2021 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2022 GMC Canyon

2021 GMC Sierra 1500
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
$30,100MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2022 GMC Canyon
2022 GMC Canyon
$26,800MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
$30,100MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2022 GMC Canyon
$26,800MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$30,100

MSRP

$26,800

Average price

$39,478

Average price

$32,461

Listings

3141

Listings

710

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

5.7 out of 10

Expert reviews

6.3 out of 10
Pros
  • Multiple body styles
  • Multiple powertrain options
  • Easy-to-use technology
Cons
  • Outdated technology
  • Interior materials feel cheap
  • Underwhelming base engine
Pros
  • Multiple powertrain options
  • Easy-to-use technology
Cons
  • Underwhelming base engine
  • Advanced safety features are not standard
  • Poor value for money

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Reviews Summary

GMC is the “professional grade” brand at General Motors, but that’s just marketing mumbo jumbo. The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is the same thing as a Chevrolet Silverado 1500, but with different styling and a handful of unique features, like an optional carbon-fiber composite cargo bed. This year, GMC makes several changes to its full-size light-duty pickup truck, none of them earth-shattering. This remains a fundamentally appealing truck in need of attention to the details.

2022 GMC Canyon Reviews Summary

Compared to full-size models, midsize pickups offer buyers the convenience of a truck at a more budget-friendly price. Sure, you sacrifice a bit in the way of interior space and capability, but for many buyers, the smaller footprint and increased efficiency make these midsize offerings more livable.

The GMC Canyon—corporate cousin to the Chevrolet Colorado but with a more premium look and feel—gets a couple of changes for 2022. A new Denali Black Edition equipment package joins the options list, and the High Elevation package has been renamed Elevation Premium.

The 2022 GMC Canyon is available in four trim levels: Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4, and Denali. We drove the off-road-focused AT4 model for this review.

No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

4.3L 285 hp V6 Flex Fuel Vehicle

Engine

2.5L 200 hp I4

Drive Train

4X2

Drive Train

4X2

Seating Capacity

3

Seating Capacity

4

Horsepower

Horsepower

200 hp @ 6300 rpm

MPG City

16

MPG City

19

MPG Highway

21

MPG Highway

25
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
$30,100MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2022 GMC Canyon
2022 GMC Canyon
$26,800MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
$30,100MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2022 GMC Canyon
$26,800MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$30,100
$26,800
Average price
$39,478
$32,461
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.9
4.1
Expert reviews

5.7 out of 10

Read full review

6.3 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Multiple body styles
  • Multiple powertrain options
  • Easy-to-use technology
Cons
  • Outdated technology
  • Interior materials feel cheap
  • Underwhelming base engine
Pros
  • Multiple powertrain options
  • Easy-to-use technology
Cons
  • Underwhelming base engine
  • Advanced safety features are not standard
  • Poor value for money
Summary
GMC is the “professional grade” brand at General Motors, but that’s just marketing mumbo jumbo. The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is the same thing as a Chevrolet Silverado 1500, but with different styling and a handful of unique features, like an optional carbon-fiber composite cargo bed. This year, GMC makes several changes to its full-size light-duty pickup truck, none of them earth-shattering. This remains a fundamentally appealing truck in need of attention to the details.

Compared to full-size models, midsize pickups offer buyers the convenience of a truck at a more budget-friendly price. Sure, you sacrifice a bit in the way of interior space and capability, but for many buyers, the smaller footprint and increased efficiency make these midsize offerings more livable.

The GMC Canyon—corporate cousin to the Chevrolet Colorado but with a more premium look and feel—gets a couple of changes for 2022. A new Denali Black Edition equipment package joins the options list, and the High Elevation package has been renamed Elevation Premium.

The 2022 GMC Canyon is available in four trim levels: Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4, and Denali. We drove the off-road-focused AT4 model for this review.

Video
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
4.3L 285 hp V6 Flex Fuel Vehicle
2.5L 200 hp I4
Drive Train
4X2
4X2
Seating Capacity
3
4
Horsepower
200 hp @ 6300 rpm
MPG City
16
19
MPG Highway
21
25
Look and feel
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
6/10
2022 GMC Canyon
7/10

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 was a standout for its styling and the upscale Denali trim level, which was often compared to owning a Mercedes in truck circles. The Sierra AT4, priced at $66,695 MSRP, was the off-road-ready version, featuring a factory-installed 2-inch suspension lift, off-road suspension with Rancho monotube shocks, skid plates, and a two-speed Autotrac transfer case. The truck's aggressive mud-terrain tires and unique design details like red front recovery hooks and body-color trim emphasized its rugged intent. Inside, the Sierra's cabin was dominated by black plastic with some caramel seat trim and metallic accents, reflecting a more industrial-themed design.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Canyon offered a premium look and feel, especially in the luxury-oriented Denali trim. This trim featured a unique chrome grille, 20-inch diamond-cut machined alloy wheels, and a host of interior luxuries like heated and ventilated perforated front leather seats, open-pore Ash wood trim, and a Bose premium audio system. The rugged AT4 off-road version also came with premium features, including a black chrome grille, LED signature lighting, and premium heated leather front seats with Kalahari accents. The Canyon's material quality, both inside and out, was above expectations for its class, making it a strong contender in the midsize truck segment.

Performance
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
9/10
2022 GMC Canyon
8/10

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered a Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder engine as a genuine bargain at $995. This engine produced 277 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and 460 pound-feet of torque starting at just 1,500 rpm. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Duramax engine provided impressive torque and smooth gear shifts. The Sierra's automatic four-wheel-drive system was easy to use, and during testing, it maintained impressive traction in various weather conditions, averaging a fuel economy of 21.1 mpg. The AT4's suspension handled tough terrains with ease, and the truck's towing capacity reached up to 9,300 pounds with a payload rating of 2,150 pounds.

The 2022 GMC Canyon, while not matching the performance of full-size trucks, offered three powertrains: a 200-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a 308-hp 3.6-liter V6, and a 181-hp 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine with 369 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, provided abundant power and smooth shifts. The Canyon's AT4 version, equipped with 31-inch Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires and a special off-road suspension, offered stable handling and solid performance both on and off the pavement. The Canyon's towing capacity reached up to 7,700 pounds with the available Trailering package.

Form and function
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
6/10
2022 GMC Canyon
8/10

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500's crew cab offered large, supportive front seats with power adjustments, heated and cooled cushions, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats were spacious, with heated cushions and rear air conditioning vents. The CarbonPro Edition option package added a carbon fiber composite cargo bed, saving 60 pounds of curb weight and improving dent, scratch, and corrosion resistance. The Sierra's bed held between 62.9 and 89.1 cubic feet of cargo, with up to 12 cargo tie-downs. However, the cab's storage space was less impressive compared to other full-size pickups.

The 2022 GMC Canyon was available with an extended cab and 6'2" bed or a crew cab with either a 5'2" or 6'2" bed. The crew cab offered spacious seating for rear passengers, while the extended cab's back seat was less commodious. The Canyon's seats were comfortable and supportive, with power adjustments and heat for the front seats. The AT4's taller ride height provided excellent visibility, and the cargo bed with two-tier loading and 13 tie-down points made carrying and securing gear easy. The integrated corner step rear bumper facilitated access to the pickup bed.

Technology
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
7/10
2022 GMC Canyon
5/10

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 featured numerous camera-based technologies, including a surround-view camera, trailer- and bed-view cameras, and a rear camera mirror. The optional Technology Package added a 15-inch head-up display and an 8-inch driver information display. The Sierra's infotainment system offered a choice between a 7-inch and an 8-inch touchscreen display, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. The Bose premium sound system was adequate but not as impressive as competitors' audio systems.

The 2022 GMC Canyon's Elevation Standard trim came with a 7-inch color touchscreen infotainment system, while the Elevation trim offered an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth streaming audio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The AT4 added a wireless smartphone charging pad, and the Denali trim included navigation, a high-definition rearview camera, and several driver-assist features. The Canyon's infotainment system with navigation included an 8-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, in-vehicle apps, and a Bose premium audio system.

Safety
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
4/10
2022 GMC Canyon
4/10

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered optional forward collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and automatic emergency braking. The Denali trim included blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning, with lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a Safety Alert Seat available on other trims. Adaptive cruise control was optional for the Sierra SLT, AT4, and Denali. The Sierra earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Marginal" ratings from the IIHS for front passenger protection and LATCH anchor accessibility.

The 2022 GMC Canyon's base Elevation Standard trim lacked advanced driver aids but included tire-fill alert and the Teen Driver system. The Driver Alert package, available on the Elevation and AT4 and standard on the Denali, included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking assistance. The Canyon earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS in most crash tests, except for a "Poor" rating in the front passenger-side small overlap test and "Marginal" rating for LATCH anchors.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is 5.7 out of 10, while the 2022 GMC Canyon scores 6.3 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2022 GMC Canyon is the better choice, offering a more premium feel, better material quality, and a higher overall rating.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 is 5.7 out of 10, while the 2022 GMC Canyon scores 6.3 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2022 GMC Canyon is the better choice, offering a more premium feel, better material quality, and a higher overall rating.

CarGurus logo

By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

Popular vehicle comparisons

2023 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD vs 2024 GMC Canyon2023 Ford Ranger vs 2023 GMC Canyon2023 RAM 1500 vs 2023 GMC Canyon2023 Toyota Tundra vs 2023 GMC Canyon2023 Ford F-150 vs 2023 GMC Canyon2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2023 GMC Canyon2023 Honda Ridgeline vs 2023 GMC Canyon2023 RAM 1500 vs 2024 GMC Canyon2023 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2023 GMC Canyon2023 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD vs 2023 GMC Canyon2023 GMC Sierra 2500HD vs 2023 GMC Canyon2023 Toyota Tacoma vs 2023 GMC Canyon2023 Honda Ridgeline vs 2024 GMC Canyon2023 GMC Sierra 2500HD vs 2024 GMC Canyon2023 Toyota Tacoma vs 2024 GMC Canyon2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD vs 2023 GMC Sierra 15002022 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2022 Nissan Titan2022 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD2022 Toyota Tacoma vs 2023 GMC Canyon2022 Ford F-150 vs 2023 GMC Canyon2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2023 GMC Canyon2022 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2023 GMC Sierra 15002022 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2022 GMC Sierra 15002022 RAM 2500 vs 2023 GMC Canyon2022 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2023 GMC Canyon2022 Ford F-150 vs 2023 GMC Sierra 15002022 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2022 Toyota Tacoma2022 Toyota Tacoma vs 2023 GMC Sierra 15002022 Nissan Frontier vs 2023 GMC Canyon2022 RAM 3500 vs 2023 GMC Sierra 15002021 Ford F-350 Super Duty vs 2022 GMC Sierra 15002021 GMC Canyon vs 2022 GMC Sierra 3500HD2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2022 GMC Sierra 15002021 GMC Sierra 3500HD vs 2022 GMC Sierra 15002021 GMC Canyon vs 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 15002021 Nissan Titan vs 2022 GMC Sierra 15002021 GMC Canyon vs 2022 Toyota Tacoma2021 GMC Canyon vs 2022 Toyota Tundra2021 GMC Canyon vs 2022 RAM 35002021 RAM 1500 vs 2022 GMC Sierra 15002021 GMC Canyon vs 2020 Nissan Frontier2021 Ford F-150 vs 2022 GMC Sierra 15002021 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2022 GMC Sierra 15002021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD vs 2022 GMC Sierra 15002020 GMC Canyon vs 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 15002020 GMC Canyon vs 2020 Ford F-1502020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD vs 2020 GMC Canyon2020 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD vs 2020 GMC Canyon2020 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2021 Chevrolet Colorado2020 Honda Ridgeline vs 2021 GMC Canyon2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD vs 2020 GMC Canyon2020 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2021 Toyota Tacoma2020 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2020 GMC Canyon2020 GMC Canyon vs 2020 RAM 35002020 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty2020 GMC Canyon vs 2020 Ford Ranger2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2021 GMC Canyon2019 RAM 1500 vs 2020 GMC Canyon2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 RAM 15002019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD vs 2020 GMC Canyon2019 Ford Ranger vs 2020 GMC Canyon2019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Nissan Titan2019 RAM 1500 vs 2020 GMC Sierra 15002019 Honda Ridgeline vs 2020 GMC Sierra 15002019 Toyota Tundra vs 2020 GMC Canyon2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2019 GMC Sierra 15002019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs 2020 GMC Sierra 15002019 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD2019 RAM 3500 vs 2020 GMC Sierra 15002019 Nissan Titan vs 2020 GMC Sierra 1500