2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Redesigned for the 2020 model year, the current-generation GMC Sierra HD (Heavy Duty) pickup features a bold exterior design, with a tall hood, squared-off lines, and a massive grille. In particular, when viewed from the front, it has a commanding presence. And while design is subjective, to our eyes, the Sierra HD is one of the better-looking heavy-duty trucks on the market.

Inside is a slightly different story. While perfectly presentable and functional, the Sierra HD's interior has its shortcomings. Material quality, especially on the top trims, isn't up to the standards of its competitors from Ram and Ford. Spend five minutes in the top Limited versions of the Ram 2500 and the Ford F-250 Super Duty, and it's instantly apparent. And while certainly not cramped, the Sierra Heavy Duty's cabin isn't quite as spacious as that of the Ram 1500 and Ford Super Duty.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD is available in five trim levels, each with a distinct look and feel, and in regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab body styles. Two pickup bed lengths are available as well. The Pro trim is geared toward fleet operators, contractors, and those who just need big capability without all the frills. You'll find no leather or fancy tech here, just cloth seats and basic amenities. The SLE and SLT add some creature comforts and appeal to more mainstream buyers. The AT4 is for off-road enthusiasts, and the Denali appeals to those wanting a proper luxury truck. The AT4 and Denali are offered exclusively in crew cab form.

We drove the off-road-focused AT4 trim for this review. Our test truck featured black chrome accents, C-shaped LED lighting, a hood air-induction system, red recovery hooks, 20-inch wheels with high gloss black accents, and the optional high-clearance step. Inside, the AT4 had Jet Black with Kalahari upholstery and embroidered AT4 accents, heated and ventilated perforated leather front seats, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, premium front and rear floor liners with removable carpet inserts, premium GMC infotainment system, a wireless charging pad, and a Bose premium sound system. Altogether, the AT4 is a rugged, handsome package befitting a luxury off-roader.

Is it possible for a vehicle with 445 horsepower, 910 pound-feet of torque, 1,637 kilograms (3,608 pounds) of maximum payload capacity (on AT4; lower trims can go higher), and 8,391 kilograms (18,500 pounds on AT4) of maximum trailering weight to be considered underpowered? Compared to the average vehicle on the road, of course not. But if we're talking diesel-powered heavy-duty pickups, where maximum torque and towing capacities are worn like a badge of honour, then the answer is yes.

Don't get us wrong. General Motors has a well-earned reputation for designing and building some of the best powertrains on the market. Indeed, both the Sierra 2500HD's 6.6-litre V8 engines—standard gas and optional turbodiesel—are strong performers. Factor in the excellent Allison 10-speed automatic transmission that comes with the Duramax diesel, and you have an extremely capable truck. It's just not the most capable.

Equipped with the 6.7-litre Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 (power specs are 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque), Ford touts the F-250 Super Duty's maximum tow rating as 10,340 kilograms (22,800 pounds). When outfitted with the 6.7-litre Cummins turbodiesel inline-six (370 hp and 850 lb-ft), Ram says its 2500 heavy-duty truck can tow 9,070 kilograms (20,000 pounds). Those are some stout numbers. And while the numbers do matter, what's more important is how all that power translates to everyday use.

Our test truck had the optional Duramax diesel/Allison automatic transmission powertrain combination. We've tested the naturally aspirated 6.6-litrer gas V8 before, and while its performance is strong, power from the Duramax engine is, in a word, abundant. The engine is so powerful, in fact, that you need to firmly depress the brake pedal when shifting out of Park, lest you find yourself rolling forward or backward unintentionally. Indeed, on more than one occasion, when shifting into reverse, we found ourselves on the move before we were ready, as we didn't have the brake pedal depressed firmly enough to stop the big truck from rolling. It was a real eye-opener, and a perfect demonstration of the truck's raw power.

Unladen, the Sierra 2500HD feels downright quick, especially for a three-ton truck. Shifts from the Allison 10-speed are silky smooth, but the ride, while better than heavy-duty trucks of the past, was still a bit jittery, especially over uneven pavement. The ride improves as you add weight, either in the pickup bed or with a trailer. But if you plan on driving your truck without any kind of payload or trailer attached, be prepared for a bumpy ride.

Despite the third-place finish in the towing stats contest, the Sierra 2500HD is on equal (actually, higher) ground when it comes to off-roading, thanks to the AT4's equipment. Our test truck had the standard AT4 off-road items including an automatic-locking rear differential for the four-wheel-drive (4WD) system, a two-speed transfer case, a traction-select system with off-road and tow/haul modes, heavy-duty air cleaner, the X31 off-road suspension with twin-tube Rancho shocks, skid plates, all-terrain tires, trailering package, and a trailer brake controller.

The AT4 handled our admittedly unchallenging off-road course with ease, climbing hills with confidence and never coming close to getting stuck. We did, however, experience a slightly annoying vibration emanating from the steering column while scooting across lumpy terrain at speed. Perhaps we were simply having too much fun on the course, which is the whole point, after all.

With three cab configurations, two pickup bed lengths, available 4WD, and several nifty convenience features, the GMC Sierra 2500 is a highly functional truck. Though most versions seat five, it can accommodate up to six passengers (with a front-row bench seat instead of bucket seats). As one might expect, passenger space in both the front and rear seats is abundant. There's plenty of headroom, legroom, knee room, and hip room in all seating positions.

Owing to the fact that it's a big, tall truck—combined with the extra lift courtesy of the AT4 package—it does take some effort to get into the Sierra 2500HD. We found the best approach was to put one foot on the flat side step while grabbing the assist handle mounted on the inside of the A-pillar and hoisting oneself up. Coated with a rough texture similar to what you'd find in the pickup bed, the side assist step on our test truck greatly aided traction, especially when it was raining. Likewise, a corner-step rear bumper makes accessing items in the deep cargo box or the 12 fixed cargo tie-downs easy.

Once inside the Sierra 2500HD, the wide and deep centre console offers plenty of room for an iPad or small laptop computer. There are dual glove boxes on the front passenger side, and the rear outboard seats have nifty hidden storage compartments built in, also large enough for an iPad or two. The rear centre seat position also has a fold-down armrest with integrated cupholders. Beneath the flip-and-fold back seat is yet more storage.

Our test vehicle had the optional, 120-volt household-style power outlet at the base of the centre stack, convenient for when you don't have a power adapter and need to plug in a small electrical gadget like a laptop computer or a hairdryer. Another outlet was positioned at the back of the truck's bed, providing a convenient power access point for small power tools or a Shop-Vac. Next to the cabin power outlet were two USB ports—one Type A and one Type C, and beneath that was a wireless charging pad.

Speaking of the tailgate, available on the base Pro trim and standard on SLE and above is GMC's trick MultiPro tailgate. It offers six distinct functions designed to help improve loading, unloading, and accessing the cargo box. The tailgate can be lowered via a switch located in the centre stack, with the press of a button on the remote key fob, or manually. Combined with the optional rear power outlet, the tailgate can serve as a place to do business on a laptop or other device, creating an outdoor mobile office of sorts.

Just because you're towing nearly 10 tons of weight doesn't mean you don't want entertainment. To that end, GMC offers a range of infotainment systems on the Sierra 2500HD line, with either a 7-inch or 8-inch colour touchscreen, depending on the trim level. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are standard on SLT and above (available on SLE but not the base Pro trim). A navigation system is standard on the Denali and available on SLT and AT4 trims. The Sierra 2500HD comes standard with hitch guidance for hooking up trailers and Bluetooth for connecting various wireless devices. Additionally, SLE and above nets SiriusXM satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, and OnStar with connected services.

Our test vehicle's Bose premium audio system didn't disappoint, filling the 2500HD's huge cabin with rich sound. The voice-recognition system in our truck, however, delivered some odd results. Perhaps the most curious result, when asking for the local weather forecast, SiriusXM directed us to The Catholic Channel. This happened no fewer than three times. Perhaps the truck had a premonition of our intentions on the way to the off-road course and was simply trying to protect both of us. Alas, we returned the GMC with nary a scratch, and thus no need to repent of our sins.

One competitive strength for the Sierra is its 15 available camera views, making it easier to hook up a trailer as well as keep an eye on things behind while underway. One of the views is the trick "transparent trailer" view that appears to make the trailer invisible. The standard rear camera mirror provides a clear picture of what's behind. It comes in particularly handy when three adults are seated across the back row and visibility is compromised. Mounted above the cab's back window, at the edge of the roof, the camera provides an unobstructed view of what's behind.

In recent years, automakers have made tremendous progress by integrating high-tech safety and driver-assistive features once reserved for luxury models into more mainstream products, including heavy-duty pickup trucks. Indeed, the GMC Sierra 2500HD is available with such driving-assistance systems as automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, following distance indicator, hill-descent control, HD Surround Vision, a rear-seat reminder system, Safety Alert Seat, and front and rear park assist.

The Teen Driver system is standard, which helps parents monitor their teen's driving habits and set audio system volume and vehicle speed limits.

The Sierra 2500HD's sheer mass makes it both safe and unsafe at the same time. The extra weight, while a boon to passengers of the GMC in the event of a multi-vehicle collision, can cause severe damage to smaller vehicles and those inside. Likewise, pedestrians, dogs, and anything else on two or four (or more) legs will not fare well against the big GMC. That's why all those camera views are so essential. For the sake of Sierra owners and others, it would be our recommendation to opt for as many of the safety systems and cameras as you can afford. They provide peace of mind, and you can't put a price tag on that.

Due to its high gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has rated the crashworthiness of the 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD.

Pricing for the 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD starts at $49,748 (including the $2,095 destination charge) for the base Pro trim level with a regular cab, long cargo bed, and 2WD. That's a fair amount of capability for less than $50,000. The SLE starts at $55,048 in the same configuration, while the SLT has a base MSRP of $67,048 for the double-cab with the standard bed and 2WD. The off-road-oriented AT4 goes for $74,648 and requires the crew cab, standard bed, and 4WD, and the top GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali trim starts at $81,548 and can pair the crew cab and 4WD with either the standard or long bed.

The 2022 Sierra 2500HD's base price is about $2,900 more than the related Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. For further comparison, base prices for the Ford F-250 Super Duty and 2022 Ram 2500 are $49,749 and $55,145, respectively.

Our test vehicle, a 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD AT4 4WD Crew Cab in Summit White with Jet Black leather seats and Kalahari interior accents, has a base price of $74,648 Canadian. Options included the Duramax diesel engine ($10,965), the AT4 Premium Plus package ($9,200), Gooseneck/Fifth Wheel package ($630), and a $230 credit for the truck not having heated second-row seats. Normally, those heated seats are standard but are currently not included due to the ongoing computer microchip shortage. Including the destination fee, the total price is $97,638 (Canadian, estimated).

Similar to how it handles crash-test safety scores, the federal government does not publish fuel-consumption estimates for big, heavy-duty trucks. During our week of testing, we averaged an indicated 16.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined city and highway driving while never pulling a trailer. If you intend to regularly tow or haul heavy loads, prepare to spend big at the pump.

The Duramax diesel engine comes with a five-year/160,000-kilometre powertrain/drivetrain limited warranty—60,000 more kilometres than the gas engine.

Note: Images show a US model.