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Starting at
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| 181 - 308 | Horsepower (HP) | 159 - 278 |
| 191 - 369 | Torque (lb-ft) | 180 - 265 |
| 7,700 | Max Towing Capacity (lbs) | 6,800 |
A midsize truck is a great option for a lot of people, offering the performance, power, and functionality of a pickup at a smaller scale that can better fit into a wider range of lifestyles. But choosing the right midsize truck is not always easy as there are numerous factors to consider to ensure you get just the right one. Considering two models rather than the entire market can make things a bit easier by giving you a narrower perspective. By looking at the 2020 GMC Canyon vs 2020 Toyota Tacoma, for example, you can more easily see which is right for you.
Even though these are midsize trucks, you still want to have plenty of power and muscle behind them to help you complete any job you might face. While the Toyota Tacoma is a fine truck, it definitely falls behind the 2020 GMC Canyon, offering quite a bit less horsepower and torque than the GMC model has to offer. The Tacoma also has fewer engine options available - while the Canyon gives you three different choices, including a diesel, the Tacoma only has two gas options.
All of this brings us to one very important factor: performance. The extra muscle and powerful design of the 2020 GMC Canyon gives you comparable payload capacity to the Toyota Tacoma, while also providing you with significantly more towing power. That can make a tremendous difference if you have big plans for towing with your truck, particularly if you have a heavy camper, trailer, or boat that you need to pull. Come visit us at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth today to see the 2020 Canyon and the rest of the fantastic GMC lineup for yourself.
Getting the right midsize truck is all about knowing what you need and then finding the model that checks all of your boxes and is a thrill to drive. While the Toyota Tacoma is a fine truck in many ways, it ultimately falls short of what the 2020 GMC Canyon has to offer. Not only do you have more engines to choose from with the Canyon, including a diesel engine that you will not find on the Tacoma, but you also can get greater horsepower and torque with the engines available. Combine that with superior towing capacity and a smoother automatic transmission, and you will quickly realize why the GMC Canyon has everything you need.
While it can be easy to think that a really powerful engine is only important in larger trucks, it is vital in even a midsize truck. You want an engine that is powerful enough to make driving your pickup a lot of fun, plus you need it to have the muscle to get whatever you need done. Since towing capacity and other aspects of your truck’s performance are directly tied to your engine, it really does matter. Not only does the 2020 GMC Canyon give you more engines to choose from than the Toyota Tacoma, but those engines are also more powerful to boot.
Let us start off with the 2020 Toyota Tacoma to see what it has to offer. The Tacoma starts with a 2.7L 4-cylinder engine that offers up to 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, which is decent though certainly not amazing. Fortunately, there is a more powerful and impressive engine available. This is a 3.5L V6 engine that offers up to 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque for much more impressive overall performance.
One thing that is nice about the Toyota Tacoma is that it has a 6-speed manual transmission standard on some trims, while the GMC Canyon does not have a manual available. That being said, there is also a 6-speed automatic transmission that comes standard on other trims. But, if you want a more responsive transmission, then you are out of luck.
The 2020 GMC Canyon has three engines available, which gives you more freedom to get exactly what you need for your work and lifestyle. The standard engine is a 2.5L 4-cylinder that gives you up to 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque, which is quite a bit more powerful than the Tacoma’s starting offer. For significantly more power, you can choose a 3.6L V6 engine that delivers up to 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. This is more horsepower and torque than the most powerful engine in the Tacoma, which gives you a lot more muscle in your pickup.
Finally, there is a 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine available, which delivers up to 181 hp and a stunning 369 lb-ft of torque. There is no diesel engine available with the Tacoma, and this final engine has far more torque than any Toyota offering can come close to. While a diesel engine might not be right for everyone, having it as an option is excellent for a lot of truck-buyers.
And while there is not an option for a manual transmission in the 2020 GMC Canyon, you do have two different automatic options. The 2.5L engine and 2.8L Turbo-Diesel each come with a 6-speed automatic transmission, fairly similar to what the Tacoma has to offer. But if you choose the powerful 3.6L V6 engine on the Canyon, then you get a modern 8-speed automatic for an impressively smooth and responsive driving experience.
Full-size trucks, especially heavy-duty models, tend to live and die by their towing and payload performance. Even though it is not quite as vital when looking at a midsize truck, you still want to choose a model that can handle whatever you need to throw at it. One of the major reasons to choose a truck is for its performance and ability to haul things, so you still want to keep performance in mind when considering your options for a midsize pickup.
The 2020 Toyota Tacoma has a maximum payload capacity of up to 1,685 pounds when properly configured, which is quite good for a midsize truck. By comparison, the 2020 GMC Canyon has a maximum payload capacity of up to 1,609 pounds when properly configured. To be completely fair, that is technically lower than the maximum payload of the Tacoma, but the difference is less than 80 pounds. While it is possible that such a margin could matter someday, the likelihood of that ever happening is quite low – so we would say these trucks are comparable in terms of payload.
When it comes to towing, however, there is a significant difference between the two trucks, and the Canyon is the clear winner. The 2020 Tacoma has a maximum towing capacity of up to 6,800 pounds when properly configured and equipped. By comparison, the impressive 2020 GMC Canyon has a maximum towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds when properly equipped. As you can see, that is quite a difference – roughly half a ton – and it will definitely matter if you have a boat or camper that you want to tow behind your truck. In this comparison, these two midsize pickups are not comparable, and the Canyon is the clearly superior option.
Both the 2020 GMC Canyon and the Toyota Tacoma have some excellent interior options, though we like those you can find in the Canyon a bit more. The GMC model is available in the legendary Denali trim, which includes an 8-inch infotainment display, HD radio, and a stunning Bose premium audio system. The GMC Canyon Denali also gives you power driver-seat lumbar control, heated driver and front passenger seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted controls. It also has a large driver information center, remote keyless entry, remote start, and a wireless charging pad.
While the 2020 Toyota Tacoma does have some good interior options, they just fall a bit short of what the GMC Canyon can deliver. It does have an 8-inch infotainment display available at the highest trims, though a 7-inch display is standard on lower trims. And while the Limited trim features a 6-speaker JBL sound system, it does not quite match the clarity and sound quality of the Bose system in the Canyon. Other features in the Tacoma like a 4-inch driver information display and available leather-wrapped steering wheel are nice, but the elegance of the GMC Canyon simply cannot be beat.
Here at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth, we are incredibly proud to offer the Canyon as well as the rest of the GMC lineup of trucks and SUVs. While the Canyon is a fantastic midsize truck, if you are looking for something with even more power and muscle, then consider the sophisticated GMC Sierra or one of the incredibly powerful Sierra Heavy Duty models. Our friendly and knowledgeable salespeople will answer all of your questions and help you find the perfect pickup with everything you need. Call or come visit us at Rick Hendrick in the Atlanta area today and let us show you how easy it can be to shop for your next vehicle.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.