The 2025 Ford Ranger and 2025 GMC Canyon both make a strong case if you're in the market for a midsize pickup. Whether you're eyeing better gas mileage or powertrain options when looking for your next vehicle, this guide should help you figure out which truck best fits your style.
Key Takeaways
- The Ranger offers two engine options; the Canyon sticks with one.
- The Canyon edges out the Ranger in towing capacity.
- Both trucks get light cosmetic updates for 2025.
Updates for the 2025 Ford Ranger vs. GMC Canyon
Both trucks roll into 2025 with a few updates, though most of the changes are cosmetic. The Ranger gets some new paint options in Ruby Red Metallic, Desert Sand, and Marsh Gray are in, while Cactus Gray, Iconic Silver, and Hot Pepper Red are out. There’s also the addition of a Black Appearance Package that gives the grille, bumper, and wheels a sportier edge.
GMC keeps the Canyon's changes light, too. The Nightfall Edition model joins the lineup (it's a blackout-style trim), and three fresh paint colors replace a few outgoing shades.
More notably, a few packages have shifted trims—the ProGrade Trailering System is now standard on Elevation, AT4, and Denali, the Safety Plus Package is now standard on Elevation and AT4, and the Technology Plus Package now throws in a sunroof and Bose audio system.
Which Pickup Has More Powertrain Options: 2025 Ford Ranger
The Ranger simply has more engine variety than the Canyon. It starts with a standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that kicks out 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. An available 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 bumps those numbers up to 315 horsepower and 400 lb-ft. Both engines pair with a 10-speed automatic and your choice of rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.
Every Canyon trim runs the same 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, generating 310 horsepower and a beefy 430 lb-ft of torque. It mates with an eight-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but you should opt for four-wheel drive if you’re planning to get on the trail.
Towing is one of the few areas where the Canyon takes the category. The Ranger maxes out at 7,500 pounds when properly equipped, with payload numbers at 1,805 pounds (or 1,711 if you go with four-wheel drive).
The Canyon tops out a little higher, at 7,700 pounds, in the Elevation, AT4, and Denali trims. The AT4X drops to 6,000 pounds, and if you choose the Edition 1 package on the AT4X, that number dips to 5,500 pounds.
Fuel efficiency is where the Ranger shines. Its base 2.3L engine gets an estimated 21 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway with rear-wheel drive. Go with four-wheel drive, and you’re still looking at 20/24 mpg. The V6 drops slightly to 19 mpg city and 23 highway.
The most efficient Canyon is the rear-wheel-drive Elevation, rated at 19 mpg city and 23 highway. Four-wheel-drive models get 18/22, and versions with mud-terrain tires come in at 17/20 mpg. So, if fuel savings matter to you, the Ranger clearly pulls ahead.
Which Pickup Is the Best Choice for You: 2025 Ford Ranger
So, should you pick the Ford Ranger or GMC Canyon for daily driving? If having more engine options and better fuel efficiency sounds like your kind of truck, then the 2025 Ford Ranger is the better fit. Come check it out today! We’re happy to set you up with a test drive and answer any questions you’ve got about this fine truck!