2021 GMC Canyon vs Chevy Colorado

The 2021 GMC Canyon features a nice interior with a functional design, cloth upholstery and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Leather upholstery, a power-adjustable passenger seat, and a heated steering wheel are available. It seats two people but the Extended Cab models have two rear seats, and Crew Cab models have a three-person rear bench seat. Crew Cab models offer extra legroom and full-size doors. The Extended Cab comes with a 6-foot 2-inch bed and the Crew Cab models can have either the same or a 5-foot 2-inch bed. The GMC Canyon is available in four trims: Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4, and Denali. Starting price for the Elevation Standard is $22,200 and ranges to $44,700 for the Denali Crew Cab/long box configuration.

The 2021 Chevy Colorado offers a smooth, comfortable ride around town or adventures on the off-road. For 2021, Colorado’s Base trim is discontinued, and now features the WT, LT, Z71, and ZR2 trims. The WT and LT trims offer available Crew Cab/short bed and Crew/long bed configurations. The Z71 and ZR2 feature off-road abilities and are capable of tackling trails and terrain; and they are available in Extended Cab/long bed and Crew Cab/short bed configurations. Extended Cab models seat four, and Crew Cab models seat up to five passengers, with spacious, comfortable seating up front. There are plenty of available bed features, including multiple tie downs, a step built into the corners of the rear bumper, and an EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate. There have been some updates to the exterior, but there are plenty of hard plastics and low-grade materials throughout the cabin. Higher trims will offer a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and optional heated front seats. The Extended cab seats four and the Crew Cab models seat five. The WT has a starting price of $25,200 for the Extended Cab/long bed and ranges to a starting price of $43,200 for the ZR2 Crew Cab/short bed configuration.

The GMC Canyon has a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that gives you 200 horsepower, with 191 pound-feet of torque; and works great to get you around town. You can also opt for a 3.6-liter V6 with 308-horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque that delivers smooth and quick acceleration for some of your heavy-duty work. A 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine is also available and produces 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The four-cylinder and diesel engine are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the V6 is paired to an eight-speed automatic. The new AT4 trim adds several off-road-oriented features, including a locking rear differential, a two-speed transfer case, and hill descent control. With the GMC Canyon’s base engine, it can tow 3,500 pounds. When properly equipped with a turbo diesel engine, you will get a towing capability of up to 7,700. With the Crew Cab, you will get a maximum payload capacity of 1,605. The Canyon gets an estimated 19/28 mpg in the city and on the highway, with its diesel engine and 19/25 mpg with its base engine.

The Chevrolet Colorado features a fuel efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower, a six-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. With plenty of power, this is great for everyday driving needs. There are two available engines – a 3.6-liter V6 with 308-horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque or a 2.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine with 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The V6 is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel comes with a six-speed automatic. The Z71 and ZR2 models offer four-wheel drive, along with heavy-duty suspension and locking rear differential. The ZR2 is even more capable with driver-selectable full-locking front and rear differential. When equipped with the turbodiesel engine, maximum towing capacity reaches 7,700 pounds and it can haul up to 1,578 pounds. Fuel is estimated at 19/25 mpg city/highway for the base four-cylinder and rear-wheel drive.

The Canyon comes standard with a rearview camera, and GM’s Teen Driver system. Available active safety features include rear parking sensors, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning. All Canyons come with the GMC’s intuitive infotainment system, featuring a 7-inch touch screen that is straightforward with easy-to-use controls. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard; as well as six speakers, two USB ports, and Bluetooth. Optional features include an 8-inch touch screen, HD Radio, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless device charging, a seven-speaker stereo, and navigation.

The Chevy Colorado’s available OnStar System provides emergency crash notification, stolen-vehicle notification, and remote locking and unlocking. This safety package comes standard on the LT and above. Also available on the LT and Z71 models includes forward collision and lane departure warning systems. A rearview camera and the Teen Driver Mode comes standard on all models, and lets you have custom key settings for secondary drivers and provides in-vehicle reports. Chevrolet’s Infotainment 3 system comes standard in the Colorado and includes a 7-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system. Its infotainment system is easy-to-use with easy to reach controls and an intuitive menu layout. An 8-inch touch screen, a seven-speaker Bose audio system, HD Radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, additional USB ports, and navigation are available; as well as remote start and automatic climate control.