Compare the2023 Ford RangerVS 2022 GMC Canyon

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Ranger has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Canyon offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Ranger offers optional parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The Canyon doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Ranger’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Canyon doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Ranger’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Canyon doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Ranger and the Canyon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available four-wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and blind spot warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Ranger is safer than the GMC Canyon:

	Ranger	Canyon
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	210
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	41%	44.9%
Neck Stress	194 lbs.	300 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Ranger is safer than the GMC Canyon:

	Ranger	Canyon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	12	22
Abdominal Force	151 lbs.	203 lbs.
Hip Force	177 lbs.	180 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	43	46
Spine Acceleration	25 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	329 lbs.	545 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	209	227
Spine Acceleration	44 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	683 lbs.	716 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ranger the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 230 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Canyon was last qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2016.

Warranty

The Ranger’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Canyon’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 79 percent more Ford dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ranger’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Ranger’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Canyon’s camshafts. If the Canyon’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ranger’s reliability 18 points higher than the Canyon.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ranger first among midsize pickups in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Canyon isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, GMC is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 3 places higher in reliability than GMC.

Engine

The Ranger’s 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 70 more horsepower (270 vs. 200) and 119 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 191) than the Canyon’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Ranger’s 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 275) than the Canyon’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Ranger is faster than the GMC Canyon V6:

	Ranger	Canyon
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.9 MPH	92.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Ranger gets better mileage than the Canyon:

			MPG
Ranger
	RWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
Canyon
	RWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	19 city/25 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	19 city/24 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/24 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Ranger’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Canyon doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Ranger, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Canyon.

Brakes and Stopping

The Ranger’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Canyon are solid, not vented.

The Ranger stops shorter than the Canyon:

	Ranger	Canyon
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Ranger has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your work or a trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Canyon. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Ranger has a standard front stabilizer bar, which help keep the Ranger flat and controlled during cornering. The Canyon’s suspension doesn’t offer a stabilizer bar

The Ranger Lariat SuperCrew 4x4 handles at .75 G’s, while the Canyon Short Box AT4 Crew Cab 4x4 pulls only .73 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ranger Lariat SuperCrew 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Canyon Long Box Crew Cab 4x4 (27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Ranger SuperCab has .8 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear hip room than the Canyon Extended Cab.

The Ranger SuperCrew has .8 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Canyon Crew Cab.

Cargo Capacity

The Ranger SuperCab has a much larger cargo box than the Canyon Extended Cab shortbed (51.8 vs. 49.9 cubic feet).

The Ranger SuperCrew has a much larger cargo box than the Canyon Crew Cab shortbed (43.3 vs. 41.3 cubic feet).

The Ranger’s cargo box is larger than the Canyon’s in almost every dimension:

	Ranger SuperCrew	Ranger SuperCab	Canyon Extended Cab
Length (short/long)	61”	72.8”	74”
Max Width	61.4”	61.4”	57.8”
Min Width	44.8”	44.8”	44.4”
Height	20.8”	20.8”	20.9”

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Ranger. The Canyon doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Payload and Towing

The Ranger’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Canyon’s (7500 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Ranger has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Canyon:

	Ranger	Canyon
Extended Cab	1905 lbs.	1430 lbs.
Crew Cab	1818 lbs.	1440 lbs.
Extended Cab 4x4	1696 lbs.	1433 lbs.
Crew Cab 4x4	1609 lbs.	1531 lbs.

The Ranger has higher optional payload capacities than the Canyon:

	Ranger	Canyon
Extended Cab	1905 lbs.	1560 lbs.
Crew Cab	1818 lbs.	1570 lbs.
Extended Cab 4x4	1696 lbs.	1567 lbs.
Crew Cab 4x4	1609 lbs.	1531 lbs.

Ergonomics

Intelligent Access standard on the Ranger Lariat allows you to unlock the driver’s door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The GMC Canyon doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

The Ranger Lariat’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Canyon’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Ranger Lariat’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Canyon’s projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Ranger detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Canyon doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Ranger’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Canyon doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Ranger XLT/Lariat offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Canyon doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Ranger offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Canyon doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Ranger is less expensive to operate than the Canyon because it costs $106 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Ranger than the Canyon, including $37 less for front brake pads, $54 less for front struts and $6 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Ranger will be $2868 to $3023 less than for the GMC Canyon.

Recommendations

The Ford Ranger outsold the GMC Canyon by over two to one during 2022.