The 2020 GMC Canyon not only has a stylish interior, it also delivers an optimal combination of power, efficiency, and trailering capability. With this pickup truck, you will never have to compromise performance. The 2020 Toyota Tacoma is a contender also worth exploring. Let’s take a look at both. Reliable Buick GMC is here for you when you make your choice.
Design and Style
The 2020 GMC Canyon features an impressive interior with high-quality materials and a quiet, spacious cabin. 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 a 5-foot-2-inch or a 6-foot-2-inch bed. Vinyl upholstery and a four-way power-adjustable driver’s seat are standard, with options that include cloth or leather upholstery, a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front seats. 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 up to 7,700. That is one of the highest capacities in the compact pickup truck class. With the Crew Cab, you will get a maximum payload capacity of 1,605. The GMC Canyon is available in four trims: Canyon SLE, Canyon SLT, Canyon All Terrain, and the Canyon Denali.
The Toyota Tacoma is available in two cab styles. The standard Access Cab seats four and has a small two-seat second row, while the larger Double Cab has an extended three-person second row and seats five. If you’ll be carrying passengers, the Double Cab is what you’ll want as there is just 24.6 inches of legroom in the Access Cab, and the seats are hard and upright with little cushioning or support. The Tacoma comes with either a 5-foot standard bed or a 6-foot-1-inch long bed. Access Cab models are only paired with the long bed, while the Double Cab is available with both. It comes with cloth upholstery and four-way manually adjustable front seats. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel are optional. The Tacoma has a maximum payload of 1,685 pounds and a maximum towing capacity of 6,800.
Power and Handling
The GMC Canyon has a standard four-cylinder engine that gives you 200 horsepower and works great to get you around town. You can also opt for a 308-horsepower V6 engine that delivers smooth and quick acceleration for some of your heavy-duty work. A turbodiesel engine is also available and produces 181 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque. This is a good choice for low-end muscle. The four-cylinder and diesel engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V6 is paired to an eight-speed automatic, which executes timely and precise shifts. The Canyon gets an estimated 20/30 mpg in the city and on the highway, with its diesel engine and 20/26 mpg with its base engine.
The Toyota Tacoma comes standard with a four-cylinder engine that puts out a meager 159 horsepower. This delivers a sluggish acceleration especially if you are carrying passengers and cargo. Your other option is a 278-horsepower V6. It's a little better at higher speeds than the four-cylinder, but it can still feel lackluster. The outdated six-speed automatic transmission hampers both engines and struggles to find the right gear. The 2020 Tacoma with the base engine and rear-wheel drive gets an estimated 20/23 mpg in the city and on the highway. Models with the optional V6 get an estimated 19/24 mpg in the city and on the highway. These numbers aren’t great for a compact pickup truck. There are six trim levels to choose: SR, SR5, TRD Off-Road, Limited and TRD Pro.
Safety and Tech Features, Price
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 a six-speaker stereo, two USB ports and Bluetooth. Optional features include an 8-inch touch screen, HD Radio, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless device charging, and navigation. Starting price for the basic two-seat Extended Cab Canyon SL is $22,200 and ranges to $40,500 for the Canyon Denali.
The Tacoma comes standard with a rearview camera and Toyota's Safety Sense P bundle of driver assistance technology. This package includes lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. New standard features for the 2020 Tacoma is Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and a 7-inch touch screen. Starting price with the Tacoma SR is $26,050 and ranges to a starting price of $43,960 for the Tacoma TRD Pro.
Overall
Overall, if you’re looking for a modern look on a traditional truck, with one of the best in its class towing and payload capacities, the 2020 GMC Canyon is your choice. It's stylish interior, along with its comfortable ride completes its package. Come see for yourself at Reliable Buick GMC.