Canyon AT4X First Drive

The all-new GMC Canyon has taken the world by storm. Whether you need to tow, haul, or have a do-it-all family vehicle, the Canyon proves it is one of the best trucks on the market. Buyers love that they can get full-size truck capabilities for less money without buying something bigger than they need. 

MotorTrend Praise

In their recent first test of the new Canyon AT4X, MotorTrend couldn’t stop heaping praise on the AT4X, saying, “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.”

AT4X Trim Features

The AT4X trim level is a special package for the Canyon that gives it some of the best off-road performance a truck can have without sacrificing its luxury and ride comfort. Buying an AT4X Canyon gives you 33-inch LT285/70R17 Goodyear Territory MT tires, a 3-inch suspension lift, Multimatic spool-valve shocks, an increased track width to 66.3 inches, a 36.9-degree approach angle, 25-degree departure angle, and 10.7 inches of ground clearance. The AT4X also benefits from having electronic locking differentials both front and rear. 

An Engine To Die For

Helping the AT4X stand out in both looks and performance is the addition of underbody cameras facing both front and rear with a wash function, a unique front skid plate, an off-road front bumper with a safari bar, a 30-inch front off-road grille light bar, winch, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, and a bed rail system that can be customized. 

Powering all Canyon models is the stout TurboMax, a 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that produces 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, routed to the wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. 

MotorTrend Performance Tests

The powerful engine allowed MotorTrend to pull off some impressive performance numbers in their testing. Still, the Canyon AT4X was exceptional in other ways: “During our instrumented testing, our test drivers were impressed with just how well the midsize truck handled at its limit. In a straight line the Canyon AT4X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and crossed the quarter-mile mark in 15.3 seconds. The AT4X managed to screech to a stop in 125 feet … Power from the TurboMax was especially evident on the road taking off from stoplights. The off-road-oriented shocks keep the ride pleasant without the floaty wobbles that can come with lifted trucks, even with a trailer in tow and under payload.”

Standard Safety

GMC’s priority is safety, and the Canyon will not disappoint you. The AT4X comes with the standard Pro Safety Package, the Safety Plus Package, and the Technology Package. The safety features include Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking with Bicyclist Detection, IntelliBeam auto high beams, Following Distance Indicator, Lane, Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, Blind Zone Steering Assist, Safety Alert Seat, which uses the bolsters in the driver’s seat to vibrate pulses to indicate a potential collision, Rear Pedestrian Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, and HD Surround Vision. 

Should You Buy The AT4X?

Like everything in life, a choice is a must. And the question is, should you buy the GMC Canyon AT4X? As MotorTrend put it, “Here it is quick and dirty: The Canyon AT4X is your truck if you want all the trail tools in GM’s catalogue … From a do-it-all perspective, though, the AT4X with its trail hardware and independent front suspension is more well-rounded than its competition.”

At Ewing Buick GMC, we take pride in offering the best vehicles to our customers. With hundreds of new and used vehicles to choose from, our amazing sales team and finance department will find you the right vehicle at the right price. Once you’ve purchased your vehicle, our stellar service department will ensure that your car stays in the best shape. We look forward to taking care of you in the future.