--- title: "2021 GMC Canyon AT4: Is $45k too much for a midsize truck?" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-canyon-at4-is-45k-too-much-for-a-midsize-truck/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Erica Mueller" published: "2021-04-16T13:20:42+00:00" modified: "2026-08-19T16:23:23+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-GMC-Canyon-AT4.jpg" --- # 2021 GMC Canyon AT4: Is $45k too much for a midsize truck? By Erica Mueller Published: 2021-04-16T13:20:42+00:00 Updated: 2026-08-19T16:23:23+00:00 ![Featured image]() With a starting price of $40k, the GMC Canyon is a popular midsize truck. But what happens when you add an off-road package that costs another $5k, bringing the 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 off-road special edition to $45,780? Publisher Tim Esterdahl walks us through some of the extras in [his video below]() where he points out the good and bad things about this midsize truck. ### **2021 GMC Canyon AT4 pluses** The [GMC Canyon]() is a really good-looking little truck. With its bright red tow hooks, beveled bed-side panels and side steps on bed corners, GMC has done a great job of creating an attractive vehicle. Esterdahl also gives GMC props for the quiet ride and the comfort — both on and off-road thanks to sound-dampening and good suspension. Even with the big off-road tires, the truck rides smoothly on Nebraska’s washboard dirt roads. The 3.6-liter V-6 is a well-suited engine for this truck. It’s fun to drive off-road, even with the controversial 8-speed transmission. The locking rear-differential and auto 4-wheel drive that kicks in when the truck senses slippage means less guesswork while off-pavement. A few more things to like include auto-dimming interior lights, really nice fog lamps and a nice tailgate. ### **Not bad, but not good either** Again with the uncomfortable seats. There just isn’t enough padding to make for a comfortable ride for more than a few miles. And in the same vein, the interior design feels lacking in the materials chosen. Esterdahl points out a lot of cheap plastic parts, a very small driver’s display, and a lackluster infotainment screen that just isn’t that exciting for a $40k truck. Compared to some of its competitors, the Canyon is equipped with a pretty low-quality backup camera which seems very pixilated. It also does not have a 360-degree view or overhead shot like we are starting to see on other trucks. No lights in the truck bed? No bueno. ### **Included in the AT4 off-road package** We know you’re wondering just what the 2021 [GMC Canyon AT4]() Special Edition Off-Road package will include so here’s a little breakdown: - 17-inch wheels - spray in bed liner - off-road rocker protection - suspension leveling kit - all-weather floor liners - black AT4 badges - black exhaust tip - front and mid skid plates What do you think? Is all of this worth $45k? [Join Esterdahl]() for a walk around, and see for yourself. [Embedded video]() **Related posts** > [GMC Canyon Debuts All New AT4 Trim]() > [2019 Most Reliable Midsize Pickups – Consumer Reports, JD Power]() > [Ram dealers clamor for return of Dakota midsize pickup]() ## Related vehicle coverage - [2021 GMC Canyon]() ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-canyon-at4-is-45k-too-much-for-a-midsize-truck/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-canyon-at4-is-45k-too-much-for-a-midsize-truck/" }, "author": { "name": "Erica Mueller", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/28ea7673f6c33cc560979055b335c167" }, "headline": "2021 GMC Canyon AT4: Is $45k too much for a midsize truck?", "datePublished": "2021-04-16T13:20:42+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-19T16:23:23+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-canyon-at4-is-45k-too-much-for-a-midsize-truck/" }, "wordCount": 423, "commentCount": 0, "publisher": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-canyon-at4-is-45k-too-much-for-a-midsize-truck/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-GMC-Canyon-AT4.jpg", "keywords": [ "2021 canyon", "2021 gmc canyon at4", "canyon at4", "GMC Canyon", "gmc canyon at4", "midsize truck" ], "articleSection": [ "Buyer's Guide", "Reviews" ], "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "CommentAction", "name": "Comment", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-canyon-at4-is-45k-too-much-for-a-midsize-truck/#respond" ] } ] }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-canyon-at4-is-45k-too-much-for-a-midsize-truck/", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-canyon-at4-is-45k-too-much-for-a-midsize-truck/", "name": "2021 GMC Canyon AT4: Is $45k too much for a midsize truck?", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#website" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-canyon-at4-is-45k-too-much-for-a-midsize-truck/#primaryimage" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/04/2021-gmc-canyon-at4-is-45k-too-much-for-a-midsize-truck/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-GMC-Canyon-AT4.jpg", "datePublished": "2021-04-16T13:20:42+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-19T16:23:23+00:00", "description": "The 2021 GMC Canyon AT4's special edition off-road package brings some masculinity to this mid-size pickup truck. 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