Makes›GMC›Canyon

GMC Canyon

20 model years from 2005 to 2026, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.

GMC Canyon
Pictured: 2022 GMC Canyon Elevation, front 4.4.23. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Model years
2005–2026
Class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Small Pickup Trucks 2WD
Latest engines
2.7L 4-cyl turbo
Best MPG
20–25 combined, by year
Latest rating
★★★★★ (2025)
Recalls
26 campaigns, all years
Most complaints
2015 (303)
Fewest problems
2020
Interest
13,353 Wikipedia views / 30 days

The 2026 Canyon in brief

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).

EPA rates its most efficient version at 20 MPG combined (19 city / 23 highway), 2% worse than the 2026 standard pickup truck average of 20.5 MPG, for an estimated $3,350 a year in fuel.

It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the power train.

The GMC Canyon has 20 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2026, classed as Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Small Pickup Trucks 2WD.

Its most efficient year was 2018 at 25 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 20 to 25 MPG.

Owners most often report problems with the steering (438), electrical system (197), exterior lighting (170).

Buying used? 2020 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2015 is the year to avoid.

2015 has the most recalls (8); all years together count 26 campaigns and 1,181 owner complaints.

How the 2005 Canyon compares

The 2005 GMC Canyon is a standard pickup truck offered with 2 engines (2.8L 4-cyl and 3.5L 5-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.

It measures about 207 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 126-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,752 lb (Crew Cab S/Box 2WD /Sl).

About the GMC Canyon

The Chevrolet Colorado is a series of compact pickup trucks and mid-size pickup trucks marketed by American automaker General Motors. They were introduced in 2004 to replace the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC S-15/Sonoma compact pickups. The Colorado is named after the U.S. state of Colorado, while the Canyon took its name from the deep chasm between cliffs.

From the Wikipedia article "Chevrolet Colorado", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

2026 Canyon pros & cons

Full 2026 details →

What's good

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

Watch out for

No weak spots against similar models in the data.

Best and worst years to buy used

NHTSA recalls and complaints for 10 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →

Compare head to head

Compare the Canyon with any other car →

Canyon changes by model year

  1. 2023
    • New body dimensions: 11.8 in shorter, wheelbase −9.1 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
    • No diesel version any more
    • Engine added: 2.7L 4-cyl turbo
    • Engines dropped: 2.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl and 3.6L 6-cyl
    • Best combined MPG down from 23 to 20
  2. 2019
    • Best combined MPG down from 25 to 23
  3. 2017
    • Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 4 stars overall
  4. 2016
    • New diesel version
    • Engine added: 2.8L 4-cyl turbo
    • Best combined MPG up from 22 to 25
  5. 2015
    • New body dimensions: 17.7 in longer, wheelbase +14.6 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
    • Engines added: 2.5L 4-cyl and 3.6L 6-cyl
    • Engines dropped: 2.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl and 5.3L 8-cyl
  6. 2009
    • Engine added: 5.3L 8-cyl
  7. 2007
    • Engines added: 2.9L 4-cyl and 3.7L 5-cyl
    • Engines dropped: 2.8L 4-cyl and 3.5L 5-cyl

Years without a measurable change are left out.

Show all 20 model years side by side
YearLatest enginesBest MPG / rangeLengthWeightOverallRecallsComplaints
20262.7L 4-cyl turbo20 MPG213 in4,716 lbNot rated28
20252.7L 4-cyl turbo20 MPG213 in4,716 lb★★★★★28
20242.7L 4-cyl turbo20 MPG213 in4,716 lb★★★★★3207
20232.7L 4-cyl turbo20 MPG213 in4,716 lb★★★★★362
20222.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl23 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★127
20212.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl23 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★212
20202.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl23 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★014
20192.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl23 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★017
20182.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl25 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★153
20172.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl25 MPG224.8 in4,259 lb★★★★★166
20162.8L 4-cyl turbo, 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl25 MPG224.8 in4,259 lbNot rated4271
20152.5L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl22 MPG224.8 in4,259 lbNot rated8303
20122.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl21 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated220
20112.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl21 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated58
20102.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl21 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated21
20092.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl20 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated113
20082.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl20 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated128
20072.9L 4-cyl, 3.7L 5-cyl20 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated117
20062.8L 4-cyl, 3.5L 5-cyl21 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated115
20052.8L 4-cyl, 3.5L 5-cyl21 MPG207.1 in3,752 lbNot rated131
Best combined MPG by model year — GMC Canyon
2005: 21 MPG2006: 21 MPG2007: 20 MPG2008: 20 MPG2009: 20 MPG2010: 21 MPG2011: 21 MPG2012: 21 MPG2015: 22 MPG2016: 25 MPG2017: 25 MPG2018: 25 MPG2019: 23 MPG2020: 23 MPG2021: 23 MPG2022: 23 MPG2023: 20 MPG2024: 20 MPG2025: 20 MPG2026: 20 MPG2005200820112016201920222025max 25 MPG

Alternatives to the 2026 Canyon

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2026 Toyota Tacoma23 MPGNot rated0
2026 Chevrolet Colorado21 MPGNot rated1
2026 Ford Ranger23 MPGNot rated8
2026 Honda Ridgeline21 MPGNot rated0
2026 Jeep Gladiator19 MPGNot rated2
2026 Rivian R1T420 miNot rated2

Most common owner-reported problems

Steering438
Electrical System197
Exterior Lighting170
Power Train153
Engine115
Unknown Or Other93
Service Brakes53
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)52
Owner complaints by model year — GMC Canyon
2005: 312006: 152007: 172008: 282009: 132010: 12011: 82012: 202015: 3032016: 2712017: 662018: 532019: 172020: 142021: 122022: 272023: 622024: 2072025: 82026: 82005200820112016201920222025max 303
Check your VIN for open recalls ↗

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or GMC. How we calculate this →