2023 Jeep Gladiator vs 2023 GMC Canyon

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator saw minimal changes, with the introduction of the Gladiator Freedom Edition to honor American servicemen and servicewomen. This edition, based on the Sport S trim, featured gloss black wheels, body-color fender flares, a winch-capable steel front bumper, steel rock rails, LED headlights, cloth seats with leather trim, and special decals. Jeep donated $250 to military charities for each one sold and offered a $500 discount to active and recently retired service members. Other updates included a new High Velocity Yellow paint color, added standard equipment for the Willys model, and a new Capability Package for the High Altitude model.

The Gladiator lineup included nine trim levels, starting at $38,305 for the basic Sport trim and going up to $54,475 for the High Altitude trim, excluding a $1,595 destination charge. The test truck, a Gladiator Mojave, was equipped with Fox 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks, a 1-inch front suspension lift, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and a locking rear differential, among other features. The Mojave was designed for high-speed desert driving but proved practical for various driving conditions. Despite its high price of $62,160, the Gladiator offered unique features like a removable top, removable doors, and a diesel engine option, making it a standout in its class.

The 2023 GMC Canyon, redesigned for a tougher look, featured a broad grille, scrunched-up headlights, and a jutting front bumper, giving it an aggressive appearance. The Canyon shared dimensions with the Chevy Colorado, including a longer wheelbase and a standard factory lift kit. Elevation, AT4, and Denali models had a two-inch lift, while the AT4X had a three-inch lift for greater ground clearance. The AT4X Edition 1 model added a front safari bar, light bar, and winch, while the Denali trim featured chrome accents and 20-inch wheels.

The Denali trim boasted a luxurious interior with laser-etched open-pore wood trim and leather upholstery, setting it apart from other midsize trucks. The base Canyon Elevation also offered quality materials, and the AT4X interior featured dramatic red-and-white upholstery and red dashboard trim. The Canyon's interior space was comparable to other midsize trucks, with ample first-row legroom and decent second-row legroom, though it lacked a longer bed option. The new MultiStow tailgate provided additional storage, and the truck maintained a 7,700-pound towing capacity, though its payload capacity was slightly lower than some rivals.

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator offered two engine choices: a 285-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, and a 260-horsepower, 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 with 442 lb-ft of torque and an eight-speed automatic. The diesel option improved fuel economy but had a lower towing capacity. The Gladiator featured Command-Trac part-time 4WD, with upgrades available for Selec-Trac full-time 4WD and Rock-Trac 4WD on Rubicon models. The Mojave trim, tested with the gas V6 and Command-Trac, averaged 17.3 mpg in combined driving.

The Gladiator's interior was noisy, with engine roar and wind noise, though the hardtop and liner helped reduce it. The Mojave's suspension, designed for high-speed desert driving, performed well on rough terrain and urban roads. However, the truck's length made navigating tight spaces challenging, and the steering required constant correction on highways. Despite these quirks, the Gladiator's unique driving experience and off-road capabilities made it enjoyable for enthusiasts.

The 2023 GMC Canyon featured a single powertrain: a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Canyon offered RWD on the base Elevation trim and 4WD on higher trims, with the AT4X model including advanced off-road features like electronic lockers, skid plates, and 33-inch mud terrain tires. The Canyon balanced on-road comfort with off-road capability, with quiet cabs and solid construction. The AT4X trim excelled in off-road conditions, handling various obstacles with ease.

Entering and exiting the 2023 Jeep Gladiator required practice, especially through the narrow rear doors. Optional side steps were more of a hindrance than a help. The manually height-adjustable driver's seat was comfortable but required frequent readjustment. The rear seats offered good legroom and air conditioning vents, though taller passengers might find the plastic front seatback panels uncomfortable. Storage options included door panel netting, cupholders, a dashboard tray, and a deep but narrow center armrest bin. The five-foot cargo box had limited depth but offered features like a spray-in bedliner, tonneau cover, and Trail Rail Management System.

The 2023 GMC Canyon, available only as a crew cab with a 5.2-foot bed, offered ample interior space for a midsize truck. The Canyon had more first-row legroom than most rivals and decent second-row legroom, though it lacked a longer bed option. The new MultiStow tailgate provided additional storage, though its utility was limited. The Canyon's towing capacity remained at 7,700 pounds, with a maximum payload capacity of 1,640 pounds for RWD Elevation models. The AT4X trim had a lower towing capacity but maintained strong off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an eight-speaker stereo. An optional 8.4-inch touchscreen added navigation, connected services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Alexa integration, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. The Mojave test truck included Off-Road+ mode, a TrailCam forward-facing camera, and Off-Road Pages for adventure data. However, the voice recognition system was unreliable, and the passive keyless entry and dual-zone automatic climate control added convenience.

The 2023 GMC Canyon's standard infotainment system included an 11.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth streaming audio, and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. Higher trims featured an 11-inch digital cluster and a 6.3-inch head-up display. The system used Google Built-In functionality, with Google Maps as the default navigation. The Off-Road Performance Display provided readouts for off-road adventures, and the surround-view camera system with an underbody camera aided off-roading. The Canyon's tech features were user-friendly and visually appealing.

The 2023 Jeep Gladiator offered minimal standard safety features, with optional packages adding blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Gladiator earned a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and a four-star frontal-impact rating. The IIHS rated the headlights as Marginal.

The 2023 GMC Canyon's standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and forward collision warning. Optional packages added rear cross-traffic alert, blind-zone steering assist, rear park assist, adaptive cruise control, rear pedestrian alert, and a surround-view camera system. Higher trims included these features as standard, along with a Safety Alert Seat.