2021 GMC Canyon vs 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD

The second-generation GMC Canyon had been around for a while, debuting as a 2015 model after a two-year hiatus. The most notable changes in the 2021 refresh included an enlarged grille and a revised front bumper, aligning it more closely with its full-size sibling, the GMC Sierra. Despite these updates, the Canyon largely remained the same truck, which was less of an issue in the midsize pickup market where competition was not as fierce. The cabin maintained a functional layout with sensible controls, though it featured plenty of hard plastics and mediocre fit-and-finish. The trims ranged from the base Elevation Standard to the luxurious Denali, each offering a variety of features and options.

The Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD’s styling was polarizing, with a front end that resembled a vintage furnace or a freight train. However, the cabin was more conventional, focusing on quantity over quality. The Silverado 3500HD offered a range of trims from the basic W/T to the luxurious High Country. Standard features on the W/T included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while higher trims added amenities like leather upholstery, heated front seats, and advanced trailering systems. The High Country trim featured premium touches such as a Bose sound system and a spray-in bed-liner.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. An optional 3.6-liter V6 engine, standard on the AT4 and Denali trims, delivered 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, a 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel engine was available, offering 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Canyon could tow up to 7,700 pounds with the turbodiesel engine and had a payload capacity of 1,605 pounds. The AT4 trim, equipped with the gas V6 and 4WD, featured an automatic locking rear differential and hill-descent control, making it capable off-road without compromising on-road manners.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD offered two engine options: a standard 6.6-liter V8 gas engine producing 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque, and an optional Duramax turbodiesel 6.6-liter V8 engine delivering 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque. The gas engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the diesel engine came with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. Both powertrains could be configured with rear-wheel drive or available four-wheel drive. The Silverado 3500HD could tow up to 36,000 pounds when properly equipped and had a payload capacity of 7,442 pounds. The LTZ trim featured an advanced trailering system with an app to monitor critical trailer functions.

The 2021 GMC Canyon was available in Extended Cab and Crew Cab variants. The Extended Cab had rear-hinged half-doors and small second-row jump seats, suitable for children or small items. The Crew Cab offered four full doors and more usable rear-seat space. The Canyon featured two bed sizes: a short (5-foot-2) box and a long (6-foot-2) box. The Extended Cab only came with a long box, while the Crew Cab offered both options. The Canyon also included GM’s CornerStep rear bumper for easy bed access and an available EZ lift-and-lower tailgate.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD was available in regular cab/long-bed, double cab/long-bed, crew cab/standard bed, and crew cab/long-bed configurations. The single cab had one row of seating, while the crew cabs provided two rows of spacious seating with ample headroom and legroom. The Silverado featured helpful bed steps integrated into the corners of the rear bumper and additional step-ups along the side of the bed. These steps made it easier to access the bed, especially given the vehicle's large size.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system had crisp graphics and an easy-to-use menu layout, with hard buttons and dials for added convenience. A larger 8-inch screen was optional on the Elevation and AT4 trims and standard on the Denali, which also included navigation, HD radio, and a wireless charging pad. The Denali featured a 4.2-inch color driver display in the instrument panel, operated via a directional pad on the steering wheel.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with upgraded trims featuring an 8-inch touchscreen. The High Country trim added navigation to the system. The Silverado also offered numerous trailering features, including backup camera guidelines and multiple additional camera angles for trailering. The trailering app provided a pre-trailering checklist and critical status updates, enhancing the vehicle's towing capabilities.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring system, front-and-side-impact airbags, traction control, and the Teen Driver system. The optional Driver Alert package included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking alert, standard on the Denali and optional on other trims. The Denali also featured an upgraded HD backup camera and Hitch Guidance for easier towing.

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD came standard with a backup camera and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags. Additional safety features such as forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were available as options. Front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree parking camera system were also optional, providing valuable assistance given the vehicle's size.