2021 Ford Ranger vs 2022 GMC Canyon

The 2021 Ford Ranger was available in SuperCab and SuperCrew styles, with the former featuring a six-foot cargo bed and the latter a five-foot bed. Trim levels included XL, XLT, and Lariat, all powered by the same turbo four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, available in either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The SuperCrew Lariat configuration, equipped with the Tremor Off-Road Package, spray-in bedliner, and SecuriCode keyless entry pad, was priced at $46,865, including a $1,195 destination charge. The Tremor package added unique 17-inch dark gray wheels, 32-inch all-terrain tires, red grille accents, tow hooks, off-road side steps, and "Tremor" graphics, giving the truck a more rugged and purposeful look.

Inside, the Lariat trim combined with the Tremor’s simulated suede seat inserts, all-weather floor mats, and six upfitter switches on the dashboard made it the best-equipped Ranger available. The cabin featured a clean and contemporary design with simple radio and climate controls, partial digital instrumentation, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and switchgear that wouldn’t be out of place in a Lincoln. Despite the prevalence of hard plastic, it didn’t look or feel cheap.

The 2022 GMC Canyon, which had been around since the 2015 model year, offered a premium look and feel, especially in the luxury-oriented Denali trim. This trim featured a unique chrome grille, 20-inch diamond-cut machined alloy wheels, five-inch chrome assist steps, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation, heated and ventilated perforated front leather seats, open-pore Ash wood trim, and a Bose premium audio system. Even the rugged AT4 off-road version came with premium features like a black chrome grille, LED signature lighting, unique 17-inch wheels, and premium heated leather front seats with Kalahari accents.

The Canyon's cabin was inviting and luxurious, with the AT4 trim providing a bold, capable look. Lower trims like the Elevation and Elevation Standard offered more typical GM switchgear and materials, but overall, the Canyon's material quality was above expectations for the class.

The 2021 Ford Ranger was powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 310 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. The Ranger's 4WD system allowed switching between 2-Hi, 4-Hi, and 4-Lo using a rotary dial on the center console. The Tremor Off-Road Package included a Terrain Management System with settings for Normal, Sand, Mud/Ruts, and Grass/Gravel/Snow, an electronic locking rear differential, and Trail Control, a low-speed off-road cruise control. The Tremor's off-road suspension, revised springs, and Fox shocks provided 9.7 inches of ground clearance and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles.

The Ranger could tow up to 7,500 pounds and haul up to 1,860 pounds of payload, though the Tremor's payload capacity was reduced to 1,430 pounds. The EPA fuel economy rating for the Tremor was 19 mpg in combined driving, with 19 mpg in the city and on the highway. The turbocharged engine provided swift acceleration and refinement, while the suspension tuning offered a comfortable ride on paved roads. Off-road, the Ranger Tremor proved capable and maneuverable, comparable to the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.

The 2022 GMC Canyon offered three powertrains: a 200-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a 308-hp 3.6-liter V6, and a 181-hp 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder with 369 pound-feet of torque. The V6 and turbodiesel engines had a maximum tow rating of 7,700 pounds with the Trailering package. RWD was standard, with 4WD available on all trims. The base four-cylinder and diesel engines came with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 was paired with an eight-speed automatic. The V6 provided abundant power, and the eight-speed automatic shifted smoothly. The turbodiesel offered robust towing capabilities and good fuel economy.

The AT4's 31-inch Wrangler Duratrac off-road tires were noisy at highway speeds but provided stable handling. The AT4's off-road equipment included an Autotrac two-speed electronic transfer case, special off-road suspension, auto-locking rear differential, transfer case shield, and hill-descent control. The optional AT4 Off-Road Performance Edition package added a suspension-leveling kit, skid plates, off-road rocker protection, and more, making the Canyon AT4 a worthy rival to the Jeep Gladiator.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor featured sturdy hoop-style step bars, which were mounted high for maximum clearance but limited their usefulness for shorter people and posed a problem for taller individuals. The SecuriCode keyless entry pad allowed for locking and unlocking the doors using a passcode, but it looked glued onto the doors, which sounded tinny when shut. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and six-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat were comfortable and heated, though the driver’s seat needed more seat track travel for taller drivers. Rear-seat space was more accommodating than most midsize trucks, but there were no rear air conditioning vents or power-operated sliding rear window.

Storage was decent, with bins under the rear-seat cushion, though the single-piece lift design was inconvenient. The tailgate was undampened but lightweight, and the cargo bed offered 43.3 cubic feet of space (51.8 cubic feet for SuperCabs) with four tie-down hooks. Ford offered a range of accessories for additional cargo solutions.

The 2022 GMC Canyon was available with an extended cab and 6'2" bed or a crew cab with either a 5'2" or 6'2" bed. The crew cab provided ample space for rear-seat passengers, while the extended cab's back seat was less accommodating. The rear folding bench seat allowed for storage underneath. Getting in and out of the Canyon was easy, thanks to its crossover SUV-like seat height. The seats were comfortable and supportive, with power adjustment, heat, and lumbar support for the front seats. The AT4 trim offered a heated steering wheel, sliding rear window, and wireless device charging pad.

Visibility was excellent, and the rearview camera and rear park assist made backing up easy. The cargo bed featured two-tier loading and 13 tie-down points, with an integrated corner step rear bumper for easy access.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor came with the Sync 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen display, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, AppLink with Waze and Ford + Alexa, and FordPass Connect with a 4G WiFi hotspot. Navigation and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system were also included. While Sync 3 was being phased out in favor of Sync 4, it remained competitive. Voice recognition performance was hit-or-miss, with some requests misunderstood. The climate system could be controlled via voice commands.

The 2022 GMC Canyon's Elevation Standard trim had a 7-inch color touchscreen infotainment system, while the Elevation trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The AT4 added a wireless smartphone charging pad, and the Denali trim included navigation, a high-definition rearview camera, and several driver-assist features. Amazon Alexa Built-In was available, providing hands-free access to various functions. All new Canyons came with a free trial of SiriusXM satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, and OnStar telematics. The AT4's optional GMC infotainment system with navigation included an 8-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, in-vehicle apps, and a Bose premium audio system.

The 2021 Ford Ranger offered the Co-Pilot360 collection of driver-assist features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic warning included trailer coverage. Adaptive cruise control was standard on the Lariat trim but lacked full-stop capability. The Ranger also featured a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers, wiper-activated headlights, and front and rear parking sensors. The NHTSA gave the Ranger an overall rating of four stars, with a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS rated the Ranger highly, except for an "Acceptable" rating for front-passenger protection in the small-overlap frontal-impact test and a "Marginal" rating for its headlights.

The 2022 GMC Canyon's safety features varied by trim level. The base Elevation Standard had tire-fill alert and the Teen Driver system, which helped parents monitor their teen's driving habits. The Driver Alert package, available on the Elevation and AT4 and standard on the Denali, included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear parking assistance. However, features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot warning were not available. The NHTSA gave the Canyon four out of five stars for overall crash protection, with four stars for frontal crash protection, five stars for side protection, and three stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS rated the Canyon "Good" in most crash tests but "Poor" in the front passenger-side small overlap test and for its headlights, and "Basic" for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.