Which off-road truck is going to be your next best, adventurous companion in 2023 - the Ford Ranger or the GMC Canyon? These trucks are revving for outdoor fun. In each, you’ll find driver-oriented features that help you with both sport and play, but one does outrun the last. Our comparison guide will help you make a confident decision.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Better fuel mileage in the city and the highway with the Ranger.
- Great tech features and driver assistance capabilities on both, that make any outdoor adventure a safe and fun outing.
- The Canyon has the better horsepower, but the Ranger boasts more space.
POWER & EFFICIENCY
Ford vehicles have always been known to pack a punch, particularly their trucks. The Ranger is no exception. When comparing the engines for the Ranger and the Canyon, you may be surprised to see that the Ranger comes with only one standard engine, a 2.3-liter EcoBoost with 270 hp. The Canyon also offers only one powertrain, a 2.7-liter V4 with a maximum horsepower of 310. The Canyon does have the superior engine between the two, especially since there’s only one to compare. The Canyon also tows a maximum of 7,500 pounds.
The Ranger does offer more cargo space than the Canyon, with a giant bed space of around 52 feet with a payload capacity of 1,860 pounds. While the Canyon has some power advantages, we can expect in 2023 that Ford Ranger Raptor will challenge it. The new Raptor model will have a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 391 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque.
THE DIFFERENCES OF TRIMS
Like with every yearly model comes its list trims, and there’s no shortage to choose from with the Ranger or the Canyon. Keep in mind that as you go up in trim level you get more features! Most noticeably, the Ranger is the more affordable car across the three trim levels it offers:
- Ford Ranger XL Avg. Price $31,900
- Ford Ranger XLT Avg. Price $38,800
- Ford Ranger LARIAT Avg. Price $48,200
The 2023 GMC Canyon comes with four trims:
- GMC Canyon Elevation Avg. Price $36,900
- GMC Canyon AT4 Avg. Price $43,900
- GMC Denali Avg. $51,000
- GMC Canyon AT4X Avg. Price $55,500
WHAT OTHER FEATURES SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR?
Rest assured; the Ranger comes with Ford’s all inclusive safety system called Ford Co-Pilot 360. This system is a great package for what it’s worth. Most other makes require you to upgrade their trim levels to get what Ford offers on a base level. It includes all your standard features and then some, like blind spot warnings, BLIS technology, cross traffic alerts, and a multitude of other features. The BLIS technology or Blind Spot Information System, is a great piece of technology that incorporates trailer functionality as well. Lane-keeping systems, pre-collision assists, and rear-view cameras are all included, and it makes trailering bulkier tows like a boat or small RV a breeze. The Canyon does offer a great feature that Ford doesn’t have on board and that is a surround-view camera system with up to ten cameras. The Canyon also includes a heads-up warning display to help mitigate distracted driving.
WHICH WILL BE YOUR NEXT PICKUP?
When it comes down to it, the 2023 Ford Ranger is going to be the best truck for you. We can expect to learn a lot more about these two trucks as the rest of this year progresses, but what we know now makes it difficult to deny the benefits of owning a Ranger over a Canyon. While we can’t argue Canyon’s superior towing and hauling, we look to the Ranger to give potential buyers more affordable options with a wider range of choices, and subsequent drivers more freedom with their vehicle afterwards. With the Ranger you’ll be able to take your truck anywhere, on-road and off-road, and know each time it’s built to last till the job is done. Feel free to browse our stock of options today, or if you have any questions give us a call so we can help you find your perfect truck.