GMC's New Canyon Will Be Its Most Capable Midsize Pickup Ever

GM's midsize pickups have been on sale since 2014, with the Chevy Colorado and slightly more expensive GMC Canyon battling the reborn Ford Ranger. They've been updated continuously over the last eight years, but on Friday GMC previewed its next-generation Canyon, in the new AT4X trim that debuts this summer.

AT4 and AT4X are GMC's trim level names for its most off-road friendly pickups, including the current year's Canyon midsize and Sierra full-size trucks.

The Canyon AT4 trim is $1,000 more than the base grade and adds 31-inch tires, four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case, an off-road suspension package, LED fog lights, wireless charging and premium audio.

The current AT4 engine lineup consists of a 3.6-liter V6 making 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque with an eight-speed automatic transmission, or a 2.8-liter turbodiesel delivering 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft with a six-speed automatic.

The next step up in the current lineup is the Off-Road Pack ($3,195) that comes with 17-inch gloss-black aluminum wheels, a spray-on bedliner, all-weather floor liners, black AT4 badges, a front leveling kit, black chrome exhaust tip, performance skid plates, off-road rocker protection and the removal of front air dam.

The AT4X will be a step beyond that, though all GMC shared was a teaser shot showing a truck with Goodyear Wrangler mud tires, wheel arch cladding, new badges and rock rails.

As with the Sierra 1500 AT4X, the Canyon AT4X is expected to be a high-level off-road performer, putting it on par with the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison.

GMC communications told Newsweek that it can't share too much on the new truck, or timing, but senior manager Daniel Peake said that "this is a new generation for the Canyon mid-size truck, so there are a number of changes and updates to the vehicle that we're excited to share very soon ahead of our reveal this summer. The current Canyon is the second generation for the vehicle in North America."

The 2022 GMC Canyon comes in with a base price of $29,480 including destination and handling. Stepping up to the AT4 trim will cost buyers $39,595. As the new AT4X will be slightly above the AT4, expect a slight price bump over that price.