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Shopping for a pickup can be pretty overwhelming. There are a ton of options available. From the 2021 Ford Ranger to the 2021 GMC Canyon, you’ll find that the pickup segment is overflowing with possibilities. But when it comes down to the Ford Ranger and its GMC competition specifically, which pickup should you choose?

The 2021 Ford Ranger on the trails
The 2021 Ford Ranger hits the trails. | Ford

The 2021 Ford Ranger has a faster base engine

Under the hood of the 2021 GMC Canyon is a 200-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The 2021 Ford Ranger, on the other hand, is powered by a 270-hp 2.3-liter EcoBoost Engine with Auto Start Stop Technology, making it just a tad faster than the 2021 GMC Canyon. The only downside to the Ford Ranger is that its EcoBoost engine is the only engine available. So, while the base Ford Ranger may be faster than that of its GMC competition, the Canyon does offer a more extensive lineup of engines for shoppers to choose from.

It gets better fuel economy ratings than the Canyon too

Though the EPA has yet to release official fuel economy ratings for the 2021 Ford Ranger, Car and Driver reports that the numbers should be identical to those of the 2020 Ford Ranger, which delivered EPA-rated gas mileage of up to 21/26 mpg city/highway with rear-wheel drive. Opt for four-wheel drive, and those numbers shift to 20/24 mpg.

Car and Driver reports that it tested two crew-cab four-wheel-drive models for itself too. Those models achieved 16 mpg and 15 mpg combined. The third version of the Ranger that Car and Driver tested was rear-wheel drive, and it achieved 25 mpg in highway testing.

As for the 2021 GMC Canyon? According to the EPA, a GMC Canyon with the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine under the hood will deliver up to 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Opt for an all-wheel drive Canyon, and those numbers drop by one mpg across the board. Though you can expect a GMC Canyon equipped with a diesel engine to get slightly better fuel economy ratings, you can expect to spend considerably more for those higher fuel efficiency ratings.

The 2021 Ford Ranger is standard with a Wi-Fi hotspot

Maybe you’re not so concerned with horsepower ratings and fuel efficiency. Perhaps interior features are more attractive to you. And why not? After all, you want to enjoy every moment that you spend behind the wheel of your next pickup. Fortunately, the 2021 Ford Ranger aims to please when it comes to interior features.

Unlike the GMC Canyon, the Ford Ranger comes standard with plenty of tech-savvy features. Even when you opt for the base Ford Ranger, you can expect to enjoy people-pleasing features like FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Unfortunately for GMC shoppers, the very same feature requires a costly upgrade.

Is the Ford Ranger the right pickup for you?

For new pickup shoppers, the Ford Ranger makes for a pretty good option. It’s reasonably quick, pretty fuel-efficient, and isn’t lacking when it comes to standard features. But to find out if the 2021 Ford Ranger is the right pick for you and your daily driving needs? We recommend getting behind the wheel for a test drive.

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