2021 Toyota Tacoma vs 2022 GMC Canyon

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma had a formidable, quintessential truck-like design. Its rugged appearance was characterized by boxy fender flares, a tall hood, and a shield-like grille, all contributing to its pronounced square and imposing look. This contrast was noticeable against the more streamlined Ford Ranger and General Motors' midsize twins. The Tacoma steered clear of the exaggerated features seen in larger trucks, such as Toyota’s Tundra.

Distinct Tacoma models featured unique styling cues. The 2021 Trail Edition included 16-inch TRD Off-Road alloy wheels, a Tacoma Limited grille, and a selection of model-specific colors. The Nightshade Edition showcased blacked-out trim, whereas the TRD Pro flaunted a model-specific grille with "Toyota" block lettering, a blacked-out hood and fender flares, Rigid Industries LED fog lights, and for 2021, the exclusive Lunar Rock color.

Sticking with the traditional body-on-frame construction, the Tacoma was designed for robust towing and off-road capabilities. Toyota discontinued the basic two-door cab, offering only the Access Cab and Double Cab configurations. The Access Cab featured rear half doors and a 127.4-inch wheelbase with a 73.7-inch bed. The Double Cab provided four full-size doors and was available in two configurations: a 127.4-inch wheelbase with a 60.5-inch bed or a 140.6-inch wheelbase with a 73.7-inch bed.

Inside, the Tacoma’s cabin matched its tough exterior with a rugged dashboard made of durable plastic elements. While the material quality was reasonable for a base model, it seemed a bit underwhelming for the TRD Pro's base price, even with optional leather upholstery. However, the included features and off-road-focus justified the interior design to some extent.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Canyon portrayed a more premium aesthetic, especially in the Denali trim. The Denali featured a unique chrome grille, 20-inch diamond-cut machined alloy wheels, five-inch chrome assist steps, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation, heated and ventilated perforated front leather seats, open-pore Ash wood trim, Denali-embossed sill plates and floor mats, and a high-quality Bose audio system.

The Canyon AT4 added to the premium feel with rugged styling elements such as a black chrome grille and surround, LED signature lighting, unique 17-inch wheels, soft-touch instrument panel, and premium heated leather front seats with Kalahari accents and "AT4" embroidered headrests. The cabin emanated a luxurious yet sporty ambiance, enhanced by off-road aesthetic features.

Lower trims like Elevation and Elevation Standard offered more basic designs with standard GM switchgear and materials but still exceeded segment expectations in overall material quality.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma presented two powertrain options: a base 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine producing 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, and an optional 3.5-liter V6 offering 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. The V6 utilized Toyota's D4S fuel-injection system, combining port and direct injection for improved fuel economy. The four-cylinder engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 came with an option of a six-speed manual or automatic.

Equipped with coil-spring front suspension and leaf-spring rear suspension, the Tacoma provided a solid off-road platform, further enhanced in TRD models. The TRD Off-Road model included features like a locking rear differential, Bilstein shocks, Multi-Terrain Select drive modes, and Crawl Control. The TRD Pro added Fox internal-bypass shocks, progressive-rate leaf springs, a front skid plate, wider wheels, and a front lift. Despite its off-road prowess, the TRD Pro's on-road performance was less impressive, marked by slow acceleration, hesitant shifts from the six-speed automatic, and subpar ride quality.

The 2022 GMC Canyon offered three powertrain options: a 200-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a 308-hp 3.6-liter V6, and a 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder producing 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Maximum towing capacity was highest with the turbodiesel and V6 engines, reaching 7,700 pounds with the Trailering package. The base four-cylinder and diesel engines came with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 was matched with an eight-speed automatic.

In road tests, the Canyon's V6 variant with the eight-speed automatic provided ample power and smooth, timely shifts. The AT4 model, equipped with 31-inch Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires, offered solid on-road grip and stable handling despite the added off-road equipment. Off-road tests confirmed the AT4's capabilities, featuring dual-range transfer case, hill descent control, and a robust off-road suspension setup.

The Tacoma's Double Cab lacked interior space compared to other midsize pickups. Rear headroom and legroom were notably limited, creating a cramped feeling exacerbated by a tall hood and short windshield. While the rear seats folded up to reveal storage cubbies, general in-cab storage was sparse except for a wireless charging pad and concentrated center console cupholders.

The 2021 Tacoma provided a maximum towing capacity of 6,800 pounds and payload capacity varying with configurations. Access Cab V6 RWD models achieved the highest tow rating, while the RWD Access Cab with a four-cylinder offered the maximum payload rating. Despite these respectable numbers, the Tacoma lagged behind the Jeep Gladiator, Ford Ranger, and the diesel variants of GM's Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon in overall towing and payload capacities.

Meanwhile, the 2022 GMC Canyon offered better rear-seat space in its crew cab form with a choice of a 5'2" or 6'2" bed. Even six-footers fit comfortably in the crew cab's rear seats. The extended cab’s rear seating was less spacious but still functional with a rear folding bench for additional storage.

Cargo management was simplified with the Canyon’s two-tier loading system and 13 tie-down points in the bed. The integrated corner step rear bumper was a notable feature for easy access to the bed. With a max tow rating of 7,700 pounds, the Canyon outperformed the Tacoma in towing capabilities, particularly when equipped with the turbodiesel engine.

In the 2021 Toyota Tacoma, the base SR trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen, while other trims got an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard tech included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims offered a six-speaker JBL audio system. The infotainment interface was functional with responsive touchscreens and shortcut buttons but lacked sophisticated features beyond basic connectivity and navigation.

Our TRD Pro tester came with the Multi-Terrain Monitor, which had practical benefits both for off-road obstacles and parking maneuvers. However, Toyota’s infotainment system graphics were plain, situating it more as a functional tool rather than a standout feature.

For the 2022 Canyon, technology offerings improved with trim level. The base Elevation Standard trim provided a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Elevation included an 8-inch unit with Bluetooth and smartphone integration. The AT4 added wireless charging, and the Denali trim featured navigation, a high-definition rearview camera, and advanced driver-assist features.

Our AT4 test model had the optional GMC infotainment system with navigation, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a Bose premium audio system. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and seamless Bluetooth integration made the tech user-friendly and effective. The Bose sound system delivered impressive audio fidelity, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma received commendable safety scores. The IIHS awarded the Double Cab "Good" ratings in most categories, except for an "Acceptable" in the passenger-side small overlap front test and "Marginal" headlight scores depending on trim. The Tacoma's front-crash prevention received a "Superior" rating. The NHTSA gave the Tacoma four stars overall, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover tests.

Standard safety features in the Tacoma included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Despite a good safety feature set, competitors like the Ford Ranger offered additional aids such as blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assist.

The 2022 GMC Canyon's base models had limited safety features, with systems like forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking assistance available or standard in higher trims. The Canyon missed out on elements like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, affecting its overall safety competitiveness.

In crash tests, the Canyon earned four stars overall from the NHTSA, with five stars for side protection but only three stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it “Good” ratings except for a "Poor" in the front passenger-side small overlap test and "Poor" headlight ratings. Its vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention received a "Basic" score, and LATCH child-seat anchors were rated "Marginal."