The 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab will come primarily in two trims with either an option to go for a long bed or short bed configuration strictly in Crew Cab body style. The entry-level trim, named AT4 Cloth will start from around $39,595 while the AT4 Leather trim, which boasts a better set of features, goes for around $41,395. The standard engine option is a 3.6L V6 paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission but there is always an option to go for a 2.8L turbocharged diesel engine with a 6-speed auto box, which will set you back an extra $4,800.

Whichever trim that you decide to go for, an all-wheel-drive system and off-road spec tires will come in as standard. As far as features go, both trim share majority of the equipment’s and features like off-road spec suspension, rear locking differential, and a 2-speed transfer case are a part of standard mechanical hardware. Going for the higher trim will only bring in a handful of creature comfort features like a couple of bigger displays, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and a wireless phone charging system.

Which trim should you buy?

The regular trim of the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 should suffice most of the customer requirements and does pack in all the essential features. But, since the AT4 Leather is available at just $1,800 over the AT4 Cloth trim, we would definitely recommend going for it as it packs more value for the asking price with its list of convincing upgrades.

The 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab comes in with a naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 gasoline engine as standard across the range. This engine is rated for around 308 hp and 275lb-ft of torque, which is an acceptable figure for its class. The power gets sent through an 8-speed automatic to all four-wheel making the truck good for 6.8 seconds run to 60mph from a standstill. The quarter-mile comes up in just over 15 seconds and give it some stretch, it’ll easily hit its electronic limiter at around 100mph.

For those who are looking for more grunt and towing power with better economy figures, the 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel inline-4 engine will be the better option. Even though it is rated at a lower 181hp, the 369 lb-ft of torque that kicks in from revs as low as 2000rpm helps it haul around 7,550 pounds which is over 550 pounds over its gasoline counterpart. The diesel does slightly compromise the straight-line speeds, but it surely does have the better punch to it, even when driven on the streets.

The GM siblings are the fastest trucks in the segment sharing most of the mechanical bits between them. However, the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 does take advantage of its lower curb weight compared to the Colorado ZR2 and manages to post a slightly better time than the latter. The Nissan Frontier Pro 4X is the most powerful truck here, but its higher curb weight and longer gearing make it a tad slower than the GMC and the Chevrolet. The Tacoma TRD Sport, meanwhile, comes up last, with a 0-60 run in just 7.7 seconds owing to its underpowered engine compared to the competition.

 How well does the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab handle?

 For an off-road-centric truck, the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 drives pretty well on the tarmac. The high general curd weight does give it an inherent sense of stability despite rolling considerably high over the ground. The electronic steering rack feels pretty light in use and should aid well when negotiating through off-road courses. Even though it is not the most communicative unit out there, the light operation does help in improving maneuverability.

Talking about driving in the city, there is a bit of a learning cycle before you start driving this truck as the exterior proportions do feel a bit intimidating at first. Also, one thing we did notice while going off-road is its tendency to rub the nose. We have no clue why GMC decided to fix a 3-inch wide plastic air dam contraption on the front bumper of an off-road specific truck. With just 8.2-inches of ground clearance to spare when unloaded, you are pretty much limited in this regard.

2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab Braking Performance

The braking department is one place the2021 GMC Canyon AT4 scores high. The 12.5-inch front rotors and the 12.75-inch rear rotors are some of the biggest we have measured in this category. With this hardware advantage along with just over 4400 pounds to carry around in curb weight, the GMC Canyon AT4 does shed speed pretty quickly. 130 feet stop from 60mph was the best we could squeeze out of this setup and be honest, we are quite impressed. The brakes feel really strong and for such a high-riding truck, there is minimal forward pitch action. GMC has also packed in the whole suite of stability systems so that you don’t get into trouble on any sort of terrain.

The2021 GMC Canyon AT4, with its low curb weight and one of the biggest hardware on offer, manages to stop the quickest, taking just 130 feet to come to a halt. The Colorado ZR2 meanwhile, takes a couple of feet more owing to its higher curb weight, despite sporting the same hardware as the GMC. The Tacoma did manage to stop rather decently, doing it in just 132 feet with the smallest hardware in this comparison. The Nissan does take the longest, managing to stop only in 134 feet probably owing to its hefty bodywork and middling hardware.

The2021 GMC Canyon AT4, with the standard 3.6L V6, is rated for about 17mpg of combined gas mileage, which is decent for a truck of this class. With a 21-gallon gas tank, you are looking at a real-world range of around 357 miles on a full tank of gas under mixed driving conditions. Things get a bit better on the highways as this number increases to around 18 mpg pushing the overall range close to 380 miles. If you are crazy about these economy figures then, the 2.8L diesel engine will be the option to go for as it delivers over 27 mpg on the highways.

The Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport is the most fuel-efficient truck in this comparison and returns the best figures in different driving conditions. This along with its biggest in class 21.1 gallon gas tank, extracts the best-combined range of over 400 miles. The Nissan does come close to the Toyota in figures despite being more powerful, which is impressive. The GM twins, sharing the same engines, do fall back to the pack with the lowest individual economy ratings.

This is one place the2021 GMC Canyon AT4 scores high. The overall layout of the cabin is more or less reminiscent of its predecessor but the built quality is one of the highest we have come across, especially when you have opted for the leather package. There is a lot of soft-touch materials in use all around and the aluminum cabin trims do raise the overall appeal. The infotainment screen is set high and falls right in the line of sight. The overall cabin feels ergonomic and the provision of buttons and knobs adds further functionality.

The seats feel really good and hold you in place quite well. With around 57.5-inches of shoulder room available, even the biggest of physiques will find it accommodating. Power driver seats and heating function for both front seats come in as standard equipment. Also, the 45-inches of legroom in the front and nearly 36-inches of it on the rear are some of the best we have seen. The space does carry on to the cargo bed as well, measuring around 41.3 cu-ft. Features like heated steering, wireless charging, power passenger seat, and premium audio are on offer here, but it requires to go up the trim line or fetch it individually from the options list.

Since the GMC Canyon AT4 and the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 share the same platform, they are almost identical when it comes to cabin and cargo space, which by the way measures to be the best in class. Nissan and Toyota on the other hand almost feel identical in dimensions trading blows in various aspects. The Nissan Frontier Pro 4X has the smallest cargo bay here and even though we don’t have any official measurements of the Toyota, it definitely fits more than the Nissan. Some Standout Interior features of the 2021 GMC Canyon Crew Cab AT4 are;

• 7-inch infotainment system(8-inch available)
• 4.2-inch driver information center
• 6-way power-adjustable driver seat with power lumbar
• Heated front seats
• Leather-wrapped heated multifunction steering wheel
• Front power passenger seats with lumbar control (AT4 leather)
• Leather seating surfaces (AT4 leather)
• Wireless charging (AT4 leather)

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab does come in with a 7-inch GMC infotainment touchscreen as standard and this gets coupled to a 6-speaker standard audio system. This system does support Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth music out of the box. Going for the AT4 leather trim does bring in a bigger 8-inch system which adds in a few features like voice commands and HD radio. Also, a 7-speaker Bose premium audio system does come in as an option for all trims. Some standout infotainment features of the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab are;

• 7-inch GMC infotainment system (8-inch available)
• 6-speaker standard audio system
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Sirius trial subscription
• Voice command support/ Bluetooth hands-free
• HD radio
• Optional 7-speaker Bose Premium Audio system
• Steering mounted audio controls

The 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab is definitely one of the most imposing trucks out there. Although it does not give out its true off-road credentials with its softcore looks, the big fat grille with the oversized GMC logo would give you a real impression of it. The two square headlamps flaring their sides housing the dual horizontal LED running light makes it immediately distinguishable. The big wheels fill the arches and bring about a proper stance to the machine, unlike its under-tired road-biased counterparts

The all-new GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab does bring in a lot of equipment to back up all that visual appeal. For instance, 17-inch Goodyear all-terrain tires, red recovery hooks, and the transfer case shield are standard. The off-road-tuned suspension jacks up the body by an inch over the regular truck. Other exterior features include heated power mirrors, power EZ lift and lower tailgate, LED fog lamps, projector headlamps, corner step rear bumper, spotter mirror, and so on.

The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 is the biggest and heaviest car here. The 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab, even though it shares the same platform, measures marginally small and weighs significantly less. The Nissan Frontier Pro 4X is the smallest truck here but weighs as much as the ZR2. The Nissan Frontier Pro 4X is also the truck here with the shortest wheelbase, causing it to fall short when it comes to cabin and cargo room. The Tacoma meanwhile, matches the GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab in dimension but weighs a tad bit more. Some exterior features of the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab are;

• 17-inch all-terrain tires
• Halogen projector headlamps with LED running lights
• LED fog lamps
• Power locking EZ lift and lower tailgate
• Rear corner step bumper
• Heated power-adjustable exterior mirrors

The 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab fares pretty decently when it comes to safety and has some commendable safety scores from competent testing authorities. The IIHS has given the 2021 GMC Canyon an overall “good” rating except for the driver side impact test, where it managed to only fair “medium”. The NHTSA also awarded a 4-star safety rating for the truck in the same year. However, GMC has skimped on advanced tech on the AT4 as driver assistance features only come in as an option for this range of trucks. Some safety features of the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab are;

• 6-airbags
• Electronic traction control
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control system
• HD rear vision camera ( AT4 leather)
• Rear park assist ( AT4 leather)
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• OnStar and GMC connected services

2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab vs 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab Crew cab

Both tracks, as on sharing similar platforms, come in identical when it comes to power, performance, efficiency, and space. One could say that the GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab is the premium version of a Chevrolet Colorado but in this case, the heavily off-road biased ZR2 does offer superior off-road-oriented hardware, while commanding a higher premium for that. If you are looking for a strict off-roader, which must be the case here, the ZR2 would serve you better. But, if you are looking for a premium and usable all-rounder truck, the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab comes out to be the best.

2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab vs 2021 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab

Even though the Nissan frontier pro 4X crew cab might seem like the better value on the first look with its lower starting prices and higher power output, the GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab is the one that strikes the value proposition right. With the bigger chassis, you are looking are more practicality and comfort on the GMC. Also, the lighter curb weight on the GMC, despite the bigger size, makes it a better performance both on the engine and the braking sides. Also, the better-equipped cabin and availability of plenty more options than the Nissan just make the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab a better buy overall.

2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab vs 2021 Tacoma TRD Sport Double Cab

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma does feel a bit softcore when compared to the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab and does lack the performance to match it as well. It might not be as efficient as the Tacoma but that’s what you pay for performance. Also, the GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab is slightly more occupying and is definitely a more premium execution than the Toyota. The GMC handles much better than the Toyota and also offers better off-road-ready hardware if you desire to do so. The GMC, thus, comes out on top in our opinion and should be the one to put your money on.

The new GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab is a truck that does most things right. It blends the perfect mix of performance, capability, and general usability. Measuring in as one of the biggest in its class, the GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab fairs to be the most practical one of the bunch. It handles well for its size and is one of the most comfortable ones in this segment. Also, its premier insides, with the highest levels of fit and finish are unseen in this class and make it even more desirable. It might be a bit commanding when it comes to the asking price, but it definitely has goods to justify the premium.