2023 Toyota Tacoma vs 2022 GMC Canyon

The 2022 GMC Canyon arrived with a noticeable premium look and feel, setting itself apart from many rivals in the midsize truck segment. This quality was most pronounced in the luxury-oriented Denali trim, which highlighted a unique chrome grille, 20-inch diamond-cut machined alloy wheels, and five-inch chrome assist steps. The cabin of the Denali trim featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation, heated and ventilated perforated leather front seats, open-pore Ash wood trim, sill plates, and floor mats embossed with the “Denali” logo. One couldn’t ignore the Bose premium audio system, which promised an excellent auditory experience.

The more rugged AT4 off-road version didn’t lag in premium features either. It had a black chrome grille and surround, LED signature lighting, unique 17-inch wheels, and an inviting cabin, thanks to premium heated leather front seats with Kalahari accents and “AT4” embroidered on the headrests. Although it had numerous off-road-oriented exterior bits, the cabin was comfortable and luxurious. The Canyon's material quality was commendable for the class, even as it varied across the trim levels, from the feature-rich Denali to the more utilitarian base Elevation Standard trims.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma, in contrast, was an assertive midsize truck with a range of trims including SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro. Additionally, shoppers had options like the Trail Special Edition and the SX and Chrome packages on the SR5 trim. The Tacoma’s upright grille and tall bed gave it a substantial look without appearing too big. Notably, the SR5 SX package added black overfenders, wheels, and trim, while the Chrome package embellished the aesthetic with chrome accents on the door handles, exhaust tip, and a "TACOMA" tailgate insert.

Our tested TRD Pro trim, decked out in bright Solar Octane paint, featured underbody skid pads, a TRD-tuned suspension, a TRD sport exhaust, and a distinct grille with “TOYOTA” prominently spelled out. The TRD Pro’s cabin had Softex leather-trimmed upholstery, heated front seats, and easy-to-use physical knobs and buttons for climate control, making it both functional and comfortable. However, the Tacoma still felt and looked somewhat outdated compared to recently redesigned competitors.

The 2022 GMC Canyon provided a solid performance with three powertrain options. The most popular choice was the 308-hp 3.6-liter V6, which delivered a robust and satisfying drive, especially in the AT4 trim with the eight-speed automatic transmission. Shoppers also had a 200-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 181-hp 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine with 369 lb-ft of torque. The latter two engines offered a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds when equipped with the Trailering package. The Canyon AT4, equipped with various off-road features, handled off-road terrains efficiently and maintained stability on highways, despite some noise from the 31-inch Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires. Overall, the Canyon delivered a capable and steady performance across different terrains.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma, on the other hand, started with a less impressive standard 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 159 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. However, most buyers preferred the 3.5-liter V6 engine with 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. Despite the power advantage, the Tacoma’s V6 wasn’t particularly quick, requiring significant effort to accelerate to highway speeds. It handled urban driving well and absorbed road imperfections smoothly, especially in the TRD Pro’s off-road-focused suspension. However, the Tacoma's road noise, vague steering, and poor fuel economy—only returning around 16.3 mpg in our tests—dimmed its overall performance appeal.

The 2022 GMC Canyon offered versatile configurations with an extended cab and a 6'2" bed, or a crew cab with either a 5'2" or 6'2" bed. The crew cab felt spacious, comfortably accommodating adult rear seat passengers, while the extended cab was more suited for occasional adult use. Features like the rear folding bench seat that provided extra storage, and crossover SUV-like seat height, made ingress and egress easy. The Canyon’s cargo bed, equipped with two-tier loading, 13 tie-down points, and integrated corner step rear bumpers, made it highly functional for carrying and securing various loads.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma offered either an access cab with a six-foot-one-inch bed or a double cab with the choice of a long or short bed. The access cab’s rear seats were tight and uncomfortable, making them suitable only for short trips or extra storage. The double cab, though offering easier entry and egress, still had tight rear legroom. However, the front seats were spacious with ample cubby space. Our TRD Pro, equipped with a five-foot bed, comfortably held our ski gear and other essentials for an extended trip, demonstrating its practical cargo capacity.

The 2022 GMC Canyon offered basic to advanced in-vehicle technology across its trims. The Elevation Standard started with a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Elevation added an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility. Upgrades in the AT4 included a wireless smartphone charging pad, and the Denali featured navigation and a high-definition rearview camera. Optional tech like Amazon Alexa Built-In and a premium Bose audio system (in our test vehicle) provided an enhanced connected experience, making the Canyon’s infotainment system both practical and user-friendly.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma, though not leading the class in technology, offered an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. All trims had Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM (with a subscription). Base SR trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, while higher trims included an 8-inch display. Despite the outdated interface, it was straightforward to use. Our test truck's premium JBL audio system and two USB-A ports made the Tacoma technologically sufficient, though not as advanced as some competitors.

The 2022 GMC Canyon came with varying safety features depending on the trim. The base Canyon offered tire-fill alerts and the Teen Driver system but lacked advanced driver aids. Higher trims like the Elevation and AT4 offered the Driver Alert package with forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking assistance. However, it lacked modern features like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. The Canyon received mixed ratings from safety agencies, scoring four out of five stars from NHTSA and mixed ratings from IIHS, including a “Poor” rating in front passenger-side small overlap tests and a “Marginal” rating for LATCH.

Conversely, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) across all trims, which included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and automatic high beams. Our TRD Pro additionally featured blind-spot monitoring and a surround-view camera. Despite its comprehensive safety suite, the Tacoma lacked some advanced features found in other Toyota models, like lane-keeping assist and rear automatic emergency braking. It scored four out of five stars overall from NHTSA and missed top marks from IIHS, keeping it from earning a Top Safety Pick award.