The GMC Canyon vs The Nissan Frontier

For those looking for pickup truck utility without the pickup truck size or cost, the mid-sized pickup truck is a fantastic option for consumers who need that extra bit of versatility but don't need the full package.

The smaller pickup truck craze began in 1958 when the Datsun 1000 made its way to US showrooms. The quarter-ton payload mini pickup truck pumped out a whopping 37 horsepower from a 1L 4-cylinder engine. But the smaller pickup truck craze didn't begin to take shape until the 1970s. Finally, in the early '80s, Ford would produce a mass scale mid-sized truck known as the Ranger. From there, the other two top American brands, Chevrolet and Dodge, took notice and built competing trucks for the mid-sized market.

Today we will be looking at the GMC Canyon and how it holds up to the Nissan Frontier. Both midsize trucks are excellent options that offer their owner the versatility and utility that one needs in a pickup truck without the full-sized price tag or the full-sized room needed for a proper pickup truck.

The GMC Canyon was introduced to the American market in 2004, replacing the more compact-sized GMC Sonoma that had been sold for several years before. The Canyon is GMC's first true mid-sized pickup truck built on the same base as the Chevrolet Colorado.

Nissan introduced its Frontier pickup truck in 1997 to replace its original compact pickup truck known as the D21 Hardbody. The Nissan Frontier that we know today is now on its third-generation platform. Similarly, the GMC Canyon is also on its third-generation platform.

For this comparison, we will compare the GMC Canyon Elevation four-door crew cab with four-wheel drive to the Nissan Frontier PRO-4X 4-door crew cab with four-wheel drive.

Comparatively, these two midsize trucks are very similar based on a number of different features and benefits. This article will discuss the main differences between the two and by the end of this article, you will see why the GMC Canyon is the better option for those seeking a dependable and versatile mid-sized pickup truck.

When it comes to vehicle warranty, both vehicles offer a 3-year 36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year 60,000-mile drivetrain warranty. The true difference, and what makes the GMC Canyon stand out, is its included roadside assistance, which is 5 years or 60,000 miles, compared with Nissan's 3 years or 36,000 miles.

In terms of dimensions, there are several key dimensions that help the GMC Canyon inch out the Nissan Frontier. First and foremost is bed length. Obviously, how much material you can haul in the bed of your pickup truck is going to be a major deciding factor for anyone looking at a mid-sized truck. In this case, the GMC Canyon offers a few extra inches of bed length when compared with the Nissan Frontier. The GMC Canyon is also nearly 7 inches taller than the Nissan Frontier, making it an overall better option for the taller buyer.

Add to that, looking at front legroom, the GMC Canyon shinesabove the Frontier with 45.2 inches of front legroom compared with the Frontier's 42.3 inches, once again making this, the GMC Canyon, a smarter choice for the taller driver.

When purchasing a pickup truck, regardless of whether it's a full-sized truck or a midsize truck, most buyers do not put fuel economy as their main concern and deciding factor. Most people buy a pickup truck for a specific need. Most people who buy a mid-sized truck buy it more for hauling smaller pieces of equipment (like a small boat or a set of jet skis) or for weekend trips to the home improvement store or tailgate parties.

But since fuel economy is always something to take into consideration when purchasing any vehicle, these two midsize trucks are nearly neck and neck when looking at mpg. While both trucks get a respectable 18 miles per gallon in the city, the Canyon outshines on the highway providing 25 miles per gallon compared with the Frontier's 22. And while the Canyon's gas tank only holds roughly a half-gallon more, its overall driving range, especially on the highway, is far superior to the Frontier. City driving range is estimated at 385 miles for the Canyon compared to 378 for the Frontier. Highway range for the Canyon is 535 miles compared with 462 miles for the Frontier.

So if you are doing a lot of highway driving in your truck, it would be wise to consider the GMC Canyon over the Nissan Frontier.

While fuel economy will be important to some mid-sized truck purchasers in Connecticut, the engine output will almost always be one of the top deciding factors when purchasing a truck. Looking at these two mid-sized trucks, their main engine options could not be more dissimilar. The GMC Canyon with Elevation trim sports a 2.7 L 4-cylinder engine. The Nissan Frontier in Pro 4X trim sports a 3.8 L V6.

Now, here is where things get really interesting. The GMC Canyon's 4-cylinder pumps out 310 horsepower at 5600 RPM compared with the Nissan Frontier pumping out the same 310 horsepower but at 6400 RPM. While these figures are not that different, the difference that makes the difference in this case is the amount of torque that each of these engines produces. The GMC Canyon's four-cylinder engine pumps out an impressive 430 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 RPM. Compare this with the Nissan V6 pumping out only 281 foot-pounds of torque at 4400 RPM.

This means that the GMC Canyon is much more well-equipped for hauling larger items than the Nissan Frontier. So if you have equipment or other machinery or recreational toys you need to haul, the GMC Canyon is the clear-cut winner here.

Finally, let's look at pricing. The 2024 GMC Canyon and 2024 Nissan Frontier in the two respective trim levels that we have been comparing in this article show an MSRP that is nearly neck and neck. MSRP on the GMC Canyon is $39,300 while MSRP on the Nissan Frontier is $39,560. When looking at what the average price that a purchaser paid when buying one of these midsize trucks, the Frontier came in just a little bit cheaper than the Canyon at $38,240 compared to the GMC Canyon at $38,974.

So, in the long run, you may end up paying a little extra for the GMC Canyon compared to the Nissan Frontier, but it's very clear that that extra money spent provides a lot more value.

At the end of the day, you the consumer have the power to choose whichever truck is best for you. What is our suggestion? Go and try out a Nissan Frontier first at your local Nissan dealer. Once you're done, come take a trip to Northwest Hills GMC and try out a GMC Canyon. We're very confident that you will find the Canyon to be the better truck for what you're paying.

Our knowledgeable GMC sales staff is ready to assist you here in Torrington. Stop by anytime.