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2025 Buick Enclave vs Honda PilotHead-to-Head: 2022 GMC Canyon vs Honda Ridgeline
Two capable trucks with two different viewpoints. This head-to-head puts forth an interesting comparison: the GMC Canyon vs Honda Ridgeline.Two Favorites Keep Rolling On
After getting a facelift in 2021, which we detailed in our 2021 GMC Canyon review, the 2022 GMC Canyon is back with all the power, style, and options it had before. The Canyon has plenty of engine choices. The 2022 Honda Ridgeline is agile and has a refined drivetrain. Both have multiple trims, too. Neither truck is kicking off a new generation, so there aren’t a bunch of new features for either one of them, but they are very much up-to-date with driver assist technology and useful features to make tasks easier.
Both of these trucks have the appeal and functionality of a pickup truck, but mix in the personality and features of a SUV at times. The Canyon and Honda are two solid favorites in today’s market space. We chose the Ridgeline as one of the Best Mid-Sized Trucks for 2021. Which is the better buy though? What’s the best fit for you? Take a look at the categories below in this head-to-head comparison of GMC Canyon vs Honda Ridgeline to identify the different traits of these two trucks.
GMC Canyon vs Honda Ridgeline Specs
The 2022 GMC Canyon offers three different engine options: a 3.6L V6, a 2.5L inline-4, or a 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel 4-cylinder. The base 2.5L engine makes 200 horsepower with 191 lb-ft of torque. The 3.6L V6 is available on all trims, making 308 horsepower with 275 lb-ft of torque. Finally, the 2.8L turbo diesel makes 181 horsepower, putting out 369 lb-ft of torque. It’s available in the Elevation, AT4, and Denali. They’re all mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission in RWD or 4WD. A base model will tow 3,500 pounds with a payload capacity of 1,599 pounds. The diesel engine can tow up to 7,700 lbs. with a payload capacity of 1,605 lbs.
Models with the V6 get an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. With 4WD and the V6, there’s a slight decrease to 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The turbodiesel engine gets 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, or 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway if it’s 4WD.
Switching over to look at the 2022 Honda Ridgeline, there aren’t a lot of similarities. Honda takes a different approach by offering a single 3.5L V6 that makes 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. AWD is standard in 2022 Ridgeline models. In the city, it gets 18 mpg, and on the highway, it gets 24 mpg. That is for all trims since there’s just one engine option. Other measurements include a 19.5-gallon fuel tank and a range of about 450 miles. No additional packages are needed for any 2022 Honda Ridgeline to haul up to 5,000 pounds.
Driving & Performance
Whether 2022 GMC Canyon is being used at highway speeds or in and around town, the Canyon is responsive and easy to drive. The Canyon drives more like a crossover than a truck. Steering is responsive and handling is agile. It’s easy enough to maneuver in parking lots or other tight spaces. The suspension covers up the bumps well enough, but AT4 model kicks the off-road capability up a notch with upgraded suspension.
The 2022 Honda Ridgeline also drives more like a crossover, but even more so than the Canyon or other models in the midsize pickup segment. With 7.2” underneath, it doesn’t have the clearance to get to destinations other trucks can get to. It has good handling and a smooth ride though. It handles bumps well. The Ridgeline also easily responds to corners. Accurate electrically-assisted steering is a highlight for the Ridgeline. There’s not much vibration to it and, while you won’t be having fun steering this pickup with its SUV-style road manners, it’s tighter than a lot of competitors.
GMC Canyon vs Honda Ridgeline Comfort & Interior
From the inside, the 2022 GMC Canyon is a little bit dated. Hard surfaces are plentiful. The Denali gets some obvious upgrades with more leather, but even then, it’s a workhorse, not a show horse. Heated driver and front passenger seats are standard in the top two trims of the GMC Canyon. That feature is available in the lower two trims as well. Top trims also have six-way power adjustable driver seats. Seats are leather-wrapped on those top-tiered trims. All but the lower Canyon models have a 10-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support and two-position memory. The GMC Canyon Denali gets the most luxurious seats. All trims have seats comfortable enough for a long road trip, though.
Design is pretty basic, but that’s not a bad thing. The instrument panel is easy to see, the touchscreen is straightforward, and the knobs are accessible. With room for five people in the Canyon, there is 41.4″ of headroom in the front and 38.30″ of headroom in the back. Leg room measures in at an impressive 45″ in the front. The back seat drops down to 35.8″. Wireless charging, a six-speaker stereo, HD radio, and a Sirius three-month trial are standard, depending on the Canyon model.
A 2022 Honda Ridgeline has room for five people in leather-trimmed seats for all trims starting with the RTL-E. The seats are comfortable and cushioned. Like the GMC Canyon, heated front seats add to the appeal of the cabin. Space isn’t an issue anywhere inside. The base trim has 40.1″ of headroom, while all others have 39.5″ to work with. Head room in the rear seat lowers just a little bit, equaling 38.8″. Leg room measures 40.9″ up front and 36.7″ in the rear. For storage purposes, the rear seat does fold in a 60/40 split. 2.9 cu-ft is dedicated to under seat storage with 33.9 cu-ft of cargo room overall.
The cabin layout makes sense. Dials and knobs can be found on the center display. There’s also great visibility with the Ridgeline. Whether on city streets or on the highway, the 2022 Honda Ridgeline is quiet. There’s not a lot of road noise the makes it into the cabin. To help drown out any road noise that does leak in, there are seven speakers that come standard with the lower two trims of the 2022 Honda Ridgeline. Another speaker is added for the top two trims. HD Radio, satellite navigation, and wireless phone charging are also standard on RTL-E and Black Edition trims. Bluetooth with hands-free audio, MP3 inputs, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an eight-inch touchscreen also come standard on every Honda Ridgeline.
Trims & Features
GMC Canyon
There are four 2022 GMC Canyon trims: the Elevation Standard, the Elevation, the AT4, and the Denali. There are some standard features found throughout the lineup: LED fog lamps, remote start, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, a 7” touchscreen, and a six-speaker stereo are all standard in the Elevation Standard and Elevation, too. The GMC Canyon Elevation has a MSRP of $26,800 and comes standard with RWD, two back-seat USB ports, and gets a larger 8” touchscreen.
Offered in a Crew Cab body style, the AT4 has 4WD, heated front seats, and it’s also got 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratec tires. Those come with 17-inch alloy wheels. Dark chrome finishes make the AT4 even more bold. An AT4 Off-Road Edition package also adds a one-inch lift to the front suspension and skid plates for the engine and transmission. The AT4 has a $38,400 MSRP.
Sitting atop the other trims is the 2022 GMC Canyon Denali. It features forward collision warning, a HD rear camera, and lane departure warning. The Canyon Denali also has standard HD radio. Wireless charging is available in the Denali and standard everywhere else. That all comes with a MSRP of $41,200.
Honda Ridgeline
Sure, the 2022 Canyon GMC has some impressive tech that is standard on all of their trims, but that really is Honda’s specialty. Adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, road departure warning, lane keeping assist, forward collision warning, hill start assist, and lane departure warning are standard on every Honda Ridgeline trim. That’s because those driver-assistive technologies are part of the Honda Sensing suite of active safety features.
Most of the trims are pretty affordable for a pickup truck. The base Honda Ridgeline Sport has a MSRP of $37,640. It comes with cloth upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, remote start, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, two USB ports, a seven-speaker stereo, and Bluetooth. The touchscreen measures 8”. The RTL jumps to $40,620 with added leather upholstery, heated front seats, satellite radio, blind spot monitoring, and a moonroof. Another steady increase to $43,570 for the RTL-E, which comes with automatic high-beam headlights, front and rear parking sensors, a heated steering wheel, wireless device charging, and navigation with voice recognition. Finally, the Black Edition has a MSRP of $45,070. It has the RTL-E amenities and features, but adds a few interior and exterior design elements.
An in-bed trunk on all 2022 Honda Ridgeline models can be used to hold gear. An in-bed audio system can be used to play your favorite tunes. The 2022 Ridgeline is a dual-open tailgate, too. It will open and lay flat or swing open from the side, making access very easy, regardless of the purpose. There’s also a removable drain plug so it’s easy to drain ice and liquid from the tailgate.
Two Clear Choices
Either truck works just fine, but there are two fairly distinct choices here. If you’re looking for a work truck, the 2022 GMC Canyon has different engine options, more horsepower, and a higher tow capacity. The Canyon also has a little better gas mileage. It also offers models that are cheaper than the Honda Ridgeline. The Denali is the best choice because it truly is a luxury pickup truck, from the interior to the features to the exterior accents. The quality is lacking in some of the Canyon models though. So are the standard features.
For standard safety and driver assist features, the Honda Ridgeline wins. There are a lot of useful and fun features in a 2022 Honda Ridgeline. The quality on the lower Ridgeline trims also beats out the quality of interior materials in lower GMC Canyon trims. With different handling, a lower tow capacity and one standard engine, the 2022 Ridgeline really is almost more of a crossover than a typical pickup truck. With the Honda Ridgeline, the Sport is hard to beat because it’s a lower price, is still full of features, and is ready to handle some more exciting off-road work than other models.
I don’t need a heavy-duty work truck like the GMC Canyon on a regular basis, so the Honda Ridgeline won me over with truck capability, multiple driver assists, and impressive steering. If you’re unsure whether to buy new, take a look at New vs. Used: Honda Ridgeline.
