2021 GMC Canyon vs 2020 Ford Ranger

The 2020 Ford Ranger marked its return to the American market after an eight-year hiatus, during which it was sold internationally in a different form. The current-generation Ranger was based on this international version, making it larger and more sophisticated than its predecessor. Ford attempted to align the Ranger with its F-Series lineup through similar grille styling, but the similarities ended there. The Ranger's design avoided the "bigger-and-blockier" trend of American trucks, resulting in a clean, somewhat aggressive appearance that highlighted its sporty and capable nature.

Inside, the Ranger featured a function-first cabin with hard plastics, making it durable but less welcoming compared to competitors like the Jeep Gladiator and Honda Ridgeline. The base XL trim came with basic features, while the XLT added more content, including Ford SYNC 3 and Ford CoPilot 360. The top-tier Lariat trim offered upscale touches like leather upholstery and ambient cabin lighting. Various appearance packages and off-road packages like FX2 and FX4 were also available, enhancing the Ranger's versatility.

The 2021 GMC Canyon, a second-generation model, received its first refresh since its 2015 debut. The refresh included an enlarged grille and revised front bumper, aligning it aesthetically with the GMC Sierra. Despite these updates, the Canyon largely remained the same truck, which was less of an issue in the midsize pickup market where older models like the Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma still competed. The Canyon's cabin, while functional, featured hard plastics and mediocre fit-and-finish, but it remained handsome and useful within the context of the midsize truck market.

The Canyon offered trims like Elevation Standard, Elevation, AT4, and Denali. The base Elevation Standard came with 18-inch gloss-black aluminum wheels and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Elevation trim added more features and options, while the AT4 focused on off-road capabilities with features like aggressive Goodyear all-terrain tires and underbody skid plates. The range-topping Denali trim added luxury touches like polished aluminum wheels, a Bose premium audio system, and a wireless charging pad.

The 2020 Ford Ranger was powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission, available in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with low-range gearing. The Ranger's turbo engine provided ample power at low speeds and for highway passing, and it could tow up to 7,500 pounds when properly equipped. The SuperCab with a 4x2 drivetrain offered the best payload capacity at 1,860 pounds.

The Ranger's ride was stiff, with noticeable chatter and vibration over small bumps, and body roll around corners. Off-road packages like FX2 and FX4 added features like off-road tires, electronically locking rear differential, and off-road-tuned suspension. The FX4 package further included Trail Control and the Terrain Management System, enhancing the Ranger's off-road capabilities.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. A 3.6-liter V6, making 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, was optional on Elevation trims and standard on AT4 and Denali trims, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 2.8-liter Duramax four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, producing 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, was also available.

The base four-cylinder engine struggled to move the Canyon, making the V6 a better choice, though it required aggressive throttle input for lively performance. The Duramax engine offered strong torque but was limited by its six-speed transmission. The AT4 trim, equipped with the gas V6 and 4WD, performed well off-road without compromising on-road manners. The Canyon could tow up to 7,700 pounds with the turbodiesel engine and had a payload capacity of 1,605 pounds.

The 2020 Ford Ranger was available in SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations. The SuperCab seated four with rear-opening clamshell half-doors, making rear seat access awkward but providing a large opening. The rear seats were tight and better suited for children, with additional storage space available by folding up the seats. The SuperCrew offered seating for five with a full rear bench, providing more comfortable and spacious seating for adults.

The Ranger's front row featured deep in-door pockets, bottle holders, a center console bin, and a coin/key tray atop the dash. The SuperCab came with a six-foot bed, while the SuperCrew had a five-foot bed. Features like a remote locking tailgate, LED bed lighting, and a wall-style power outlet were available, though a bed-step was not offered.

The 2021 GMC Canyon was available in Extended Cab and Crew Cab variants. The Extended Cab had rear-hinged half-doors and small jump seats, suitable for children or small items. The Crew Cab offered four full doors and more usable rear-seat space. The Canyon's driving position was commanding, but seat adjustment was awkward. The center console and center stack provided usable space, while door trays and cupholders were small.

The Canyon offered two bed sizes: a short (5-foot-2) box and a long (6-foot-2) box. The Extended Cab came with a long box, while the Crew Cab offered both options. The Canyon featured GM's CornerStep rear bumper for easy bed access and an EZ lift-and-lower tailgate with remote power locking.

The 2020 Ford Ranger XL featured a basic AM/FM stereo with four speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. FordPass Connect allowed remote locking, unlocking, and starting, along with WiFi hotspot capability for up to ten devices. The XLT trim upgraded to SYNC 3 with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Lariat trim included a B&O sound system by Bang & Olufsen with ten speakers.

The 2021 GMC Canyon came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Elevation and AT4 trims offered an optional 8-inch screen, 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, operated via a steering wheel directional pad, for easy access to presets, vehicle settings, and driver information.

The 2020 Ford Ranger came standard with front-and side-impact airbags, a child-seat anchoring system, tire-pressure monitoring, automatic headlights, automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, and pedestrian detection. The XLT trim added Ford CoPilot 360 with lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse parking sensors. The Ranger earned top scores in most IIHS crash tests and a four-star overall rating from NHTSA. There was one recall for the ten-speed automatic transmission.

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