The GMC Canyon has long been just a clone of the Chevrolet Colorado. But for 2021, GMC is starting to shake up the model’s trim levels and features to bring a larger gap between the Colorado while shuffling trim levels to bring the full-size Sierra’s nomenclature to the mid-size segment.

Like the 2021 Chevy Colorado, GMC is making some big trim and package level changes for the new model year. For the Canyon, that means it’s time to drop the familiar SL, SLE,  SLT and All-Terrain trim levels and replace them with Elevation, High Elevation and AT4 designations. Much like the Sierra.

2021 GMC Canyon Completely Switches Up Trim Levels - What's New
2021 GMC Canyon AT4

2021 GMC Canyon – What’s Discontinued

  • (2SA) SL Trim
  • (2LT) and (4LT) SLT Trims
  • (PCN) SLE Convenience Package
  • (SXL) Elevation Edition Package
  • (PDV) All Terrain X Package
  • (PDY) LPO, SLE Chrome Appearance Package
  • (HJX) and (HQ1) Jet Black / Cobalt Red Interior trim
  • (VJH) Chrome Rear Bumper
  • (RS1) Wheels, 16″ x 7″ (40.6 cm x 17.8 cm) Ultra Silver Metallic cast aluminum
  • (RID) Wheels, 17″ x 8″ (43.2 cm x 20.3 cm) Bright Silver cast aluminum
  • (REG) Wheel, 18″ x 8″ (45.7 cm x 20.3 cm) multi-spoke Satin Graphite painted aluminum
  • (VZX) LPO, Bedliner
  • (RW2) LPO, Black bed rails
  • (VKY) LPO, Chrome door handles
  • (VKU) LPO, Chrome mirror caps
  • (SCZ) LPO, Chrome tailgate handle
  • (5Y4) LPO, Hitch receiver cover
  • (G6O) Blue Emerald Metallic exterior paint
  • (G7C) Cardinal Red exterior paint
  • (GAN) Quicksilver Metallic exterior paint
  • (GCI) Carbon Black Metallic exterior paint
  • (GD1) Marine Blue Metallic exterior paint
  • (GJI) Dark Sky Metallic exterior paint
  • (GPJ) Red Quartz Tintcoat exterior paint
  • (GS6) Smokey Quartz Metallic exterior paint
  • (8X1) Label, fasten seat belts

The list of options being deleted in 2021 is long and worth paying attention. As mentioned above, the entire Canyon trim level structure is being overhauled. Eight of the eleven colors available in 2020 are being dropped and replaced with four new color options. Although, despite being named differently, many of the colors will be the same as those on the 2021 Colorado. For example, Desert Sand Metallic on the Colorado is the same as Sand Dune Metallic on the Colorado.

2021 GMC Canyon – What’s New

Since so many options and trim levels are being dropped, GMC is introducing similar options or renamed trim levels to replace them.

  • (H4V) and (HVD) Jet Black / Kalahari interior
  • (PEH) High Elevation Package
  • (PCL) LPO, Sport Bar and Lighting Package
  • (PCW) Driver Alert Package now available on AT4
  • (IOR) GMC Infotainment System with 8″ diagonal color touch-screen
  • (UGA) Recovery hooks, front Red are standard on AT4
  • (RCW) 18″ x 8.5″ (45.7 cm x 21.6 cm), Black aluminum wheels are standard on Elevation Standard and Elevation
  • (S3X) LPO, Off-Road lights
  • (H4W) Cocoa / Dark Atmosphere interior trim is available on Denali
  • (GSK) Cayenne Red Tintcoat exterior paint
  • (GLT) Dynamic Blue Metallic exterior paint
  • (GTL) Desert Sand Metallic exterior paint
  • (GED) Hunter Metallic exterior paint

The Canyon will pick up the latest version of GMC’s infotainment systems, including a new Driver alert package on the AT4. The High Elevation trim level replaces the SLT package from what we can tell.

New LPO off-road lights, recovery hooks, and a jet black interior option round out the biggest changes.

2021 GMC Canyon – What’s Changed

  • Canyon Trim is replaced by Elevation Standard
  • SLE Trim is replaced by Elevation
  • All Terrain Trim is replaced by AT4
  • (C68) Air conditioning, single-zone automatic climate control is standard on Elevation
  • (IOR) GMC Infotainment System with 8″ diagonal color touch-screen is standard on Elevation and AT4 with cloth seats
  • (U2L) HD Radio on Elevation and AT4 is Included and only available with (IOS) 8″ diagonal GMC Infotainment System or (IOU) 8″ diagonal GMC Infotainment System with Navigation
  • (UDC) Enhanced driver information center is standard on Elevation and AT4 with cloth seats
  • (UVC) Rear Vision Camera is standard on Elevation and AT4 with cloth seats
  • (BTV) Remote vehicle starter system is standard on Elevation
    Seat adjuster, passenger 2-way manual, fore/aft with manual recline is standard on AT4 with cloth seats
  • (A28) Manual rear sliding rear window is standard on Elevation
  • (VT5) Bumper, rear body-color is standard on Elevation Standard and Elevation
  • (BW5) Black beltline moldings are standard on Elevation and AT4
    Recovery hooks are standard on 2WD models
  • (QIA) P265/60R18 all-season, blackwall tires are standard on Elevation Standard and Elevation
  • (LCV) 2.5L I4, DI, DOHC, VVT engine is not available on 4WD Elevation
  • (QJ2) 265/65R17 all-terrain, blackwall, 31″ Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires are standard on AT4 trim
  • (QHE) 255/65R17 all-terrain, blackwall tires are optional on AT4 trim

Again, the majority of the 2021 changes seem to be focused around the trim level realignment. Bumper colors, infotainment systems, and options are being added to new trim levels to present features not available on prior trims.

Interested in the 2021 Chevy Colorado Changes? Click Here to find out what’s new.