The best used GMC Canyon pickup truck years are behind us. While most modern trucks are getting better every year, the Canyon has recently taken a nosedive. Which years of this GMC truck are worth seeking out, and which one should you skip over?

2012 is one of the best used GMC Canyon pickup truck years

Consumer Reports put the 2012 GMC Canyon through its usual vigorous testing. The 2012 GMC Canyon has high scores for the reliability verdict. In fact, no other year in its history has received such a high score in the reliability area. The owner satisfaction score didn’t impress the experts at Consumer Reports or the owners driving this GMC pickup truck.

However, prices for this best used GMC Canyon pickup truck probably overpower a lousy review from CR. You can find a good deal on this used truck. It can tow around 6,000 pounds and will certainly get the job done, even with bad reviews. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did some crash tests on this 2012 truck, which didn’t yield very good results. On the tests it received scores in, the scores were marginal and poor.

2005 is another option for the best used GMC Canyon

Going back to the 2005 Canyon, the reliability score was relatively high. In comparison to the other years, it comes in second-highest for reliability. The owner satisfaction score is also pretty high for this truck. However, most people know what the Canyon represents as a truck. It is a work truck capable of towing and getting from point A to point B.

A 2005 pickup truck is going to be pretty bare bones. It is equipped with traction control and anti-lock brakes. Modern safety features like forward collision warning and lane departure warning were not around back then. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it mostly four and five stars on the tests performed.

Avoid the 2021 Canyon if at all possible, even if it is new

Oddly enough, one of the worst years of the GMC Canyon pickup truck is one of the newest options. The 2021 GMC Canyon has rock-bottom scores for both owner satisfaction and reliability. The NHTSA rated the 2021 Canyon in most of its crashworthiness tests, scoring mostly four and five-star ratings.

Like the 2005 version, this year of the Canyon is missing most modern safety and driver assistance features. Forward collision warning and lane departure warning are just optional. Automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and others are not included.

For now, the best used GMC Canyon years are all over the place. If you find a good deal on one, give it a thorough check before signing any paper. It is a solid truck that will get the job done, but don’t expect any extra bells and whistles.