Comparing the GMC Canyon AT4X, Colorado ZR2 and Ranger Raptor

Off-road enthusiasts love a challenge. If they find passages their trucks can’t handle, or must do it too slowly, they go back and modify their trucks until they perform as desired. This has led to a robust off-road aftermarket. Manufacturers want a piece of that action, however, so they purchase those same aftermarket pieces in bulk and use the economies of scale to make cost-efficient robust truck lines. And then, thanks to competition, if another manufacturer has an edge, it engineers its model to take that edge for itself.  

That is free enterprise at its best and as a result, 4×4 trucks that were once expected simply to avoid getting you stuck on a wet trail, are now expected to be “faster than a speeding bullet and leap tall buildings with a single bound.” Such is the situation where the mid-size truck market is now headlined with off-road super-performers like the GMC Canyon AT4X, its mechanical sibling, the Colorado ZR2, and the Ford Ranger Raptor. How do these models compare? Valley GMC takes a quick look.

All three of these mid-size trucks are powered by engines found in their brand’s full-size trucks. For GMC, it’s the high output turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four that powers the full Canyon model line. This is the top spec of three versions of this engine found in the Colorado model line and is what Chevrolet puts in the ZR2. For both models, the engine produces 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The engines are paired to the same eight-speed automatic.  

Ford goes bigger in the Raptor, pairing a ten-speed automatic with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. Its torque matches its GM rivals perfectly at 430 lb-ft, but the horsepower is up to 405. That almost 1/3-more horsepower is mitigated by the fact that at 5,325 pounds, the Raptor weighs 415 pounds more than the ZR2 and 485 pounds more than the AT4X. The horsepower-to-weight ratio is still in Raptor’s favor, but torque-to-weight superiority goes to the AT4X and ZR2. Of course, extra weight can have its own disadvantages when off-roading. 

These are not models to consider if fuel mileage is a priority, and as it turns out, there is no actual difference. Both GM models have EPA estimated ratings of 17 in both the city and highway, and thus the combined figure as well. The Raptor achieves 16 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway, which also leads to the same combined figure of 17. 

Possibly because they are lighter, the Canyon and Colorado can tow more, each rated at 6,000 pounds compared to 5,510 pounds for the Raptor. Conversely, the Raptor’s maximum payload of 1,375 pounds exceeds that of the Colorado and Canyon, which are rated at 1,310 and 1,260 pounds, respectively.  

With this type of truck, it is worth focusing on the chassis. All three feature independent front suspensions with coilover dampers and have live-axles. The AT4X and ZR2 use leaf springs while the Raptor has coil springs and multi-link geometry. Vertical wheel travel is impressive all the way around, but the GM models have a small edge with 10.3 inches versus 10.0 inches in the front and 11.6 inches versus 11.5 in the rear.  

The ZR2 and AT4X have significantly superior approach angles of 38.6 degrees compared with 33.0 for the Raptor. At the rear, the advantage is reversed (but much narrower) with the GM models having 25.2 degrees versus 26.4 for the Raptor. Breakover angle is nearly the same with the GM models having 24.6 degrees versus the Raptor’s 24.2. 

The Raptor’s 1.5-inch FOX Live Valve dampers are certainly up to the job of high-speed off-roading, and the on-pavement ride isn’t punishing. But the AT4X and ZR2 have superpowers in being fitted with Multimatic DSSV dampers. With a design first used in racing, these innovative components replace the traditional damper piston entirely with three spool valves that open and close variably depending on the speed of the suspension’s movement. They adjust with such mathematical predictability that they can be tuned with greater precision than conventional shocks. The bottom line is that they can take everything the trails can give them and still provide a remarkably subtle ride. By their nature, they withstand heat better and thus won’t diminish performance during extended hard use. They are the AT4X and ZR2’s superpower.  

The AT4X is technically an AT4 with the AT4X Package. It requires both the AT4 Premium and Technology Plus Package, which results in a very highly equipped truck with a price in the upper $50s. The Raptor is also highly equipped, with pricing starting in the mid-$50s. The ZR2 is a Colorado trim level and arrives with less equipment for a starting price just below $50K. 

We will leave the interior and infotainment considerations to you, but just know that when it comes to tackling the great outdoors, the GMC Canyon AT4X doesn’t take a back seat to anyone in this category. Even though the AT4X is an AT4 with a package, it can easily be found in the Valley GMC inventory with the AT4X name. We invite you to visit us and see our AT4X selection.