2023 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2023 GMC Canyon

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss showcased a rugged aesthetic, thanks to its factory suspension lift, box-flared fenders trimmed in charcoal gray, a deeply sculpted hood, and an overall blacked-out style. Its Radiant Red paint job added a striking visual touch, encapsulating an image of readiness for off-road adventures. While the Colorado’s new design offered a balanced stance and expressive detailing, it avoided excess. Inside, a Camaro-like touch with dashboard toggle switches and round outboard air vents created a notable interior look.

However, both the base Work Truck (WT) and the Trail Boss trims experienced drawbacks with a predominantly gray front fascia and an inexpensive interior feel. The Trail Boss did include a front skid plate, a feature lacking in the WT, but the interior still felt uninspired with its varying plastic textures. Other trims like the LT, Z71, and ZR2 received more appealing color contrasts and superior cabin materials, upgrading their overall feel.

In contrast, the 2023 GMC Canyon presented an aggressive demeanor with its headlights and daytime running lights squeezed beside a broad grille, creating a somewhat hostile look. The body featured muscular bulges and creases, enhancing its robust appearance. Sharing its dimensions with the redesigned Colorado meant a longer wheelbase for the Canyon compared to its 2022 predecessor. Additionally, all Canyon variants came with an "Ultra Wide Track" stance and a standard factory lift kit. Models like the Elevation, AT4, and Denali had a two-inch lift, while the AT4X boasted a three-inch lift.

The Canyon Denali offered a touch of opulence with laser-etched wood trim and leather upholstery, distinguishing it as a premium trim level. Even the base Elevation trim's interior surpassed older competitors like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma. The AT4X's interior, with its red-and-white upholstery and vibrant dashboard trim, broke away from mundane monochrome interiors, providing an engaging visual experience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado came with a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering varying outputs across trims. The WT and LT trims offered 237 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, while the Trail Boss and Z71 increased these figures to 310 hp and 391 lb-ft. The ZR2 model also produced 310 hp but with a higher torque of 430 lb-ft. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, and the 4WD system differed by trim, with the Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2 featuring a two-speed transfer case.

The Trail Boss trim included a 2-inch suspension lift and wider front track. Real-world testing on off-road terrain demonstrated the Trail Boss's capability, though it proved to be stiff on challenging surfaces. Despite its off-road prowess, the Trail Boss performed well on paved roads, maintaining a quiet cabin even at highway speeds, thanks to its robust suspension and all-terrain tires.

The 2023 GMC Canyon shared a similar powertrain but standardized the highest output of 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque across all trims. Also employing an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Canyon offered RWD only on the Elevation trim, with 4WD available as an option or standard on higher trims. The AT4 and AT4X trims upped the off-road ante with enhanced features such as front and rear electronic lockers and Multimatic spool-valve dampers.

The Canyon maintained a solid balance between on-road comfort and off-road capability. Both the Elevation and AT4 trims offered quiet cabins and solid feel, with the AT4X showing even more off-road prowess. This trim easily handled various off-road obstacles and delivered impressive performance on challenging terrains.

Inside the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss, seating for four was comfortable, though squeezing in a fifth was not ideal for longer trips. The cloth upholstery tended to attract pet hair, and while the driver’s seat offered multiple adjustments, the passenger’s seat did not, potentially posing issues for shorter individuals. Rear-seat passengers had just enough legroom, and the rear air conditioning vents were a welcome inclusion.

The cargo bed provided 41.9 cubic feet of space and featured an EZ-Lift and Lower tailgate with a StowFlex storage panel. The Mid-Position tailgate allowed for carrying longer items securely. However, the truck's storage solutions within the cabin were limited, with minimal secure storage space.

The 2023 GMC Canyon offered only a crew cab with a 5.2-foot bed, and like its Chevrolet counterpart, did not include options for a longer bed or different cab styles. Inside, the Canyon provided ample first-row legroom but only moderate second-row legroom, surpassing older models like the Ford Ranger. The rear-seat headroom was comparable to other midsize pickups. The MultiStow tailgate added a waterproof storage compartment unique in its segment, addressing some of the truck's storage shortcomings.

In terms of payload capacity, the Canyon could handle up to 1,640 pounds, which was an improvement over its predecessor but still less than other competitors like the Ford Ranger. Its towing capacity matched the Colorado at 7,700 pounds, making both trucks competitive in the midsize segment.

Chevrolet equipped every 2023 Colorado with an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and digital instrumentation. The top ZR2 model featured an 11-inch digital display instead of the standard 8-inch. Google Built-in technology facilitated a range of functionalities, from natural voice recognition to navigation via Google Maps. The infotainment system supported Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM, OnStar services, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Despite its basic interior, the Trail Boss impressed with its digital sophistication, though the Google Assistant required some user adaptation.

The 2023 GMC Canyon matched these technological features, incorporating an 11.3-inch touchscreen and an 8-inch or 11-inch digital instrument cluster, depending on the trim. High-end trims like the Denali and AT4X included a 6.3-inch head-up display and wireless phone charging. The Canyon's infotainment system mirrored Google's functionalities, enhancing user experience with attractive graphics and display modes. Meanwhile, advanced off-road performance displays and surround-view cameras facilitated safer and more precise off-road navigation.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado came equipped with a solid array of safety features. OnStar provided emergency calling and automatic crash notification, while the Teen Driver system summarized a young driver’s habits. The Buckle to Drive function ensured passengers were belted before the vehicle could move. Chevy Safety Assist included a suite of ADAS features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. The higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. Nevertheless, forward-collision warnings plagued the test truck with false alerts, significantly diminishing driver experience.

The 2023 GMC Canyon's safety offerings were slightly more advanced. The Canyon Pro Safety Package included features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and lane-keeping assist. The optional Safety Plus and Technology packages added rear cross-traffic alert, blind-zone steering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Denali and AT4X further included a Safety Alert Seat for enhanced safety.