The GMC Canyon does 20.3 mpg combined (18 city, 24.5 highway), which works out to about $1,892 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.8L 4-cyl does 23 mpg while 5.3L 8-cyl does 16.5 — a difference of $657 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every GMC Canyon engine, compared
Gas mileage on the GMC Canyon ranges from 23 down to 16.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $657 a year across 8 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 4-cyl | 20 / 28.3 | 2004–2022 | $1,670 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 20 / 26 | 2015–2015 | $1,745 | |
| 2.9L 4-cyl | 18 / 24.2 | 2007–2012 | $1,873 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 18 / 25 | 2015–2022 | $1,873 | |
| 2.7L 4-cyl | 18.8 / 23 | 2023–2026 | $1,920 | |
| 3.5L 5-cyl | 17 / 22.7 | 2004–2006 | $2,021 | |
| 3.7L 5-cyl | 16.5 / 22.7 | 2007–2012 | $2,053 | |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 / 20.3 | 2009–2012 | $2,327 |
What that actually costs
The GMC Canyon burns a gallon every 20.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 591 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.158 |
| Fuel per year | $1,892 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,460 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$398 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,205 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The GMC Canyon gives up 6.5 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.5 out there against 18 in town, a 36% drop worth $566 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 18 mpg | $2,133 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.5 mpg | $1,567 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.5 mpg (36%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Canyon changed over the years
The Canyon peaked in 2016 at 23 mpg (20 city, 27.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2012 at 18.7 — 4.3 mpg apart, or $383 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 20. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2025 | 19 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2024 | 19 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2023 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2022 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2021 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2020 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2019 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2018 | 20 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2017 | 20 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2016 | 20 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2015 | 19 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2012 | 16.7 / 22.3 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2011 | 16.7 / 22.3 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2010 | 16.7 / 22.7 | 3 | $2,021 | |
| 2009 | 16.7 / 22.7 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2008 | 17 / 23 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2007 | 16.5 / 23 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2006 | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2005 | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 | |
| 2004 | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2 | $1,920 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 42 EPA ratings of the GMC Canyon — 8 engines across 2004–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,205. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the GMC Canyon get?
20.3 mpg combined on average — 18 in the city and 24.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2004–2026.
How much does a GMC Canyon cost in fuel per year?
About $1,892 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,460 over five years, or 0.158 dollars a mile.
Which Canyon engine is the most economical?
The 2.8L 4-cyl at 23 mpg, against 16.5 for the 5.3L 8-cyl — a difference of about $657 a year.
Is the Canyon good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Canyon figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the GMC Canyon is $3,205 against the $1,892 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 25 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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