Sierra 1500 vs Canyon: Which Is Best for You?

October 10th, 2024 by

As the best-selling vehicles in America, trucks serve more than a simple purpose these days. They offer large viewing areas, you sit up higher, there are vast amounts of interior and cargo space, and they can tow pretty much anything anywhere. Modern pickups genuinely feel like massive luxury vehicles. The GMC Sierra and Canyon are perfect examples of two trucks that can go anywhere and do anything. However, they are different sizes. The Sierra is a full-size pickup, whereas the Canyon is a mid-size. Which one is best suited to your needs? Let’s dive in. 

A Grey 2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Edition, In View Of Glorious Mountains And Vast Forests

2024 GMC Canyon 

Even though one might call the GMC Canyon the Sierra’s little brother, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a capable vehicle. All Canyon models have a 2.7-liter TurboMax turbocharged inline-4 that puts out 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the 8-speed automatic transmission, the Canyon is always in the right gear, especially when towing. Speaking of towing, the mid-size GMC truck can tow up to 7,700 pounds in Elevation, AT4, and Denali trims. The off-road AT4X tows up to 6,000 pounds, and the AT4X Edition 1 will tow 5,500 pounds when properly equipped. This means you can tow jet skis, boats, modest campers—all the way up to a couple of horses. With Hitch Guidance and Hitch View as standard features, it’s now easier than ever to line up your hitch and get to towing. The optional ProGrade Trailering System adds an integrated trailer brake controller, an in-vehicle trailering app, a 220-amp alternator, and Blind Zone Steering Assist with Trailering. 

The Roomy GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Front Interior

Canyon Interior Room 

When seated inside the Canyon, everyone will find adequate room for passengers and cargo, as seen in the chart below: 

  • Headroom F/R: 40.3 inches/38.3 
  • Legroom F/R: 45.2/34.7 
  • Shoulder Room F/R: 57.4/56.1  
  • Hip Room F/R: 54.7/53.1 

A Red 2019 GMC Sierra Elevation Exterior, In View Of A Sparkling River And Extensive Forest

2024 GMC Sierra 

However, for the various truck buyers who want or need a little extra room and more towing ability, the Sierra is the truck to choose. Buyers can choose from the same 2.7-liter TurboMax as the Canyon, a 5.3-liter V-8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, a 6.2-liter V-8 making 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, or a 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel that pumps out 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque. This means that the Sierra can tow anywhere from 9,300 pounds all the way to 13,300 pounds, depending on the engine and options chosen. 

Different Bed Lengths 

The Canyon has a smaller but still very usable 5.1-foot bed. The Sierra can be optioned with either a 5.8-foot, 6.6-foot, or an 8.2-foot bed. You can also pick between a regular cab, double cab, or four-door crew cab. The Canyon comes standard as a crew cab. 

The Comfy Interior Of The Amazing 2022 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate

Sierra Interior Space 

The Sierra, as the larger vehicle of the two, obviously has quite a bit more space when optioned as a crew cab (SLT trim listed): 

  • Headroom F/R: 43.0 inches/40.1 
  • Legroom F/R: 44.5/43.4 
  • Shoulder Room F/R: 66.0/65.2 
  • Hip Room F/R: 61.2/60.2 

Three 2023 GMC Canyons Together, Epically Parked On A Glorious Mountain

No Matter Which Truck You Buy, Safety Is Standard 

Regardless of the truck you choose, both are two of the best on the market today. They each have excellent safety features thanks to standard GMC Pro Safety, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking with Bicyclist Detection, IntelliBeam auto high beams, Following Distance Indicator, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and Forward Collision Alert.  

At Dieffenbach GM Superstore, we take pride in offering outstanding sales and service for our customers. Whether you are looking for a new or used car, our sales team and finance department will ensure you get the best price. And our service department will take great care of your vehicle.