Motor Trend’s First Drive of the Canyon AT4X

When GMC redesigned the 2023 Canyon, they added an AT4X version for the first time. It is the most off-road-focused Canyon except for the AT4X AEV Edition version. Many experienced off-roaders know that bigger is not always better deep in the trails, so this off-roading midsize truck is the best of both worlds. Motor Trend wanted to see for themselves what the Canyon AT4X can do both off and on the road, and this Buick GMC of Rochester blog post highlights what they found.

Off-Road-Focused Chassis

The Canyon AT4 is already a competent off-roader, but adding the X at the end of the name brings about some significant upgrades. It starts with a 3-inch suspension lift, behind which are industry-leading Multimatic spool-valve shocks and 33-inch multi-terrain tires. Having the front wheels pushed forward 3 inches in the recent Canyon redesign results in a 36.9-degree approach angle. The breakover angle is 26.9 degrees, and the departure angle is 25.0 degrees. When any of these fall short, thick skid plates protect the crankcase, transfer case, and other vulnerable areas. Both front and rear differentials are individually lockable from switches in the cabin, and you can choose from Tow/Haul, Normal, Off-Road, Terrain, and Baja drive modes. The Baja mode is an AT4X exclusive and demonstrates GMC’s off-roading expertise. Baja Mode configures the chassis for rapid driving over rough terrain. By contrast, the Terrain mode is for crawling over extremely rugged terrain, including EV-like one-pedal driving when crawling. Said Motor Trend: “We were impressed by the effort put into tailoring these modes to various on- and off-road scenarios.”

Tough Yet Civilized

The Canyon AT4X standard TurboMax engine also impresses. As the most potent version of the turbocharged 2.7-liter Inline-4 in all Canyon models, TurboMax produces 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. It is presently the most powerful engine in the mid-size class. Motor Trend’s testing showed the Canyon AT4X accelerating from 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds before reaching the quarter mile in 15.3 seconds. The Canyon also braked from 60 to stationary at a respectable 125 feet. They expressed surprise that the off-road suspension was not particularly punishing on the road: “Although it is a lifted truck, the Canyon AT4X does not ride like one. It feels relatively agile and sporty while cornering, where the Multimatic shocks continue to perform and keep head toss to a minimum, including over diagonal railroad tracks and broken pavement sections. Even with a full payload or a trailer in tow, we did not notice any inordinate sagging or errant behavior under steering input, acceleration, or braking.”

The refined dash design and the graphics on both the digital dash and 11.3-inch center screen also received praise: “one of the most well-appointed midsize interiors on the market.” However, they did express a complaint that the traction control was not activated or defeated by a physical control. 

Motor Trend sums up their view on the Canyon AT4X this way: “From a do-it-all perspective, though, the AT4X with its trail hardware and independent front suspension is more well-rounded than its competition.”

If off-roading is a part of your life, you owe it to yourself to check out the Canyon AT4X, which you can do at Buick GMC of Rochester. If you live and breathe off-roading with a yearning for overlanding, look into the AT4X AEV Edition.