2021 GMC Canyon vs. 2021 Chevrolet Colorado

Both the Canyon and the Colorado have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The GMC Canyon has a better fatality history. The Canyon was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 8.8% lower per vehicle registered than the Colorado, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2019 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 3 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The Canyon stops much shorter than the Colorado:

The Canyon Short Box Denali Crew Cab’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Colorado’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Canyon Short Box Denali Crew Cab has standard 20-inch wheels. The Colorado’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Canyon Short Box Crew Cab 4x4 handles at .79 G’s, while the Colorado Short Box ZR2 Crew Cab pulls only .69 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Canyon Long Box Crew Cab 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Colorado Short Box Z71 Crew Cab 4x4 (29.3 seconds @ .55 average G’s vs. 29.7 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

The GMC Canyon has a standard CornerStep, which allows for much easier access to the cargo area. A CornerStep isn’t available on the Colorado ZR2.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Canyon Denali keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Colorado doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Insurance will cost less for the Canyon owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Canyon with a number “3” insurance rate while the Colorado is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

Truck Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2015 issue and they ranked the GMC Canyon Short Box Crew Cab 4x4 two places higher than the Chevrolet Colorado Short Box Z71 Crew Cab 4x4.