The third generation GMC Canyon launched for the 2023 model year, with the 2025 Canyon set to go into production later this year with minor changes. That is unlike the 2024 GMC Acadia, 2025 Terrain, 2024 Sierra EV, and 2025 Yukon, all of which have are the recipients of extensive updates. The cabins highlight what the all-new Acadia, Terrain and refreshed Yukons have in common: the Premium GMC Infotainment System. The vertically-oriented display measures 15 inches diagonally in the Acadia and Terrain, and 16.8 inches in the larger Yukon. Regardless of screen size, the Premium GMC Infotainment System follows the same layout: an interactive display on the top two thirds, fixed soft button controls on the bottom third, and toggle switches to complete the HVAC controls below that. The infotainment system in the GMC Canyon couldn’t be more different.
2023, 2024, 2025 GMC Canyon interior
2024 GMC Acadia interior
Measuring in at 11.3 inches diagonally, the Canyon’s display doesn’t have anywhere near the screen real estate of GMC’s new utility vehicles. Even the bigger and more expensive Sierra only goes up to 13.4 inches in screen size. However, that doesn’t make the displays in the trucks any less functional. The pickups feature a screen followed by dedicated control panels for HVAC and other vehicle functions, thereby featuring more physical buttons than the vertical screens.
The GMC Canyon’s sibling, the Chevy Colorado, uses the same display as another model within the Bow Tie brand’s product portfolio – the 2025 Chevy Equinox. But even though the GMC Terrain shares its underpinnings with the Equinox, the GMC features a unique display and ensuing center stack arrangement.
All that brings us to the question of the day: should the Canyon receive the vertically-oriented display treatment seen in the new Terrain, Acadia, Sierra EV and/or updated Yukons? Would such a configuration make the Canyon more competitive, or would it turn off potential buyers?
Comments
My vote is yes I can’t stand the stupid tablet that looks like an afterthought by more car companies then just GM. It’s like oh we need a touchscreen in our vehicles in 2024. The vertical design is much better looking and probably more up to date as well.
My preference is NO screen but if I have to choose, I agree that the horizontal screen looks better.
NO, the horizontal screen looks much more integrated into the dash than the giant, vertical, plopped-in monstrosity seen on other Garage Man’s Companions.
The vertical design alllows the vents to be higher up and therefore closer to the driver & passenger.
The more screen space is below eye level the less useful it becomes during driving. Toyota nails it with their 14″ screen mounted high and close to driver.
Even the dual split screens that are everywhere now require the driver to look down and to the right.
Function is more important than style
I don’t like how you can hit that giant screen while adjusting your air vents, I also don’t like screens that stick out above the dash board. I can’t speak for everyone but if you’ve ever seen GM’s new dashboard design he probably like it it’s customizable it’s big why would you want to revert back?
“The vertical design alllows the vents to be higher up and therefore closer to the driver & passenger.”
The vertical design puts the HVAC controls at the very bottom of the stack, down at the center console!
Does GMC assume we never set/use these while driving? Was there NOBODY on the design team to say “Wait a minute, this whole thing isn’t very practical”?
@Dan you know what I miss and GM should bring this back….my 1996 Chevy Blazer had them vents under the steering wheel and under the glove box to Cool your lower body or just circulate more air. Also to I think car companies in general are running out of ideas as far as dashboards go I like the horizontal but you’re kind of right about the vents and I don’t know if you can adjust them up or not and why can’t they be power to you know I don’t know. Then again look at the cars in the ’80s and the ’90s with the buttons all over the place on the steering wheel on the center console by the radio and the cars had more buttons and a bank has money! Lol
Ahhh, the beloved air conditioning vent positioned underneath the steering column. Aka. the crotch cooler. Those were great.
Just another example of a well-like useful feature that some genius decided to delete.
I guess GM’s kiddie engineers didn’t see the need since men now wear short pants. When I was growing up in the 60’s men did not wear short pants except to a pool or beach. My friends and I stopped wearing cutoff jeans after about age 12. Maybe that was a Midwest thing?
I actually have a canyon on order I would chose vertical
Eliminate the screen all together and eliminate time sitting in the service department.
Kek, I agree.
People think that driving a car today is something that you do while you’re busy doing something else.
Get rid of the screens, get rid of the phones, and just drive the car.
Unless you’re using some china rooted aftermarket android garbage for your head unit, there isn’t much to an infotainment system. Most OEMs are easy to use, well, until GM tried to be Apple and make their own carplay.
Not sure why a lot of you want to go back to a map in the glove compartment instead of GPS or not have an option on the music you want to listen to (i.e force-fed what the radio wants to play vs your own playlist in Spotify or another music app).
We don’t need to get rid of touch screen lol
Using the screen is a pain compared to a traditional radio and HVAC controls. If I don’t know where I am I use my phone. Save the screen for the family room.
Paul there are traditional HVAC controld and a radio volume,/on off knob. I also don’t like the cars I don’t have any hard controls like buttons at all…. I want to drive a car and then a laptop!
Give me buttons and switches I can find by touch rather than eyes off the road and searching through menus that bury simple functions. EVO magazine did a great article with a 747 pilot that said these complicated screens would never be acceptable in an airplane. But Hey don’t look at your phone !
LOL when a 747 pilot calls your dash “complicated”, you’ve officially gotten it very wrong.
TeeKey,
Do you know that Pilot’s name. I would like to make sure I never get on a plane that he’s piloting, if he thinks that a touch screen in a vehicle is too complicated.
The screens are are pain in the azz, buttons and switches are much better and safer.
Vertical screens look like an iPad afterthought
I hate vertical screens.
No Kek I like my screen in my Equinox and have had no problems with it…it’s up to you to pay attention while driving, half of the time I don’t even look at the screen music comes on the know the song if I don’t like it I can skip it with a button on the steering wheel, to be honest I used a 2010 Chevy Equinox and the buttons galore on the dashboard was honestly more confusing than a screen in like 2018 Chevy Equinox. Again it’s the “DRIVER” NOT THE SCREEN!
People find their dashboard controls confusing ?
That explains a lot. You are right it is the driver.
I think the vertical is the way to go. It’s not above the dash as the horizontal one is in the picture above. The vertical appears to be angled up, so any height driver can see it easily. One thing I dislike about my 23 Camaro is the screen seems to be angled down, so it’s hard to see it since I’m 6’1″.
After having just left a GM dealership for the third time over a flat tire and lack of parts, having looked at the brand new Enclave and Acadia, All I can say is GM Design is really getting lousy!
En19eq18 you apparently read more into my comment than what is actually there never said anything about confusion or safety but implied that more unnecessary technology means more break down. Will state that when that stupid prompt pops up about taking your eyes off the road when driving can cause death and won’t go away until you press ok is dangerous, happens while driving.
Sorry I was answering two comments at once two different people that is I understand what you’re saying I also don’t like it when text messages pop up for my Android auto because why do I have to look at a text message while I’m driving? I grew up in the 1980s and ’90s and we didn’t have all this stuff My granted there were things to take your eyes off the road though trying to get a CV out and put it into slot while you’re driving smoking coffee you know but we waited till we got home if there was a message oh okay that’s fine.
I like the horizontal screen much better, the tablet screens make it difficult to reach down while moving and touching screen actually where you intended to.
Maybe GM ought to focus on ironing out all the bugs in these trucks.
It’s been 2 years and there’s STILL lots of problems with them.
Just read any Colorado/Canyon forum or social media page.
m that’s the problem SOCIAL MEDIA! I used to read reddit and quora oh my God people lean one way or the other it’s opinion not FACTS! The same dummy who told me oh the Chevy Equinox is a piece of junk I own one and know other people who have owned one and it’s one of best cars I’ve ever owned. In closing if you do your maintenance a car will last but what my mechanic friend sees 👀 a lot of is cars going way to long on fluid changes, engine apartments for leaves and garbage, air filters that look like they’ve never been changed I can go on and on but that’s part of it you don’t hear about that on SOCIAL MEDIA!
@ Enclave…..
We’re talking about brand new cars failing so bad that GM buys them back.
I follow a few different new vehicles and these GMT-31xx vehicles are having a disproportionate number of quality problems.
My 2024 Colorado has been perfect with no issues, very impressed with this truck.
You can find negative comments with all makes models and brands on social media. Some people will even post negative comments never even owning or driving the vehicle.
I owned a 2023 Colorado and traded in with 19,200 miles on it for a loaded up 2024 Colorado that now has 9,210 miles on it. Great trucks and I would highly recommend them.
THANK YOU Paul! 👍 It’s about time someone with FACTS came on here instead of what they read online! Toyota is having troubles right now to but no one talks about them, in fact in a recent road test the Colorado bested the new Tacoma in interior, driving Dynamics and engine choices/upgrades so please leave the trash talking on REDDIT!
Ahhh, the beloved air conditioning vent positioned underneath the steering column. Aka. the crotch cooler. Those were great.
Just another example of a well-like useful feature that some genius decided to delete.
I’m in the market for a new truck in the next couple years. I ruled out the new Ram because of the giant tablet. My current frontrunner is the GMC canyon, but I would rule it out immediately if they did the giant screen that’s in the Acadia.
Horizontal screen and bring back a normal headlamp switch. Having to use a touch screen to turn on the lights makes no sense.
Put your control on Auto….. problem solved.
that does not help in the fog, when it is light out, just foggy and you want your lights on. so,,, Problem not solved.
If it’s foggy out you probably have your wipers on which should or at least used to on GM vehicles automatically turn your headlights on. Therefore the problem would be solved! However I don’t know that gm still does that because I’ve never paid attention on my Buick
No, The dash layout works well as it is.
With the larger screen the ar vent look like they will be higher and more effective.
I have a 2023 GMC Denali and I love the horizontal screen! it works perfectly for me!
See. I’m still figuring out how to keep my dashboard quiet. Makes so much noise, rattle, and cracking like popcorn (worse in the heat)! It’s a 2024 GMC Sierra Elevation.
@Bob your dash board makes all of those noises?…are sure it’s not possessed lol jk. No seriously though all cars make noise It’s a moving machine that goes over all types of roads and some off-road, so my ’18 equinox as an example had this annoying squeak in the rear hatch area wound up being the spare tire 🛞 and the foam inserts for the jack and tools for the jack. But as far as a dash board going snap crackle pop no never in any of my car except my 1996 Blazer but that’s because I got it in 2016 so that I can understand it was old. I’m not saying I don’t believe you I’ve just never heard of that before and my Best friend is a mechanic.
Yup, I’m keeping my 2012 Silverado a while longer, bought it new and no problems so far. Thankfully no screen! Easy to drive with convenient dash controls. I didn’t have to read the manual to learn how to drive it.
Yes
My preference is for EVERY driver to keep their eyes on the road AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. It would seem to me that a horizontal screen at least keeps one’s eyes closer to the road than a vertical screen where you have to look down to the bottom of the dash ?