Compare the2025 GMC CanyonVS 2025 Nissan Frontier

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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Full-time four-wheel drive is optional on the Canyon. Full-time four-wheel drive gives added traction for safety in all conditions, not just off-road, like the only system available on the Frontier.

Both the Canyon and Frontier have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Canyon has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Frontier’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Canyon and the Frontier 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

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 Nissan Frontier:

	Canyon	Frontier
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	194	371
Neck Injury Risk	26.1%	29%
Neck Stress	330 lbs.	360 lbs.
Neck Compression	10 lbs.	148 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	150/71 lbs.	578/791 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	293	407
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	258 lbs.
Neck Compression	92 lbs.	140 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	39/149 lbs.	383/260 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the GMC Canyon is safer than the Nissan Frontier:

	Canyon	Frontier
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	137
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	55 G’s
Hip Force	285 lbs.	796 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	251	351
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	586 lbs.	674 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 Frontier’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 54 percent more GMC dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Canyon’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Canyon has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Frontier’s 185-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Canyon has a standard 800-amp battery. The Frontier’s 510-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Canyon’s 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder produces 149 lbs.-ft. more torque (430 vs. 281) than the Frontier’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the GMC Canyon is faster than the Nissan Frontier:

	Canyon	Frontier
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.4 MPH	87.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Canyon 4x4 gets better fuel mileage than the Frontier PRO-4X (17 city/21 hwy vs. 16 city/20 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Canyon’s fuel efficiency. The Frontier 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 Frontier doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the GMC Canyon higher (6 out of 10) than the Nissan Frontier (5). This means the Canyon produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Frontier every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Canyon AT4X’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Frontier doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Canyon	Frontier
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	11.3 inches

The Canyon stops shorter than the Frontier:

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

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Canyon AT4X’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Frontier (315/70R17 vs. 265/70R16).

The Canyon Denali’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Frontier SV/SL’s 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Canyon has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Frontier S. The Canyon Denali’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Frontier PRO-X/PRO-4X.

Suspension and Handling

The Canyon has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Frontier Crew Cab suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Canyon is 4.3 inches wider in the front and 4.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Frontier.

The Canyon Denali 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Frontier LWB SV Crew Cab 4x4 (28 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Canyon has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Frontier SV King Cab (9.6 vs. 8.6 inches), allowing the Canyon to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Canyon AT4X AEV’s minimum ground clearance is 2.7 inches higher than on the Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab (12.2 vs. 9.5 inches).

Chassis

The Canyon is 10.9 inches shorter than the Frontier LWB Crew Cab, making the Canyon easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

The Canyon has a much larger cargo box than the Frontier Crew Cab shortbed (41.9 vs. 40.1 cubic feet).

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

	Canyon	Frontier King Cab	Frontier Crew Cab
Length (short/long)	61.7”	73.3”	59.5”/73.3”
Max Width	58.1”	61.4”	61.4”
Min Width	45.5”	44.5”	44.5”

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

The Canyon has stake post holes, to allow the containment of tall, light loads. The Frontier doesn’t offer stake post holes.

Payload and Towing

The Canyon’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Frontier’s (7700 vs. 6760 pounds).

The Canyon AT4 can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Canyon can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Frontier can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Canyon has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Frontier:

	Canyon	Frontier
Crew Cab	1670 lbs.	1490 lbs.
Crew Cab 4x4	1610 lbs.	1330 lbs.

The Canyon has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Frontier (1670 vs. 1620 lbs.).

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Canyon (except Elevation), 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 Frontier doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Canyon (except Elevation)’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 Frontier doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Canyon (except Elevation) offers an available 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 Frontier 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 Frontier’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Canyon and the Frontier have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Canyon is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Frontier prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 Frontier’s power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

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

The Canyon’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from the driver’s outside door handle and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Frontier only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the truck.

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

The Canyon has standard power remote mirrors. The Frontier S 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 Canyon’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Frontier and aren’t offered on the Frontier S.

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 Frontier doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Canyon has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Frontier King Cab doesn’t offer rear vents.

Both the Canyon and the Frontier offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Canyon has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Frontier Crew Cab doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Economic Advantages

The Canyon will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Canyon will retain 64.6% to 68.35% of its original price after five years, while the Frontier only retains 53.06% to 59.12%.

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