2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty vs 2021 GMC Canyon

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty had an updated styling with a more detailed grille and headlights. The new grille moved away from the gaudy chrome-clad bars of the 2019 model, but remained imposing. The massive headlights were contoured for a more refined look. Despite these updates, the design was still a modest evolution from the 2017 model year. The cabin remained unchanged with blocky styling, ideally suited for work use but less inviting compared to rivals like Ram. The F-350 was available in six trim levels, from the basic XL with 17-inch steel wheels and vinyl seats to the luxurious Limited with power-retractable running boards and a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system.

The 2021 GMC Canyon, a second-generation model, received its first refresh after six years. The most notable changes included an enlarged grille and revised front bumper, aligning it aesthetically with the GMC Sierra. The cabin, while functional with a sensible layout, featured hard plastics and mediocre fit-and-finish. The Canyon was available in four trims: Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4, and Denali. The base Elevation Standard came with 18-inch gloss-black aluminum wheels and a 7-inch touchscreen, while the range-topping Denali added polished aluminum wheels, a Bose premium audio system, and a wireless charging pad.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty offered three engine options. The standard 6.2-liter gas V8 produced 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. A 6.7-liter turbodiesel Power Stroke V8 delivered 475 hp and an astounding 1,050 lb-ft of torque. New for 2020 was a 7.3-liter gas V8, putting out 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2-liter V8 came with either a six-speed or a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the 7.3-liter and 6.7-liter engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic. The F-350 had impressive towing capacities: 24,200 pounds for conventional towing, 32,500 pounds for fifth-wheel towing, and 37,000 pounds for gooseneck trailers. The Tremor off-road package added 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, a lifted suspension, and Trail Control.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, making 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. An optional 3.6-liter V6 produced 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, routed through an eight-speed automatic. A 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel engine was also available, delivering 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Canyon's base engine struggled to move the truck, making the V6 a better choice. The Duramax engine offered potential but was limited by its six-speed transmission. The Canyon AT4, equipped with the gas V6 and 4WD, performed well off-road. The Canyon could tow up to 7,700 pounds with the turbodiesel engine and had a 1,605-pound payload capacity.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty was available in Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Super Crew configurations. The Super Cab had rear-hinged half-doors, providing decent space for rear-seat passengers but requiring the front door to be opened first. The Super Crew offered a massive cab with ample headroom and legroom, and rear seats that folded up for a large load floor. The F-350 came with either a 6-foot-9-inch bed or an 8-foot bed, with the latter available in a dual-rear-wheel configuration. The bed featured a step that extended from the tailgate for easier loading.

The 2021 GMC Canyon was available in Extended Cab and Crew Cab variants. The Extended Cab had rear-hinged half-doors and small, second-row jump seats, suitable for children or small items. The Crew Cab had four full doors and more usable rear-seat space. The Canyon offered a commanding driving position, but seat adjustment was awkward. Storage space included a center console, small door trays, and decently sized center cupholders. The Canyon had two bed sizes: a short (5-foot-2) box and a long (6-foot-2) box. The Extended Cab came only with the long box, while the Crew Cab offered both options. The Canyon featured GM’s CornerStep rear bumper and an EZ lift-and-lower tailgate.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system had an intuitive menu layout with large icons for easy navigation. However, it occasionally experienced buggy hiccups, especially when switching between SYNC 3 and Apple CarPlay. The F-350 also offered Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which used a 360 camera and Trailer Reverse Guidance to simplify backing up a trailer.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the latest GMC infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system had crisp graphics and an easy-to-use menu layout, with helpful hard buttons and dials below the screen. A larger 8-inch screen was optional on the Elevation and AT4 trims and standard on the Denali, which also included navigation, HD radio, and a wireless charging pad. The Denali featured a 4.2-inch color driver display in the instrument panel, operated via a directional pad on the steering wheel.

The 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty came standard with a full array of airbags, automatic high beams, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The XLT trim added automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Lariat included a reverse-sensing system, while the King Ranch added Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The Platinum trim featured adaptive cruise control and adaptive steering, with all these features standard on the Limited.

The 2021 GMC Canyon included standard safety features such as a rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring system, front-and-side-impact airbags, traction control, and the Teen Driver system. The Driver Alert package, available on other trims and standard on the Denali, included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking alert. The Denali also featured an upgraded HD backup camera and Hitch Guidance.