The 2022 GMC Canyon midsize truck has soldiered on for several years as a good-looking truck with just a few changes since the 2015 model year. But GMC decided it was time to update the truck with a total refresh not just to update it and make it different from its Chevy Colorado stablemate, but to make it more capable, too. The midsize truck segment is one of the most dynamic and competitive, with several trucks like the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger all aiming at the same buyer. The new 2023 GMC Canyon is bigger, and more powerful and has some very cool options like the AT4X off-road package.

You could get a deal on an outgoing 2022 Canyon

But when a manufacturer entirely redesigns a model, that usually means that dealers will be eager to get rid of the outdated versions left on their lots, often at a good discount. So, is now the time to snap up a leftover 2022 Canyon, or should you wait for the 2023 Canyon?

GMC is completely redesigning the 2023 Canyon

While GM announced many of the details of the Chevy Colorado midsize truck a few weeks ago, it’s waiting to give us the full scoop on its corporate twin, the 2023 GMC Canyon. The first bits we get, though, are exciting, with the introduction of the updated 2023 GMC Canyon in AT4X trim, but more on that later. According to GMC, the new base truck has an MSRP of about $40,000 and packs in more safety, space, and a sunroof.

The Canyon is all new, from its GMC Sierra-like grille to its new watertight tailgate. The 2023 version isn’t just a reskin. Instead, it comes on a new chassis with a 3.1-inch-longer wheelbase that will give it better overhangs for off-road work and will likely contribute some big-truck-like stability and utility. It can tow more, haul more, and come with special trim packages, such as the Denali luxury trim and the Canyon Safety Package suite of safety aids.

The previous generation was an unloved value leader

The 2022 Canyon starts at $26,800 for a basic truck. But most people who want a basic midsize truck tend to opt for its twin, the Chevy Colorado. Instead, the Canyon offers much more luxury and tech that midsize truck buyers want, such as an optional eight-inch touchscreen, a wi-fi hotspot, and tons of trims that offer everything from leather to a remote power locking tailgate. The truck can max out at more than $50,000 in some trim levels.

And then we can’t forget about the Denali and Denali Black Edition trucks that offer leather, 20-inch wheels, and much more that make the truck feel more like a Cadillac than a work truck. But it was never a favorite from magazine reviewers, like those at Consumer Reports or J.D. Power. Even with the more powerful V6, reviewers said that it needed more power, that it only has a “fair” driving experience, and that the ride needed improvement.

The updated 2023 GMC Canyon will have more power, no diesel option

The 2023 Canyon and Colorado will have one engine, a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. In the Colorado, it’s rated in three different power levels ranging from 237 horsepower to 310 horsepower. While in top trim the engine produces a tiny bit more horsepower than the outgoing V6, it makes 430 lb-ft of torque, which is more than even the 2022’s diesel, with 369 lb-ft.

The 2022 comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes an adequate 200 horsepower or a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 308 horsepower. The Colorado and Canyon trucks stuck to offering a diesel engine and it did give the 2022 a 7,700pound tow rating. However, the 2023 can tow just as much on gas.

Hunting Raptors with the new AT4X package

The AT4X trim was a huge hit for GMC on the full-sized Sierra, so it makes sense that it would add the option on the new 2023 GMC Canyon. It looks like GMC is going after Ranger Raptors. The AT4X package includes a high-output version of its 2.7-liter four-cylinder, a three-inch factory lift, underbody cameras, locking front and rear differentials, and a real-time monitor on the dash that shows the roll and pitch of the truck. It’s not cheap, at $63,350. But, it does have GM’s magic Multimatic DSSV shocks that help control the wheels at speed on the rough stuff.