2021 GMC Canyon 4WD MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims
Fuel grade varies by trim — see the breakdown below.
Is the 2021 GMC Canyon 4WD good on gas?
At up to 22 MPG combined, the 2021 GMC Canyon 4WD is better than average for a Small Pickup Trucks 4WD — that class averages about 18.9 MPG across 337 EPA-tested versions, so it's a good pick on fuel for its size.
Real-world MPG vs the EPA number
The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.
At today's AAA national average price — $3.80/gal for regular gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $2,714/year (roughly $226/month, about $18.10 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 714 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →
2021 GMC Canyon 4WD trims & fuel economy
| Trim (engine / transmission) | Fuel | MPG | Fuel/yr (today's price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, 4WD | REGULAR | 21 | $2,714 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 8-spd, 4WD | REGULAR | 18 | $3,167 |
| 2.8L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, 4WD | DIESEL | 22 | $3,259 |
2021 GMC Canyon 4WD specs
What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.
| Engine options | 2.5L 4-cyl · 3.6L 6-cyl · 2.8L 4-cyl turbo |
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd · Automatic 8-spd |
| Drive type | 4WD |
| EPA body class | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Fuel | Varies by trim |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 431–494 g/mi |
Other years of the GMC Canyon 4WD
Similar cars (Small Pickup Trucks 4WD)
Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides
3 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.