2021 GMC Canyon vs 2022 Toyota Tacoma

The second-generation GMC Canyon had been around for a while, first arriving as a 2015 model after a two-year hiatus. The most notable changes to the Canyon included an enlarged grille and a revised front bumper, aligning it aesthetically with its full-size sibling, the GMC Sierra. Despite these updates, the Canyon largely remained the same truck, which could have been an issue in the full-size truck market but was less so in the midsize pickup space. The cabin, while functional with a sensible layout for controls, featured plenty of hard plastics and mediocre fit-and-finish. Trims for the Canyon included Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4, and Denali, each offering various levels of features and amenities.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma, despite a 2020 facelift, was starting to show signs of aging. The exterior looked contemporary with its aggressive grille and headlights, but the cabin revealed its age with a mix of new elements and older buttons and switchgear. Trim levels for the Tacoma included SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro. Standard features on the SR included 16-inch steel wheels, a manually sliding rear window, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Higher trims added more features, with the TRD Pro offering unique exterior styling, added underbody skid plates, and a TRD-tuned suspension.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. An optional 3.6-liter V6 engine, standard on the AT4 and Denali trims, delivered 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, a 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel engine was available, offering 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Canyon's base engine struggled to move the truck, making the V6 a more viable option, though it still required aggressive throttle input for lively performance. The Duramax engine had potential but was limited by its six-speed transmission. The Canyon AT4, equipped with the gas V6 and 4WD, performed confidently on trails and maintained good on-road manners. The Canyon could tow up to 7,700 pounds with the turbodiesel engine and had a payload capacity of 1,605 pounds.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma's base engine was a 2.7-liter four-cylinder producing 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, which was underpowered and offered no significant fuel economy advantage. The optional 3.5-liter V6 engine, making 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, was recommended for better performance. Both engines routed power through a six-speed automatic transmission, with the TRD models offering a six-speed manual option. The V6 struggled to achieve confident highway speeds due to its transmission gearing but provided decent acceleration around town. The TRD Pro excelled off-road, with features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control enhancing its trail capabilities. The Tacoma had a maximum towing capacity of 6,800 pounds and a payload capacity of 1,685 pounds.

The 2021 GMC Canyon was available in Extended Cab and Crew Cab variants. The Extended Cab featured rear-hinged half-doors and small, second-row jump seats, suitable for children or storage. The Crew Cab, with four full doors, offered more usable rear-seat space. The Canyon provided a commanding driving position, though seat adjustment was awkward. Storage included a center console, center stack space, and small door trays. The Canyon offered two bed sizes: a short (5-foot-2) box and a long (6-foot-2) box, with the Extended Cab only available with the long box. The Canyon featured GM's CornerStep rear bumper and an EZ lift-and-lower tailgate with remote power locking.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma was available in Access Cab and Double Cab body styles, with a five-foot bed and a six-foot-one-inch bed. The Access Cab had clamshell rear half-doors and tight rear jump seats, best for children or storage. The Double Cab, with four full doors, offered slightly better but still limited rear-seat space. The front seats provided ample legroom, but the tilt/telescoping steering wheel's limited range could be an issue for taller drivers. The Tacoma's cab featured plenty of cupholders and storage. The bed included in-bed lighting and a wall-style power outlet.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the latest GMC infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system featured crisp graphics and an easy-to-use menu layout, with helpful hard buttons and dials. An 8-inch screen was optional on the Elevation and AT4 trims and standard on the Denali, which also included navigation, HD radio, and a wireless charging pad. The Denali featured a 4.2-inch color driver display in the instrument panel, operated via a directional pad on the steering wheel.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma's base infotainment system was a 7-inch touchscreen, with an 8-inch screen standard on all trims except the SR. The system had a basic layout with large icons, making it user-friendly. The infotainment system was an older Toyota design, familiar to many shoppers. The Tacoma included a wireless device charger, though it required manual activation. Advanced tech features were limited, but the system was reliable and easy to use.

The 2021 GMC Canyon's standard safety features included a rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring system, front-and-side-impact airbags, traction control, and the Teen Driver system. The Driver Alert package, standard on the Denali and optional on other trims, included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking alert. The Denali also featured an upgraded HD backup camera and Hitch Guidance.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma came standard with driver assistance features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The backup camera was standard but had a grainy image. The 2022 Tacoma received a four-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).