2023 Ford Maverick vs 2023 GMC Canyon

The 2023 Ford Maverick retained its fresh face for another model year, keeping the distinctive blocky front end and headlights that set it apart within Ford's truck lineage. The side and rear styling adhered to the recognizable Ford truck aesthetic. The big noticeable difference came from the Ford Maverick Tremor, which added off-road capability and boosted its street cred with blacked-out logos, headlights, and taillights. The Tremor also featured a unique Avalanche Gray color on our tester, giving it a lighter, less blue-tinged look compared to other automakers’ "it" colors. The Tremor package also boasted tow hooks in an eye-catching “Tremor Orange” color, updated fender vents, and a new grille with orange accents. Additionally, a $1,495 Tremor Appearance Package brought a Carbonized Gray roof and mirrors, along with black side graphics on the hood and lower body, and special 17-inch wheels highlighted with a Tremor Orange accent outlining just one “pocket.”

By contrast, the 2023 GMC Canyon took aggressive styling to another level with its bulldog-like front end, scrunched headlights, and daytime running lights flanking a wide grille, paired with a jutting front bumper. The muscular theme continued along the body sides marked by bulges and creases. Sharing dimensions with the redesigned Chevy Colorado, the Canyon featured a longer wheelbase and the "Ultra Wide Track" stance common to certain Colorado models. All Canyon models had a factory lift, with Denali, AT4, and Elevation models getting a two-inch lift, and the off-road-oriented AT4X getting a three-inch lift, providing ground clearances of 9.6 inches and 10.7 inches, respectively. The Canyon Denali added brightwork, including a chrome grille and 20-inch wheels, while the AT4X Edition 1 included off-road extras like a safari bar and winch, plus a bed rail system.

Inside, the Maverick's crew cab was awash in cold, hard plastic, though the heathered, salt-and-pepper Black Onyx seats looked stylish, even if they might lose appeal as trends change. Despite the modest materials, the blue-tinted plastic parts lent the cabin a somewhat highbrow look. In the top-spec Denali, the Canyon’s interior featured laser-etched open-pore wood trim and leather upholstery—unique to the midsize segment. On lower trims, the interiors were serviceable, exceeding competitors like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma, while the AT4X added a splash of drama with red-and-white upholstery and red dashboard trim, countering the monotony of monochrome interiors.

The 2023 Ford Maverick came standard with a hybrid powertrain that paired a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, yielding 191 horsepower and 155 lb-ft of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). Those opting for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine got 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, along with an eight-speed automatic transmission and the option for all-wheel drive (AWD), standard on the Lariat and available with off-road packages. The big draw for 2023 was the Tremor off-road package with "Advanced 4WD," capable of distributing rear-axle torque variably, and Trail Control for automated off-road driving. The Tremor raised ground clearance to 9.4 inches and improved approach and departure angles but cut towing capacity to 2,000 lbs and payload to 1,200 lbs. The base hybrid Maverick managed a 4,000 lbs towing capacity when equipped with the 4K Tow Package.

GMC took a different approach by simplifying powertrain options for the 2023 Canyon, offering a single 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a formidable 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft torque across all trims. This engine, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, catered to a range of driving needs. While RWD was only available for the base Elevation, four-wheel drive (4WD) was standard for higher trims, with the AT4 getting a two-speed transfer case and the AT4X boasting front and rear electronic lockers, skid plates, and 33-inch mud-terrain tires. The AT4X took top honors for off-roading capability while maintaining decent road manners and showing prowess over various off-road obstacles with features like Multimatic spool-valve dampers and a Baja drive mode.

While the Tremor package added an inch to the Maverick's overall length, legroom remained consistent with gas models offering 42.8 inches in the front and 36.9 in the back, and a slight reduction to 35.9 inches for hybrids. The Maverick outclassed the Hyundai Santa Cruz in terms of interior space with comparable headroom at 39.6 inches in the rear and 40.3 inches in the front. Despite the prevalence of plastic, the Maverick's utilitarian charm was evident, and upgrades included leather seats, heated mirrors, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.

The 2023 GMC Canyon was available only in a crew cab with a 5.2-foot bed, losing out on longer bed options, regular cab, or extended cab configurations. However, it offered generous interior space, with top-tier legroom surpassing all but the Honda Ridgeline and Jeep Gladiator. GMC innovated with the MultiStow tailgate, featuring a waterproof storage compartment—something not found in rivals like the Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, or Toyota Tacoma. However, front seats weren't power-adjustable, and the absence of a telescoping steering wheel stood out given GMC's premium branding.

Payload and towing capacities highlighted the stark contrast in utility: the Canyon's max towing of 7,700 lbs for most models and a payload capacity reaching 1,640 lbs outstripped the Maverick's numbers. Yet, the Maverick's hybrid variant catered better to those not prioritizing heavy-duty capability, offering a fuel-efficient, entry-level option.

Technology in the Ford Maverick reflected its budget-friendly ethos. The base model offered an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with a simple, practical display, Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker sound system, and FordPass Connect for a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Lariat trims included extras like a 6.5-inch LED driver's display, two more USB ports in the rear, and upgraded sound and lighting options with the Luxury Package.

Meanwhile, the 2023 GMC Canyon set a higher tech benchmark. The base Elevation and AT4 trims featured an 11.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, and plush Denali and AT4X trims upgraded these to an 11-inch cluster and added a 6.3-inch head-up display and wireless phone charging. The system leveraged Google Built-In, offering seamless Google Maps navigation and integrating well with Android devices. Off-Road Performance Displays, surround-view cameras, and specialized off-road data readouts on the touchscreen added further sophistication, appealing particularly to tech-savvy adventurers.

Ford equipped the 2023 Maverick with extensive driver-assist technologies under the Co-Pilot 360 banner, including automatic high beams, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, and more. Despite its robust feature set, its NHTSA rating had only four stars overall, citing rollover and frontal crash test concerns, with additional IIHS ratings for crash prevention.

By contrast, GMC's safety features for the 2023 Canyon were thorough but stratified. The standard Pro Safety Package lacked some advanced features found only in higher trims or through optional packages. Key additions like rear cross-traffic alert, blind-zone steering assist, and adaptive cruise control necessitated additional packages for Elevation and AT4 trims but came standard on the Denali and AT4X.