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GMC is putting Ford on notice with its new GMC Canyon and shoring up for a full Ford 2023 Ford Ranger vs. GMC Canyon battle. GMC introduced the new 2023 GMC Canyon this week with a blast of info about the new AT4X off-road version. It’s about time because the Canyon has been basically the same for seven years. While the company did give us some hints about the regular truck, we do know a bit more about the truck’s twin, the new 2023 Chevy Colorado. But it looks like the midsize truck wars are continuing and for now, it’s Ford vs. GMC.

2023 GMC Canyon interior gets improvements

The new 2023 GMC Canyon AT4X package on a dirt road.
GMC Canyon AT4X | GMC

The Ford Ranger and GMC Canyon trucks are very similar, and they stack up very close to one another. In many cases, it will simply come down to whether you prefer a blue oval or three red letters on the front of your midsize truck. The new 2023 Canyon will have a 2.7-liter turbocharged four that makes up to 310 horsepower. The 2023 Ranger, too, has a 310-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder.

They both come as basic trucks, with the new Canyon starting at about $40,000. The 2022 Ranger starts at $30,030 prices have not been announced for the new truck. It can, however, be optioned to a very high level in the Lariat version. The Canyon, however, can be ordered in the posh Denali trim that makes it feel like a Cadillac inside. The Lariat package on the Ranger brings leather, a power driver’s seat, heated seats, and more.

Will there be a 2023 Ford Ranger?

Front angle view of Cyber Orange 2023 Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck
2023 Ford Ranger | Ford

The Ranger will be all-new for 2023. It gets updated styling that makes it look a lot more like the larger F-150. It will come in two styles; you can order a four-door crew cab or a two-door extended cab. Inside the cabin gets a new vertical display and a modern update.

Trucks are rated on truck stuff, like towing, hauling, 4×4 ability, and not necessarily luxury or technology. GMC didn’t release hauling specs, but the 2023 Ford Ranger can haul between 1,650 pounds to 1,770 depending on the configuration. When it comes to towing, the new Canyon can tow 7,700 pounds, which is more than enough for a midsize camper. The Ranger comes in second, but just barely, with a capacity of 7,500 pounds.

Without getting into the uber-expensive Ranger Raptor or AT4X packages, both trucks do offer a modicum of off-road ability. The 2022 Ranger’s FX4 package includes off-road-tuned shocks, tires, skid plates, and some off-road tech like Trail Control and drive modes. The new Canyon has cameras to help you navigate off-road duty, as well as an off-road display, too. GMC hasn’t released the details on much of the regular Canyon’s off-road ability, but Chevy has for its twin, the Colorado. The Colorado has a Z71 package, which is similar to the FX4.

Will the Canyon get a refresh in 2023?

The new 2023 GMC Canyon is being placed above its corporate twin, the Chevy Colorado, in price and trim levels. The new Canyon is bigger all around and sits on a new frame that has a 3.1-inch longer wheelbase. The only engine available is the 2.7-liter, but it will come in three different power configurations. The $63,350 AT4X trim gets the attention now, however, because it’s bringing many of the fancy off-road bits from the successful Sierra AT4X package to the midsize segment for the first time.

GMC looks to have heard many of the gripes of the previous generation and added power and size to the Canyon. The new Canyon sits higher, and is wider, than the previous truck. The short-bed crew-cab configuration is standard. You can order several safety packages, a heads-up display, a digital driver display, and other technology.

When was the Ford ranger released?

Ford introduced the Ranger in 2019 as an all-new truck that combined F-150 looks in a smaller package. Ford focused as much on efficiency as it is capability, with a 10-speed automatic and the EcoBoost engines, which should continue in 2023. It comes in 4×2 and 4×4 trims, as well as five-passenger SuperCrew and SuperCab versions, with short or long beds. It comes standard with Ford CoPilot-360, which includes a lane keep system, cross-traffic alert, and also Ford’s easy-to-use SYNC or SYNC 3 systems for navigation and infotainment.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.