2024 Toyota Tundra vs 2023 GMC Canyon

The 2023 GMC Canyon was designed with a bold and aggressive aesthetic, featuring headlights and daytime running lights that were tightly positioned along the sides of a broad grille, giving it a fierce, almost combative appearance. The body sides were adorned with bulges and creases reminiscent of tensed muscles, enhancing its rugged look. The Canyon shared its dimensions with the Chevy Colorado, boasting a longer wheelbase than its 2022 predecessor. It featured an "Ultra Wide Track" stance with front and rear tracks measuring about 66 inches, and a standard factory lift kit. The Elevation, AT4, and Denali models had a two-inch lift for 9.6 inches of ground clearance, while the Canyon AT4X offered a three-inch lift, achieving 10.7 inches of ground clearance. The Denali trim stood out with its luxurious interior, featuring laser-etched open-pore wood trim and leather upholstery, setting it apart from other midsize models.

The 2024 Toyota Tundra, on the other hand, had a massive grille designed for powertrain cooling, resulting in a distinctive, if not universally loved, appearance. Despite this, the Tundra maintained a robust and industrial design theme, with camo-pattern detailing to convey durability. However, the interior was marred by plastic elements that detracted from the overall build quality. The Tundra was available in Double Cab and CrewMax styles, with various cargo bed lengths. It offered a range of trim levels, each equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine, with the i-Force Max powertrain adding a hybrid version of the V6. The Tundra's base prices ranged from $39,665 to $78,845, with the TRD Pro specification priced at $74,295, including destination.

The 2023 GMC Canyon was powered by a 2.7-liter gasoline turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive was available on the base Elevation trim, while four-wheel drive was optional on the Elevation and standard on the Denali. The Canyon AT4 featured a two-speed transfer case, and the AT4X was equipped for serious off-roading with electronic lockers, skid plates, and 33-inch mud terrain tires. The Canyon offered a balance of on-road comfort and off-road capability, with the AT4X excelling in off-road conditions, handling various obstacles with ease.

The 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro was designed for off-road excellence, featuring a hybrid version of the twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine, producing 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. It had a towing capacity of 11,175 pounds and a 1,600-pound payload capacity. The TRD Pro included a 10-speed automatic transmission and a part-time 4WD system with an automatic limited-slip differential. Off-road features included a locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select modes, Crawl Control, and Downhill Assist Control. The Tundra TRD Pro performed well in desert environments, though its fuel efficiency was lower than expected, averaging 17.1 mpg.

The 2023 GMC Canyon was available only as a crew cab with a 5.2-foot bed, offering ample interior space for a midsize truck. It provided more first-row legroom than most midsize models, with second-row legroom surpassed only by the Honda Ridgeline and Jeep Gladiator. The Canyon introduced the MultiStow tailgate with a waterproof storage compartment, though it lacked a standard telescoping steering wheel or power-adjustable front seats. The Canyon's towing capacity was 7,700 pounds for most trims, with a maximum payload capacity of 1,640 pounds for RWD Elevation models.

The 2024 Toyota Tundra offered spacious interiors typical of full-size trucks, though the i-Force Max's battery eliminated rear underseat storage and a flat rear cab floor. The Tundra lacked some of the helpful cargo bed features found in rival models, such as adjustable cargo tie-down cleats and bumper corner steps. Despite these drawbacks, the Tundra provided decent storage space and comfortable seating, though the driver's seat caused some discomfort on long drives. The TRD Pro's heated and ventilated front seats were appreciated.

The 2023 GMC Canyon featured an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It included a digital instrument cluster, with an 8-inch display on Elevation and AT4 models and an 11-inch display on Denali and AT4X models. The Denali and AT4X also had a 6.3-inch head-up display and wireless phone charging. The infotainment system incorporated Google Built-In functionality, with Google Maps as the navigation system. An Off-Road Performance Display menu provided readouts for off-road adventures, and a surround-view camera system with an underbody camera was available.

The 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro was equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It offered complimentary trial subscriptions to connected services, including Safety Connect, Drive Connect, and Remote Connect. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system. The Tundra also featured wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera, and trailering assistance via Trailer Backup Guide with Straight Path Assist.

The 2023 GMC Canyon's safety features included the standard Canyon Pro Safety Package with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and forward collision warning. An optional Safety Plus Package added rear cross-traffic alert and blind-zone steering assist. Higher-level trims like the Denali and AT4X included these features as standard, along with a Safety Alert Seat. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2024 Toyota Tundra came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors were available on higher trims. The TRD Pro's driver aids worked well, though the lane-centering assist was less reliable. The NHTSA gave the Tundra Crew Cab 4WD high marks, while the IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick rating, though it received a Poor rating in the moderate overlap frontal-impact test for rear-seat passengers.