The 2026 GMC Canyon received a mixed assessment in the latest Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) safety tests, earning Good ratings in two crash tests but falling short in moderate-overlap protection and vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention.
How the GMC Canyon Performed in IIHS Tests
The IIHS evaluates vehicles across six key safety tests covering crashworthiness, headlights and crash prevention. Ratings range from Good to Acceptable, Marginal and Poor, with specific minimum scores required for the Top Safety Pick+ award.
- Small overlap front: Good
- Moderate overlap front: Marginal
- Side: Good
- Headlights: Acceptable
- Front crash prevention, vehicle-to-vehicle: Poor
- Front crash prevention, pedestrian: Acceptable
The Canyon performed well in the small overlap front and side crash tests, where it provided strong occupant protection. However, its Marginal rating in the moderate overlap front test exposed several areas of concern.
Moderate Overlap Test Reveals Injury Risks
According to IIHS researchers, rear-seat passengers faced a heightened risk of head and neck injuries during the moderate overlap front test, along with a slightly increased risk of chest injuries.
The driver also faced a greater risk of serious leg and foot injuries than would be considered ideal in the test.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Crash Prevention Scores Poor
The Canyon received an Acceptable rating for its headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention system. Its vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention performance was considerably weaker, earning a Poor rating.
The pickup avoided a collision in only one test involving a passenger-car target. In the other tests, it was able to reduce its speed but could not avoid the collision.
The Canyon also failed to provide the driver with a timely warning on two occasions when a motorcyclist was used as the target.
GMC Canyon Compared With Midsize Pickup Rivals
The Canyon was one of seven midsize pickups tested by the IIHS, and none earned either a Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick award.
The Nissan Frontier and Jeep Gladiator were the only pickups in the group to receive a top score in the moderate overlap front test, an area where several midsize pickups struggled.
Vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention was another weakness across the class. The GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Frontier and Honda Ridgeline all received the lowest Poor rating in that test.
The Toyota Tacoma posted the most consistent overall scores among the midsize pickups, although its performance was limited by a Marginal rating in the moderate overlap front test.
What the GMC Canyon Safety Ratings Mean
The GMC Canyon did not receive an IIHS safety award, but neither did its midsize pickup rivals tested by the organization. Pickup trucks have generally lagged behind crossovers in overall protection, although the results show that safety performance in the segment is gradually improving.
For midsize pickups, the moderate front overlap and vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention tests remain important areas for improvement. The Canyon’s results do not mean the pickup should be avoided, while the Toyota Tacoma recorded the most consistent overall scores in the class.
