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GMC Canyon vs Toyota Tacoma

2026 GMC Canyon vs 2026 Toyota Tacoma — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

GMC Canyon

2026 GMC Canyon

Standard Pickup Trucks 2WDAWD/4WD
VS3 – 3Tie: 3 categories each
Toyota Tacoma

2026 Toyota Tacoma

Small Pickup Trucks 2WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Toyota Tacoma is more fuel-efficient: 23 vs 20 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $450 a year less in fuel for the Toyota Tacoma (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

Across all model years since 2005, the GMC Canyon has had fewer recall campaigns (26 vs 42).

The two cars

The 2026 GMC Canyon is a standard pickup truck offered with a 2.7L 4-cyl turbo engine and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive. It measures about 213 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 132-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,716 lb (Crewcab 2WD).

The 2026 Toyota Tacoma is a small pickup truck offered with a 2.4L 4-cyl turbo engine, including a hybrid version and rear-wheel drive, part-time 4-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive. It measures about 213 inches long and 77 inches wide on a 132-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 5,104 lb (Double Cab Hybrid).

Buying used? The 2020 Canyon and the 2021 Tacoma have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2015 Canyon and the 2016 Tacoma.

Basics

Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
Class
Small Pickup Trucks 2WD
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Regular Gasoline, Hybrid
2.7L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl turbo
Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

20 MPG
Best combined MPG
23 MPG
19 city
City / highway MPG (best)
22 city
$3,350
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,900

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
278 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
213 in
Length
213 in
74.8 in
Width
76.8 in
79.9 in
Height
74 in
4,716 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,374 lb

Safety & reliability

11
Driver-assist features standard
9
2
Recalls (2026)
0
26
Recalls, all years since 2005
42
8
Owner complaints (latest year)
13

Interest

13,353
Wikipedia views, 30 days
24,041

Buying used

2020
Best used year
2021
2015
Year to avoid
2016

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the GMC Canyon if…

  • You want more standard driver-assist tech
  • You put reliability history first (26 vs 42 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Toyota Tacoma if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (23 vs 20 MPG)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option

Pros & cons of each

2026 GMC Canyon

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Toyota Tacoma

  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 23 MPG combined, 13% below the 2026 small pickup truck average of 26.4 MPG.

Full 2026 GMC Canyon specs →Full 2026 Toyota Tacoma specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →