This week we are looking at a SERIOUS off-road pickup, the all-new 2023 GMC Canyon AT4X. This truck is made for all off-road conditions, yet I find it to be an enjoyable driver in town also.
At a glance, you can see this is a tough truck with the 17” wheels and huge Goodyear Wrangler tires. It has a 2” factory lift, a bulging hood, LED lights all around, the signature GMC grill, and rock sliders between the wheels to protect the truck.
Under the hood is a 2.7-liter high-output 4-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed automatic. Before you turn your nose up at the 4-cylinder, know that it has 310-horses and get this: 430 pound-feet of torque, which is incredible. It will also tow 6,000 pounds.
I expected the usual minimalist interior which you find on most serious 4-wheel trucks, so was shocked to open the door and see a high-tech colorful interior. The white accents were a surprise, not something usually found in off-roaders, but it works. There is a lot of red throughout the seats and dash that is attractive.
As you sit in the comfortable heated and cooled power front seats and hit the start button, an 11” digital gauge cluster pops on that you can configure. As you scroll through, there is a lot of info especially if you are going off-roading or you can turn it all into the navigation map.
Center screen is 11.3-inches and operates everything: the nav, the sound system, the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi hotspot, Google Assistant, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the trailer towing page, off-road page, and something I’ve never seen, Air Down mode. You can lower the tire pressure from the cab, a nice tool if you are off the pavement. There are also 10 different screens for the rearview camera, including two under the truck and they even have washers since you are likely to be in mud a lot.
Under the screen are your climate controls and the next row of buttons down are the differential lockers, both front and rear for serious off-roading, the start/stop off button, auxiliary switches, and a button to roll all four windows down at once.
Center console has a wireless phone charger, USB ports, 2- or 4-wheel drive selector, and the electronic emergency brake.
Back seat room is just a little short on leg room, but there are more USBs, air vents, and a fold down armrest with cupholders.
The bed offers up a 110-power outlet and an easy close tail gate that has storage inside, a nice touch. You can also measure things across the tail gate, and there are a couple of cup holders built in.
The ATX4 comes well equipped with remote start, a power moonroof, a 6.3” head-up display, power seats, and a lot more.
Much of the heart of this truck cannot be seen, like massive underneath skid plates, Multimatic shocks featuring three separate spool valves to control damping and three connected chambers for fluid flow. There is 10” of ground clearance. Make no mistake, this truck is a beast.
Safety features are ample with lane keep assist, forward collision alert, emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot alert, adaptive cruise control, trailer towing package, and rear park assist.
Fuel economy is 16 across the board, city-highway-and combined. MSRP as you see it is $58,640 which is a lot of money for a mid-sized truck, but again, this is a serious off-road truck. Just a warning, if you are less than six-feet tall, this truck will be challenging to get in and out of.
Fuel Economy: 16 city/16 highway/16 overall.