2022 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2022 Toyota Tacoma

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced new Denali Ultimate and AT4X variants, enhancing the already premium Denali and AT4 trims. With eight trim levels, the Sierra appeared larger and more aggressive than its predecessor, thanks to an updated grille, front fascia, and headlight design. The Denali's grille evolved from a mesh pattern to a "tri-linear" theme, with thicker chrome inserts, while the Denali Ultimate featured dark-coloured "Vader bars." The Sierra's interior saw significant changes, with a redesigned dash and new materials, creating a more spacious and luxurious cabin. The AT4X trim, designed for off-road driving, boasted premium leather, genuine wood trim, and a microsuede headliner, while the Denali Ultimate featured full-grain leather and open-pore wood, with topographical maps of Mount Denali embossed throughout.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma, a staple in the North American market since 1995, showed signs of aging despite a 2020 facelift. Its exterior remained contemporary with an aggressive grille and headlights, but the cabin revealed its age with hard plastics and outdated switchgear. The Tacoma offered various configurations, including Access and Double Cab body styles, with standard features like a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and Toyota Safety Sense suite. Higher trims added features like alloy wheels, sport suspension, and leather seating. The TRD Pro trim excelled off-road, with features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control, making it a capable trail companion.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered four engine options, including a 2.7L turbo four-cylinder with 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-litre Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine boasted a best-in-class towing capacity of up to 5,987 kg (13,200 pounds) with the Max Trailering Package. Other engine options included a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 hp and a 6.2L Ecotec3 V8 with 420 hp. The Sierra Denali Ultimate 4WD provided a smooth and comfortable ride, while the AT4X impressed with its off-road capabilities, featuring Multimatic DSSV dampers and e-locking differentials.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma in Canada came standard with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission. It offered a maximum towing capacity of 2,948 kg (6,500 pounds) and a payload capacity of 583 kg (1,285 pounds). While the V6 provided decent acceleration around town, it struggled on highways due to its transmission gearing. The TRD Pro trim excelled off-road, with features like Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control, making it a capable trail companion.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered a spacious and versatile interior, with best-in-class cargo capacity even in its short bed. Front headroom measured 1,093 mm (43 inches), while rear-seat headroom averaged just over 1 metre (40 inches). Front legroom was 1,131 mm (44.5 inches), with double-cab rear-seat passengers enjoying 894 mm (35.2 inches) of legroom, and crew cab passengers having 1,102 mm (43.4 inches). The cabin featured numerous storage compartments, though the gloveboxes were on the smaller side. The driver-oriented cockpit had a low centreline, with screens and controls positioned lower than expected.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma offered Access Cab and Double Cab body styles, with a five-foot or six-foot-one-inch bed. The Access Cab featured clamshell rear half-doors and tight rear jump seats, while the Double Cab had four full doors but limited rear-seat legroom. The front seats provided ample legroom, but the tilt/telescoping steering wheel's limited range could be an issue for taller drivers. The Tacoma's cab offered plenty of cupholders and storage, with helpful in-bed lighting and a power outlet in the bed.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 featured larger display screens, with a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google built-in. The system was fast and responsive, though distinguishing between in-car and smartphone navigation could be confusing. The touchscreen allowed for personalization and dual modes, with options like a 15-inch head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system available.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma's base infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth compatibility, while higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system was user-friendly, with a basic layout and large icons. The Tacoma also offered a wireless device charger, though it required manual activation. Advanced tech features were limited, but the infotainment system's simplicity was a plus for many users.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced GM's Super Cruise, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system available on the Denali Ultimate. It offered features like automatic lane changes and trailering capability. The Sierra also included up to 14 camera views, a GCW Alert feature, and Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert. Standard safety features included forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The Sierra received mostly "Good" crash safety ratings from the IIHS but had a "Marginal" grade in the front-passenger small overlap test and a "Poor" grade for headlights. NHTSA gave 2WD models four out of five stars for crashworthiness.

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma came standard with driver assistance features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The backup camera's image was grainy, requiring extra attention when reversing. The Tacoma received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA, with four-star scores in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side crash tests.