 in of clearance and 38.2-degree approach from the factory
- 310-hp, 430-lb-ft TurboMax and a 7,700-lb max tow rating
Weak spots
- Starts about $6,500 above a base Colorado because there is no work-truck trim
- Crew Cab short bed is the only configuration
- AT4X tows 6,000 lb and the AEV Edition only 5,500 lb
- AT4X AEV is EPA-rated at 16 mpg combined
Capability vs other midsize trucks
- Cabs
- Crew Cab
- Bed lengths
- 5.1 ft
- Fuel economy
- 16–19 mpg combined for 4WD models per fueleconomy.gov (4WD 19, 4WD with mud-terrain tires 18, AT4X 17, AT4X AEV 16)
- Pricing notes
- GMC.com starting prices excluding destination: Elevation 2WD $38,900; Elevation 4WD $42,200 (cheapest 4x4, per Edmunds and Cars.com); AT4 $45,500; Denali $53,300; AT4X $57,300. The AT4X AEV Edition is an extra-cost package on AT4X; GMC hasn't published a separate 2026 price for it.
- Configurations
- Crew Cab with a 5.1-ft bed only. Elevation is RWD or 4WD; AT4, AT4X and Denali are 4WD only. Every Canyon rides on a factory 2-in lift and wide track; AT4X gets 3 in, and the AT4X AEV Edition 4.5 in.
Off-road hardware
4WD / AWD system
Part-time 4WD with a two-speed Autotrac transfer case (adds an automatic 4WD mode) and transfer-case shield, listed as standard on AT4 and carried over to AT4X. 4WD is optional on Elevation and standard on AT4, AT4X and Denali. GM does not publish the 4-Low ratio.
Locking differentials
AT4: automatic locking rear differential. AT4X and AT4X AEV Edition: selectable front and rear electronic locking differentials. GMC does not list a locker for Elevation 4WD or Denali on its consumer pages.
| Approach angle | 38.2° |
|---|---|
| Breakover angle | 26.9° |
| Departure angle | 26.0° |
| Ground clearance | 12.2 in |
| Water fording | Not published |
Off-road tech
- Multimatic DSSV dampers (AT4X)
- Front and rear electronic lockers (AT4X)
- Advanced Hill Descent Control
- Terrain and Off-Road drive modes
- Baja mode with launch control (AT4X)
- Underbody cameras (AT4X)
- Off-Road Performance Display
Engines & transmissions
| Engine | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L TurboMax turbo I-4Only engine, all trims; 3.42 axle ratio. | 310 hp | 430 lb-ft | 8-speed automatic |
The off-road trims
AT4
2-in lift with 66.1-in track, two-speed Autotrac transfer case, automatic locking rear, Advanced Hill Descent Control, 18-in wheels with all-terrain tires; 9.6-in clearance, 33.5/21.0/22.4-degree approach/breakover/departure.
AT4X
3-in lift, Multimatic DSSV dampers, front and rear e-lockers, rocker protectors, Baja mode with launch control and underbody cameras; 10.7-in clearance, 37.1/24.7/25.1-degree approach/breakover/departure.
AT4X AEV Edition (package on AT4X)
4.5-in lift, 35-in Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires on 17-in beadlock-capable AEV Salta wheels, five hot-stamped boron steel skid plates, AEV steel bumpers with winch capability, bed-mounted spare; 12.2-in clearance.
What's new for 2026
Carryover mechanically. Changes include new standard wheels on two trims, revised option packaging, a new Nightfall Essentials package for AT4 and the new Coastal Dune paint color.
Rivals worth a look
Sources & data notes
These specs were checked on September 24, 2026 against the sources below, starting with the manufacturer's own material. When a figure isn't published, we leave it blank instead of estimating. Ratings are maximums for the best-equipped configuration; confirm yours on the door-jamb labels.
Sources for this page 13
- gmc.comgmc.com/trucks/canyon
- gmc.comgmc.com/trucks/canyon/at4
- gmc.comgmc.com/gmc-life/at4x-aev
- gmc.comgmc.com/explore-gmc/trailering-towing
- gmc.comgmc.com/content/dam/gmc/na/us/english/index/about/trailering-towing/2026-pdfs/2026-gmc-canyon-trailering-chart.pdf
- news.gmc.comnews.gmc.com/newsroom.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2023/jul/0706-canyon.html
- gmauthority.comgmauthority.com/blog/gm/gmc/canyon/2026-gmc-canyon/
- gmauthority.comgmauthority.com/blog/gm/gmc/canyon/2027-gmc-canyon/
- gmauthority.comgmauthority.com/blog/2026/09/2027-chevy-colorado-gmc-canyon-get-power-and-torque-increases/
- edmunds.comedmunds.com/gmc/canyon/2026/
- cars.comcars.com/research/gmc-canyon-2026/trims/
- fueleconomy.govfueleconomy.gov/ws/rest/vehicle/menu/model?year=2026&make=GMC
- fueleconomy.govfueleconomy.gov/ws/rest/vehicle/49398
Understand the hardware
