The last few years have been especially fruitful for pickup truck innovation.
A half-ton diesel, eight-speed transmissions, tons of new technology and a full aluminum body are just some of the ways in which these workhorses have been changing recently.
If you haven’t already, check out part one of this series to see how we narrowed the competition to just two. In this installment, we are pitting the 2015 Ford F-150 against the new 2015 GMC Canyon for pickup truck supremacy.
SEE ALSO: 2015 AutoGuide.com Truck of the Year: Part 1
As you might recall from the previous round with all four candidates, this isn’t a head-to-head comparison. We are looking for the truck that pushed furthest ahead in the context of its own segment.
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This all-new entry in the midsize truck segment jumps past the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier.
The new GM trucks offer a level of refinement that isn’t available in any other small truck. They are easy to see out of, offer communicative steering and are proportioned for easy maneuverability. Nearly five inches skinnier than their half-ton brothers, the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado are easy to fit through tight spaces.
FAST FACTS
Engine: 3.6L V6 with 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic.
Max. towing: 7,000 lbs.
At tested price: $38,290 as tested.
Base price: $21,920 ($22,295 CDN).
Easy to drive characteristics are also found in the suspension setup of the truck. Over washboard and gravel roads, the back end doesn’t chatter when its empty. A great balance between comfort and stiffness, which provides confidence with weight hauling of any kind, has been achieved with these new midsize trucks, and makes the proposition of spending days in this truck travelling cross country an inviting one.
SEE ALSO: 2015 Chevy Colorado Review
So how does this truck work as an every day tool? Well, the trailer hook-ups are simple, aided by the backup camera found on our All-Terrain trim tester. Bed tie downs are found in high and low points and the new Gear On system allows you to install a slew of different accessories meant for attaching bicycles and other outdoor gear, easily and efficiently. And of course, GM’s new bumper-integrated step is present, showing off a simple, elegant solution that works well in all conditions, and has no chance of breaking or rusting.
Loading cargo into the back seat is less appealing than the multi-functional bed. Underneath the seat there are fixed plastic storage bins, so there is nothing close to a flat floor, especially because there is a transmission tunnel that runs between the rear seats. The seatbacks can fold forward, but you won’t want to rest muddy, dirty things on the back of your upholstered seats.
The largest complaint we leveled against this truck is its size and price point. As tested, our Canyon costs roughly $37,000, which is well into half-ton V8 territory. Now surely some people will prefer the small dimensions and increased fuel economy this small truck has to offer, but most will probably want more truck for the same money. It seems like GM could have brought out an even smaller truck that would be less expensive and offer more differentiation. As its sits, you might as well think of the Canyon as 75 percent of a Sierra.
Ford’s new 2015 F-150 is something truly fresh in the half-ton segment.
It feels like something special when you drive it, which an impressive accomplishment considering how good most modern half-tons are. Ford’s engineers achieved a nimble pickup truck that handles better than anything in its segment if not better than any other pickup in general.
FAST FACTS
Engine: 3.5L EcoBoost with 365 HP 420 lb-ft of torque.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic.
Max. towing: 12,000 lbs.
At tested price: $61,485.
Base Price: $26,615 ($22,994 CDN).
It’s great handling makes it a delight to drive, not to mention the powerful EcoBoost V6 that provides plenty of torque low in its RPM range. Adding to the confidence of this truck is the fact that the engine never feels like its being wrung out. It barely breathes hard to get heavy loads up to speed.
Beyond its exceptional dynamics, the technology and usefulness of this truck really set it apart. Ford managed to replace your hard-working buddy Ed, with a truck. For example, you won’t need Ed’s help hooking up a trailer because the F-150’s rear-view camera incorporates an extra guidance line to show you exactly where the hitch ball is going to end up. Once attached, the F-150 can check your trailer lights for you, eliminating the need for a walk around (although you should still check them out yourself).
Before you pull away, the truck can also run through a checklist of trailer safety practices to make sure you’re ready to go. You also won’t need Ed to hold a flashlight for you in the dark thanks to new side spotlights that are extremely bright, lighting large areas on either side of the truck. A massive and completely flat loading floor in the back of our SuperCrew Cab truck also makes loading large cargo easy.
SEE ALSO: 2015 Ford F-150 Review
You don’t even need Ed to yell out at you if you’re coming into a corner too hot, because the F-150’s curve control system monitors speed, yaw and steering input and will automatically drop 10 MPH in a single second to avoid a wreck. Adaptive cruise control is another technology that is being introduced into the segment thanks to the 2015 F-150.
You might miss his company, but the F-150’s new technology is just like having a helper. The usefulness doesn’t stop there either. A new redesigned tailgate step has been installed on this truck, making it easier to operate, but most importantly, eliminating the massive hump on the inside of the tailgate that the old step brought with it. Inside the bed, Ford’s new BoxLink tie-down system is also waiting to help you out. It provides lockable spots for tie-down cleats, which can be removed and replaced with a number of Ford accessories. And finally, Ford relocated the trailer light hook-ups to sit above the bumper.
So now you’re thinking, they’re must be a downside, right? Honestly, there aren’t many that we could spot. One glaringly obvious and extremely frustrating aspect of the truck is the safety chain hook-ups for a trailer. They are deep under the bumper and that makes them difficult to reach with hooks, a challenge worsened by how small and oddly-shaped the cutouts are that you hook to. It’s as if Ford didn’t want to make everything easy, so they made at least one thing painfully hard.
The new aluminum body might also be another problem. We have no way of knowing now how well these new bodies will last. It’s not something we can comment on, but still worth noting that entirely new production processes brings uncertainty.
Our other complaint has to do with the standard mirrors. It seems that aesthetics dictated their shape more than functionality because the mirrors seem taller than they are wide. The view offered isn’t great, and a convex section would be useful. The optional tow mirrors address those issues, but it would be nice if the standard side mirrors were better.
Both the F-150 and the Canyon are frontrunners in their segments. But which one takes things further? It has to be the F-150.
GM’s new midsize truck will steal sales from the competition simply based on how new it is. Ford will likely steal sales because of the thoughtful features and advances in technology. Is the aluminum thing a big deal? Sure, but it actually isn’t what impressed us most about the F-150. It’s all the helpful features that make it a more versatile tool than its competitors.
Combined with impressive powertrain options and a shiny new interior that feels modern, and we are pleased to name the 2015 Ford F-150 the 2015 AutoGuide.com Truck of the Year.
GALLERY: 2015 Truck of The Year in Photos
