2023 Nissan Frontier vs 2022 GMC Canyon

The 2022 GMC Canyon, which had been around since the 2015 model year, boasted a premium look and feel, especially in the luxury-oriented Denali trim. This trim featured a unique chrome grille, 20-inch diamond-cut machined alloy wheels, five-inch chrome assist steps, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation, heated and ventilated perforated front leather seats, open-pore Ash wood trim, and a Bose premium audio system. Even the rugged AT4 off-road version came with premium features like a black chrome grille, LED signature lighting, unique 17-inch wheels, and premium heated leather front seats with Kalahari accents.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Frontier offered four trim levels: S, SV, Pro-X, and Pro-4X. The exterior redesign, inspired by the 1986 Nissan Hardbody, and the all-new-for-2022 interior were well-received. Updates for 2023 included a Midnight Edition for the SV trim, which blacked out various exterior elements, and Lava Red interior accents for the Pro-X and Pro-4X trims. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were available on both Pro grades, which also featured a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat and a 60/40-split flip-up rear bench seat. The Frontier offered nine exterior color options, including “Baja Storm” tan and Tactical Green.

The 2022 GMC Canyon offered three powertrains: a 200-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a 308-hp 3.6-liter V6, and a 181-hp 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine with 369 pound-feet of torque. The latter two engines had a maximum tow rating of 7,700 pounds with the available Trailering package. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive available on all trims. The V6 engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, provided abundant power, while the 2.8-liter turbodiesel was robust in towing and fuel economy. The AT4's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like 31-inch Wrangler Duratrac tires, an Autotrac two-speed electronic transfer case, and hill-descent control.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier, powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 310 hp and 281 pound-feet of torque, used a nine-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with a shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive system available. Hill-start assist was standard across the lineup, while hill-descent control was standard with 4WD. The Pro-4X trim balanced off-road capability with comfortable on-road manners, featuring a more progressive suspension and a new urethane jounce bumper. The Frontier had a towing capacity of up to 6,720 pounds and a maximum payload of 1,610 pounds. The EPA rated its fuel economy at up to 20 mpg combined for RWD models.

The 2022 GMC Canyon was available with an extended cab and 6'2" bed or a crew cab with either a 5'2" or 6'2" bed. The crew cab offered spacious rear seating, while the extended cab's back seat was less commodious. The Canyon's crossover SUV-like seat height made getting in and out easy. The AT4's taller ride height provided excellent visibility, and features like a rearview camera and rear park assist made backing up stress-free. The cargo bed, with two-tier loading and 13 tie-down points, was practical for carrying and securing gear.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier came in two cab configurations: the larger Crew Cab, standard on Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, and the King Cab, standard on S and SV trims. The Crew Cab offered a 5-foot bed by default, with a 6-foot bed available on the SV trim. The King Cab had a 6-foot bed standard. The Frontier's cargo bed volume was increased by raising the height of the walls, offering 40.1 cubic feet for the 5-foot bed and 46.4 cubic feet for the 6-foot bed. The hydraulically assisted tailgate opened slowly and could be closed with one hand. The Pro-4X trim featured aluminum and steel skid plates for off-road protection.

The 2022 GMC Canyon's Elevation Standard trim featured a 7-inch color touchscreen infotainment system, while the Elevation trim had an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility. The AT4 added a wireless smartphone charging pad, and the Denali trim included navigation, a high-definition rearview camera, and several driver-assist features. Available tech included Amazon Alexa Built-In, SiriusXM satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, and OnStar telematics. The optional GMC infotainment system with navigation and the Bose premium audio system provided a straightforward and enjoyable user experience.

For the 2023 model year, the Nissan Frontier made wireless Apple CarPlay standard on Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, while a wired connection was still required for Android Auto users. The Pro trims also featured two USB-A and two USB-C ports, and a wireless charging pad was available. Infotainment was hosted through an 8-inch touchscreen for S and SV trims, while Pro-X and Pro-4X got a 9-inch touchscreen. A four-speaker audio system was standard on S and SV trims, with a six-speaker system on Pro-X and Pro-4X trims. The available 10-speaker Fender premium sound system provided excellent audio quality. The 7-inch digital gauge cluster and Nissan’s Intelligent Around-View Monitor with off-road mode were notable features.

The 2022 GMC Canyon's safety features varied by trim level. The base Elevation Standard lacked advanced driver aids but included tire-fill alert and the Teen Driver system. The Driver Alert package, available on the Elevation and AT4 and standard on the Denali, included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking assistance. However, features like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking were not available. The Canyon earned four out of five stars for overall crash protection from the NHTSA and had mixed ratings from the IIHS, with some areas needing improvement.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier came standard with forward-collision warning, trailer sway control, a driver-attention monitor, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and rear-door alert. Lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were available as options. Traffic-sign recognition and intelligent cruise control were standard on Pro-4X. The NHTSA gave the Frontier a four-star overall safety rating, with high marks for side crash tests but lower scores for frontal crash and rollover tests. The IIHS rated the 2022 model highly for daytime front vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention and seat belt reminders.