Compare the2022 Toyota TacomaVS 2022 GMC Canyon

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Tacoma has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Canyon doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Tacoma has standard Pre-Collision System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Canyon offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Tacoma’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Canyon and is not available with Elevation Standard.

The Tacoma (except SR/SR5/Double Cab) offers an optional Panoramic View/Multi-Terrain Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Canyon only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tacoma (except SR/SR5 Access Cab)’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Canyon doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Tacoma’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Canyon doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Tacoma and the Canyon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive and blind spot warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Tacoma is safer than the GMC Canyon:

	Tacoma	Canyon
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	221	309
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	244 lbs.	300 lbs.
Neck Compression	12 lbs.	45 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Tacoma is safer than the GMC Canyon:

	Tacoma	Canyon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	163 G’s	203 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	480 lbs.	545 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Tacoma, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 2.3% to 7.3% less likely to roll over than the Canyon, which received a three-star rating.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, its standard front crash prevention system, its “Acceptable” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tacoma the rating of “Top Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 166 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Canyon was last qualified as only a “Top Pick” in 2016.

Warranty

The Tacoma’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Canyon’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tacoma for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Canyon.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Tacoma’s reliability 32 points higher than the Canyon.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 45 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. GMC is ranked 16th.

Engine

The Tacoma’s optional 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 78 more horsepower (278 vs. 200) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (265 vs. 191) than the Canyon’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Transmission

The Tacoma offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Canyon doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tacoma 4x4’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Canyon:

	Tacoma 4x4	Canyon
Front Rotors	12.48 inches	12.2 inches

Tires and Wheels

The Tacoma has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your work or a trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Canyon. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Tacoma has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Tacoma flat and controlled during cornering. The Canyon’s suspension doesn’t offer stabilizer bars.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Tacoma is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Canyon.

The Tacoma Short Bed TRD Off-Road Double Cab 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Canyon Long Box Crew Cab 4x4 (28.6 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Tacoma’s turning circle is tighter than the Canyon’s:

	Tacoma	Canyon
Extended Cab Standard Bed	40.6 feet	41.3 feet
Crew Cab Short Bed	40.6 feet	41.3 feet
Extended Cab Standard Bed 4x4	40.6 feet	41.3 feet
Crew Cab Short Bed 4x4	40.6 feet	41.3 feet
Crew Cab Standard Bed 4x4	44.1 feet	44.6 feet

For greater off-road capability the Tacoma has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Canyon Long Box Crew Cab (9.4 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Tacoma to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Tacoma’s minimum ground clearance is 1.1 inches higher than on the Canyon Extended Cab (9.4 vs. 8.3 inches).

Passenger Space

The Tacoma Access Cab has 2.2 inches more front hip room and .8 inches more front shoulder room than the Canyon Extended Cab.

The Tacoma Double Cab has 2.2 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Canyon Crew Cab.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Tacoma. The Canyon doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Toyota Tacoma has a standard tailgate assist feature, which prevents the heavy tailgate from falling with a crash and causing injury. It allows adults and children to easily open and close the tailgate with one hand to better facilitate loading and unloading. Tailgate assist costs extra on the GMC Canyon.

Payload

The Tacoma has a higher standard payload capacity than the Canyon:

	Tacoma	Canyon
Extended Cab	1685 lbs.	1430 lbs.
Crew Cab	1560 lbs.	1440 lbs.
Extended Cab 4x4	1445 lbs.	1433 lbs.

The Tacoma Access Cab has a higher optional payload capacity than the Canyon Extended Cab (1685 vs. 1560 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Tacoma TRD/Limited’s front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches, and the driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Canyon’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The Smart Key System standard on the Tacoma TRD Automatic/Limited allows you to unlock the driver’s door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The GMC Canyon doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Tacoma’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Canyon’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Tacoma detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Canyon doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Tacoma has standard power remote mirrors. The Canyon Elevation Standard doesn’t offer either a remote driver side or passenger side mirror. The driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The Tacoma’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. GMC only offers heated mirrors on the Canyon Elevation/AT4/Denali.

The Tacoma (except 4-cylinder)’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Canyon doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Tacoma has a standard Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Canyon doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Tacoma TRD/Limited has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Canyon doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Tacoma is less expensive to operate than the Canyon because it costs $727 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Tacoma than the Canyon, including $57 less for front brake pads, $79 less for front struts and $162 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The TRD Off-Road was selected by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine as their 2016 4x4 of the Year. The Canyon has never been chosen.

The Toyota Tacoma outsold the GMC Canyon by over 10 to one during the 2021 model year.