2026 GMC Canyon
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.

- Class
- Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
- Body styles
- Crewcab 2WD, Crewcab 4WD, Crewcab 4WD At4, Crewcab 4WD At4x
- Engines
- 2.7L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 20 combined · 19 city / 23 hwy
- Length
- 213 in
- Curb weight
- 4,716–5,298 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
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.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 6 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
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.
What changed for 2026
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 Canyon — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Canyon →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Wentzville, Missouri
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 3 2026 Canyon configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crewcab 2WD | 213 in | 74.8 in | 79.9 in | 131.5 in | 66.1 / 66.1 in | 4,716 lb | 55/45 |
| Crewcab 4WD | 213 in | 74.8 in | 79.9 in | 131.5 in | 66.1 / 66.1 in | 4,971 lb | 56/44 |
| Crewcab 4WD At4 | 213 in | 76.4 in | 79.9 in | 131.5 in | 66.1 / 66.1 in | 4,971 lb | 56/44 |
| Crewcab 4WD At4x | 213 in | 76.4 in | 81.5 in | 131.5 in | 66.1 / 66.1 in | 5,298 lb | 56/44 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canyon 2WD | 2.7L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 20 | -2% | $3,350 | 443 |
| Canyon 4WD | 2.7L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | +4% | $3,550 | 462 |
| Canyon Mud Terrain Tires 4WD | 2.7L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 / 20 / 18 | -2% | $3,700 | 494 |
| Canyon AT4X 4WD | 2.7L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 / 17 / 17 | -7% | $3,950 | 527 |
| Canyon AT4X AEV 4WD | 2.7L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 16 / 16 / 16 | -13% | $4,200 | 564 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 GMC Canyon.
Similar 2026 standard pickup trucks
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 GMC Canyon (this car) | 20 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Toyota Tacoma | 23 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Chevrolet Colorado | 21 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Ford Ranger | 23 MPG | Not rated | 8 |
| 2026 Honda Ridgeline | 21 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Jeep Gladiator | 19 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Rivian R1T | 420 mi | Not rated | 2 |
Recalls (2)
Equipment › Other › Owners/Service/Other Manual · Feb 26, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V114000 · 5,861 vehicles
- Problem
- General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, âOccupant Protection.â
- Risk
- Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic ownerâs manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26, 2026.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Dec 11, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V856000 · 1,120 vehicles
- Problem
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024â2026 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV vehicles. Incorrect sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software may cause a second stage passenger air bag deployment when only a first stage is intended. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, âOccupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- An air bag that deploys improperly increases the risk of injury in a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the SDM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252533510. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 11, 2025.
Not every 2026 GMC Canyon is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other Canyon years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Canyon | 20 | 213 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 8 |
| 2024 Canyon | 20 | 213 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 207 |
| 2023 Canyon | 20 | 213 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 62 |
| 2022 Canyon | 23 | 224.8 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 27 |
| 2021 Canyon | 23 | 224.8 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 12 |
| 2020 Canyon | 23 | 224.8 in | ★★★★★ | 0 | 14 |
| 2019 Canyon | 23 | 224.8 in | ★★★★★ | 0 | 17 |
| 2018 Canyon | 25 | 224.8 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 53 |
| 2017 Canyon | 25 | 224.8 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 66 |
| 2016 Canyon | 25 | 224.8 in | Not rated | 4 | 271 |
| 2015 Canyon | 22 | 224.8 in | Not rated | 8 | 303 |
| 2012 Canyon | 21 | 207.1 in | Not rated | 2 | 20 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or GMC. How we calculate this →