Compare the2023 GMC CanyonVS 2024 Jeep Gladiator

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Canyon are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Canyon’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Canyon offers an optional Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Gladiator 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.

Both the Canyon and Gladiator offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Canyon with Rear Cross Traffic Alert also has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Gladiator’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Canyon and the Gladiator 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, rearview cameras, available all 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 GMC Canyon is safer than the Jeep Gladiator:

	Canyon	Gladiator
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	194	220
Neck Injury Risk	26.1%	34.9%
Neck Compression	10 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	150/71 lbs.	576/707 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Canyon’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Gladiator’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Canyon has a standard 800-amp battery. The Gladiator’s 700-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 2 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The Canyon’s 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder produces 25 more horsepower (310 vs. 285) and 170 lbs.-ft. more torque (430 vs. 260) than the Gladiator’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the GMC Canyon is faster than the Jeep Gladiator (automatics tested):

	Canyon	Gladiator
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.4 MPH	83.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Canyon’s fuel efficiency. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Canyon has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Canyon	Gladiator
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.9 inches

The Canyon stops shorter than the Gladiator:

	Canyon	Gladiator
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Canyon has larger standard tires than the Gladiator (265/65R18 vs. 245/75R17).

The Canyon AT4X’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 70 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Gladiator Sport’s standard 75 series tires. The Canyon Denali’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Gladiator Rubicon/Mojave’s 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Canyon Denali offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Gladiator’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The GMC Canyon’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Jeep Gladiator only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The GMC Canyon’s independent front suspension is much lighter than the Jeep Gladiator’s solid front axle, which allows the Canyon’s wheels to react more quickly and accurately to the road’s surface, improving both ride and handling.

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Canyon has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Gladiator.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Canyon is 2 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Gladiator.

The Canyon Denali 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Gladiator Sport pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Canyon Denali 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Gladiator Rubicon (28 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 29.4 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Chassis

The GMC Canyon may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Jeep Gladiator.

The Canyon is 4.8 inches shorter than the Gladiator, making the Canyon easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Canyon has standard flush composite headlights. The Gladiator has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The front grille of the Canyon uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Gladiator doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Canyon has 4 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Gladiator.

Cargo Capacity

The Canyon has a much larger cargo box than the Gladiator (41.9 vs. 35.5 cubic feet).

The Canyon’s cargo box is larger than the Gladiator’s in every dimension:

	Canyon	Gladiator
Length (short/long)	61.7”	60.3”
Max Width	58.1”	56.8”
Min Width	45.5”	44.8”

The GMC Canyon offers an optional EZ-Lift and Lower, 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. The Jeep Gladiator doesn’t offer a tailgate assist.

The GMC Canyon has a standard CornerStep, which allows for much easier access to the cargo area. The Jeep Gladiator doesn’t offer a rear cargo step.

The Canyon has stake postholes, to allow the containment of tall, light loads. The Gladiator doesn’t offer stake postholes.

Payload and Towing

The Canyon’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Gladiator’s (7700 vs. 4000 pounds).

The Canyon 4x4 has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Gladiator (1590 vs. 1150 lbs.).

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Canyon, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Canyon’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Gladiator doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Canyon offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Canyon’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Gladiator has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Canyon’s standard power windows allow the driver or passenger to lower and raise the windows without leaning over or being distracted. Power windows cost extra on the Gladiator.

The Canyon’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its 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 Gladiator’s optional power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its front windows open automatically.

The Canyon’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Gladiator’s optional power window controls are down in the center of the dashboard, away from the windows and mixed with controls for unrelated features.

On a hot day the Canyon’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Gladiator can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Canyon’s standard power locks allow the driver or passenger to lock or unlock all the doors at a touch without leaning over, or reaching to the back seat. Power locks cost extra on the Gladiator.

The Canyon’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Gladiator’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Canyon has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Gladiator only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The Canyon has standard power remote mirrors. The Gladiator only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Canyon (except Elevation) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Gladiator doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Canyon offers an optional center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Gladiator Sport/Willys/Freedom doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the GMC Canyon (except Elevation) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Gladiator doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Canyon is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Gladiator doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.