2021 GMC Canyon Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

Brenda on September 16, 2024

I have loved and owned Chevy and GMC midsized trucks since 98 when I purchased a used S-10. My latest purchase is a 2021 GMC Canyon Denali bought brand new. It's been a great truck until my power steering unit went out due to corrosion. It only has 32,200 miles on it and I have never gotten it wet other than car washes and driving in the rain which is normal conditions. I had purchased a mid grade extended warranty through GMC after my lease was up and purchased the truck. I am being told this is NOT covered due to it being external wiring. So I feel this is a manufacturing malfunction and bad engineering for water to be able to get in to cause such corrosion so beware. This is an open case filed with GM currently to hopefully rectify the matter.

David C on September 7, 2024

I bought my gmc canyon used with 29,300 miles on the odometer. It has the 2.8 ltr I-4 turbo diesel engine. I'm towing a 5,000 lb travel coach. First thousand miles was today. The small engine gets for me astounding fuel milage. Towing the coach i averaged 22. 8 mpg on a trip to the Eastern Sierras. 368 ft lbs of torque is more than enough to haul the trailer to 10,000 + ft elevation. Just be patient and use the torque to tow up a mountain. The fit and finish is excellent, the blue metallic paint turns heads. After 3 yrs a good waxing had it looking showroom new. This is my first gmc ever. If it holds up and runs 300,000 miles like the sales rep stated it's capable of doing. I'll let you know. The one down side is the emissions on the engine can cause reliability issues. Advice i found on a forum says use a good quality injection cleaner in every fill up . Every fill up for the life of the truck. They are capable 300,000 and higher if we'll cared for.

Poundinit on April 19, 2024

Did a ton of research on mid-sized trucks and targetted this one. Bought a creampuff with 37000 km on AT4 Long Box with all-leather seats. Replaced the headlights with Firehawk LEDs as the original halogens were way too dim. Love the power from the v6, and fuel consumption is 12l/100km...not bad. Love the ride and the fully adjustable front seats. Bose sound system is excellent, and the vehicle handles and brakes very well. No complaints at all on loom and feel, and really like the AWD+4x4 drive. I have owned many Subarus and the drive traction is easily comparable. I will be adding a K&N cold air intake and new exhaust to up the torque a bit for better trailering.

DEB on March 30, 2024

2021 GMC Canyon Denali 3.6L / Onyx Black / Gray Interior Very attractive vehicle all around / avg city driving 12 mpg / Hwy driving 16-18 mpg / Vehicle lacks technology found in my 2015 Jeep Cherokee Ltd trade in. Canyon does not have push button start, uses traditional key. No audible text function, no touch handle door opening with key fob in pocket, no lock prevention when keys left in vehicle. I loved these features, but also love the truck appearance, ride, handling & function. At 24,000 miles, no issues.

Blanca on October 27, 2022

Makes rattling noise while running, camera for reverse has had to be replaced twice within one and half years, fuel sensor defective, and check engine light comes on all of of these issues have happened in less than 2 years. Dealership has not provided vehicle while at shop which has left me stranded.

Johnny B. on October 2, 2022

I purchased my first GMC truck knowing that it is the top of the line of the General Motors truck line up. I own the 2021 Canyon AT4. After fifteen minutes of driving, I parked my truck at the parking lot to check out the truck. As soon as I went on reverse, the video on the radio turned into lines. I brought it back to the dealership where my sales lady tried to delay my trip back to the dealership by saying that I have to setup an appointment with their service department. A brand new 2021 GMC truck is broke. I dropped off the truck at the dealership and was given a loaner truck. After a week, I got my truck back and a new radio was installed. I immediately noticed that there was squeeking inside the cab which made me return the truck to the dealership again but I had to setup an appointment and had to take it back a week later. The technician found the rear cabin light assembly was loose from the factory. The technician pushed up on the light cover and it snapped into place and that specific squeaking went away. However, there was still squeaking on the rear seat. I had to take that back to the dealership on another appointment. The technician looked at it and said that it was a GMC known issue. If it was, why wouldn't GMC address that in the production of their future trucks? The technician fixed that squeak by relocating a part that holds the rear seat to the back wall of the cab. Fast forward one and a half years later and the video on the camera broke again. I brought it to back to a local GMC dealership and they replaced it again and only after making me feel that it might not be an issue. What I meant by that was, the service advisor said that if by the time the technician gets to look at the truck and the radio issue is not replicated then they won't do anything. Thankfully it stayed that way until the technician looked at it two days after I dropped it off. Two radios replaced on the same truck. Does that tell you the quality of a GMC truck? By the way, the squeak on my rear seat is back and I'm done bringing it back to the dealer for that. This is the last time I will purchase a GMC vehicle ever. I hoped that GMC addressed the quality issues with the 2022 models. Come to think of it, shouldn't my truck be considered a lemon and shouldn't I get my money back. That is the question.

BWC on May 6, 2022

Love my new canyon. Have owned 2005 Sierra, 2007 Ram, 2010 f350 diesel. All had their pluses and a few minuses. 2022 Canyon my first new vehicle since 2012. Scaled down a little for MPG and kids are nearly grown. I have 95-99 percent satisfaction. However, I do have one interior styling major issue. The 4wd selection and light dials are very bad location. My left knee hits them when I get in and right knee hits them when getting out. I have put less than 1000 miles on so far and i have found I was in 4wd position at least 6 times so far. I literally have to check the position every stinking time.

Steve F on June 9, 2021

Overall I like the vehicle. The cup holders are a little too close to the shifter and the interior lighting could be brighter. Also sometimes the automatic transmission shifts awkwardly. It also uses a bit more gas than I expected. Overall it is a good vehicle.

MnM on June 7, 2021

worst service EVER! I scheduled a week in advance and took a day of vacation knowing I would not have my NEW truck. Dropped it off at 8am for and 8:30 am appointment. Same issue brought in for last time a month ago! They would not even return any of my calls or texts requesting an update and when I got through at 2 pm all they said was they had not looked at it yet!! Incompetence at its finest! Now I will probably have to take another day of vacation since I do not have another vehicle! BUYER BE WARE!!

Ski NH on May 22, 2021

Bought this for my wife in October 2020. Perfect size - transmission has been flawless. Love the styling and the ride is comfortable (especially for a truck). We purchased Denali version and we've been towing 4500 LB trailer with no issues. Very, very happy with purchase