2015 GMC Canyon
Independent review & score by Carivo
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Truck |
| Base Price | $25,550–$33,238 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
Our scoring places the 2015 GMC Canyon at 7.1/10 overall, which translates to a Good rating for this truck. Its strongest dimension is Value at 7.7/10. It's a capable but unexceptional truck — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. Reliability is the weak spot: 6.8/10, under the class average. Review the recall record on this page and price in extra maintenance headroom. The safety score of 7.2/10 is solid mid-pack territory. If advanced driver aids matter to you, compare standard equipment carefully and verify ratings at nhtsa.gov.
Performance scores 7.5/10 — competent for everyday use. Acceleration and handling are adequate for commuting and highway driving, though enthusiasts will want to look at higher-rated alternatives. Tech rates a reasonable 7.3/10: the essentials are covered and well executed, but rivals at the same price often include more as standard.
Priced from $25,550–$33,238, 15 MPG, seating 5, the GMC Canyon sits in the mid-market bracket of the truck segment. The 7.7/10 value score says the pricing is fair rather than generous; cross-shop the segment before signing anything. At 11 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Our take: The 2015 GMC Canyon is a passable truck but not a standout one. Weaknesses in reliability hold it back from being a strong recommendation. It may suit buyers with specific needs it serves well, but we'd encourage comparing at least two or three higher-scored alternatives before deciding.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2015 GMC Canyon ranks #381 of 515 trucks in the Carivo database — better than 26% of the segment. Its 7.1/10 overall score is 0.3 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $25,550 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $35,138 by about 27%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Truck ranking → · Best Trucks under $35k →
| Fuel (75,000 miles) | ~$17,500 ($3,500/year at $3.50/gal) |
|---|---|
| Recall repairs | $0 — 8 campaigns on record; recall work is always free at franchised dealers |
| Insurance | Varies widely by driver and state — always quote the exact trim before buying |
We only print costs we can compute from sourced data (EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls). We don't estimate maintenance or depreciation — anyone who gives you one number for those is guessing.
Across the Canyon model years we've scored, the 2015 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.6/10 | $36,050 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.6/10 | $36,050 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.5/10 | $35,000 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.4/10 | $33,950 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.5/10 | $32,900 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.4/10 | $31,850 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.3/10 | $30,800 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.3/10 | $29,750 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.3/10 | $28,700 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.2/10 | $27,650 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.1/10 | $26,600 | Read review → |
| 2015 (this review) | 7.1/10 | $25,550 |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle with our free VIN recall checker.
| Air bags / Frontal 05/10/2017 · 17V621000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. |
|---|---|
| Fuel system, gasoline / Delivery / Fuel pump 31/05/2018 · 18V358000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure… |
| Air bags 09/10/2014 · 14V645000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 6, 2014, to October 1, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver air bag connections may have been wired incorrectly. This could… |
| Seats 08/05/2015 · 15V267000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks manufactured January 6, 2014, to April 1, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the hooks that secure the driver's and/or front passenger's seat frame may not… |
| Steering / Electric power assist system 01/02/2016 · 16V054000 | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 6, 2015, to March 17, 2015, and 2015 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 6, 2015, to March 19, 2015. A poor electrical connection within the… |
Showing 5 of 8 campaigns — see the full list on NHTSA's site.
Own a 2015 GMC Canyon that's been repaired repeatedly for the same problem? It may qualify under your state's lemon law — run the free lemon law check →
We rate the 2015 GMC Canyon's reliability 6.8/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
8 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.1/10 overall, ranking #381 of 515 trucks in our database (better than 26% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2015 GMC Canyon starts at $25,550 and ranges up to $33,238 across trims (MSRP when new). At 15 MPG, expect roughly $3,500/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Based on our year-by-year scoring, the weakest Canyon years we've rated are 2016 (7.1/10), 2015 (7.1/10) — each at least half a point below the nameplate's best (7.6/10). See the full year table above before deciding.
The documented issues for the 2015 GMC Canyon are its NHTSA recall campaigns, which involve: Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Seats, Steering (details in the recalls section above; repairs are free at dealers). For wear-and-tear patterns beyond recalls, owner forums are the best source — we only report what federal data documents.
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