2022 Toyota Tacoma vs 2023 GMC Canyon

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma has a strong lineage in the North American market starting from 1995, with its roots traced back to the Toyota Pickup of 1972 and the international Hilux from 1968. It showcased a fully contemporary exterior with an aggressive grille and headlights. However, its interior started to show signs of aging despite a 2020 facelift. The cabin mixed contemporary designs with antiquated elements, featuring hard plastics and dated switchgear alongside new items like push-button start.

Trim levels for the Tacoma spanned from the base SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited, to the top-tier TRD Pro. The SR trim offered essential features like 16-inch steel wheels, a Class IV tow-hitch receiver, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Moving up to the SR5 added fog lights and an 8-inch touchscreen. The TRD Sport brought in 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport suspension, and more comfort-oriented features like dual-zone automatic climate control and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The TRD Off-Road catered to trail enthusiasts with 16-inch alloys, Bilstein shocks, and a locking rear differential. The Limited trim targeted a more road-focused audience with 18-inch polished alloys, leather upholstery, JBL premium audio, and a power moonroof. The apex, TRD Pro, included unique styling, underbody skid plates, LED fog lights, a TRD-tuned suspension, and a TRD sport exhaust.

Conversely, the 2023 GMC Canyon displayed a modern redesign aimed at exuding toughness, with an aggressive stance, a broad grille, and muscled body sides. Sharing most dimensions with the Chevy Colorado, the Canyon boasted a longer wheelbase and an "Ultra Wide Track" stance unique to its range. The Elevation, AT4, and Denali trims featured a two-inch lift for 9.6 inches of ground clearance, while the AT4X offered a three-inch lift, yielding 10.7 inches of clearance.

The Denali trim stood out with chrome accents, side steps, and luxurious 20-inch wheels, complemented by an elegant interior featuring wood trim and leather upholstery. In contrast, even the base Elevation trim demonstrated superior quality materials compared to competitors like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. The AT4X's interior with optional red-and-white upholstery added a dramatic flair rarely seen in midsize trucks.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma offered two engines: a base 2.7-liter four-cylinder producing 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a more robust 3.5-liter V6 generating 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine significantly improved performance, although it struggled somewhat at highway speeds due to transmission gearing issues. The maximum towing capacity was 6,800 pounds, with a payload capacity of 1,685 pounds. Both engines were connected to a six-speed automatic transmission, with an optional six-speed manual for the TRD models. Trail-specific features in the TRD trims included Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control.

The 2023 GMC Canyon, in its shift to a single powertrain, featured a 2.7-liter gasoline turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque—the highest output across the Canyon range. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, ensuring smooth power delivery. The Canyon offered rear-wheel drive on the base Elevation, with four-wheel drive optional or standard on higher trims. The AT4X trim catered to hardcore off-roaders with features like electronic lockers, skid plates, and 33-inch mud tires. The Canyon's towing capacity was 7,700 pounds (except the AT4X which had a 6,000-pound towing capacity or 5,500 pounds with the Edition 1 package), rivaling the competition effectively.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma was available in Access Cab (extended cab) and Double Cab (crew cab) configurations, paired with either a five-foot bed or a six-foot-one-inch bed. The Access Cab featured clamshell rear doors and limited rear legroom, making it suitable for storage or child passengers rather than adults. The Double Cab improved slightly on rear space, but legroom was still tight. Front seats provided good legroom, though the steering wheel's limited adjustment could be problematic for taller drivers. The Tacoma's utilitarian bed included in-bed lighting and an in-bed power outlet.

The 2023 GMC Canyon offered only a crew cab with a 5.2-foot bed, providing ample first-row legroom that excelled in its class, while second-row legroom was competitive but surpassed by the Honda Ridgeline and Jeep Gladiator. A unique MultiStow tailgate with a long, narrow waterproof storage compartment addressed the secure storage issue common in pickups. The Canyon's towing capacity topped out at 7,700 pounds, except for the AT4X trims, which had slightly lower capacities. Payload capacity ranged up to 1,640 pounds for RWD Elevation models, slightly below class-leading competitors.