2023 Honda Ridgeline vs 2022 GMC Sierra 1500

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 offered a bold and aggressive appearance, especially when compared to the Silverado. The updated grille, front fascia, and headlight design gave the Sierra a wider look, with the split-C headlights integrated into the grille. The Denali's grille featured a "tri-linear" theme with thick chrome inserts, while the Denali Ultimate had dark-coloured "Vader bars." The Sierra's interior saw significant changes, with a redesigned dash and new materials, making the cabin feel more spacious. The AT4X and Denali Ultimate trims offered luxurious interiors with premium leather, wood trim, and unique topographical map details.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline, with its updated styling from a few years prior, presented a rugged appearance with LED lighting and larger exhaust outlets. It shared its platform with the Honda Passport SUV, offering a refined and sophisticated driving experience. The Ridgeline's interior, similar to the Passport, provided quality materials, ample storage, and comfortable seating. Despite its unibody construction limiting towing capacity, the Ridgeline excelled in daily-driving practicality with features like a dual-action tailgate and in-bed trunk. The Black Edition trim added premium touches, but the Ridgeline's infotainment system felt dated compared to newer models.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered a range of 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's towing capacity reached up to 5,987 kilograms with the Max Trailering Package. The Sierra also featured a 5.3-litre V8 producing 355 hp and a 6.2L Ecotec3 V8 with 420 hp. The Denali Ultimate and AT4X trims provided smooth rides, with the AT4X excelling in off-road conditions thanks to its Multimatic DSSV dampers and e-locking differentials.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline, powered by a 3.5-litre VTEC V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, offered a nine-speed automatic transmission and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. While its towing capacity was limited to 2,268 kilograms, the Ridgeline excelled in on-road driving dynamics, providing a comfortable and refined experience. It achieved a competitive fuel economy of 10.4 litres per 100 kilometres on a road trip, showcasing its efficiency among midsize pickups with gas-powered V6 engines.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 boasted a spacious interior with best-in-class cargo capacity, even in its short bed. Front headroom measured 1,093 mm, while legroom for front-seat occupants was 1,131 mm. The Sierra offered ample storage options, though the gloveboxes were on the smaller side. The cabin's ergonomics were somewhat perplexing, with low-positioned screens and an abundance of knobs and buttons. The AT4X trim featured off-road controls in two different locations, adding to the complexity.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline prioritized function with features like shelves in the front door panels, a giant storage console, and a dual-action tailgate. The interior, similar to the Honda Passport, provided comfortable seating and practical storage solutions. The rear seat cushion flipped up to create a sizable load floor, and the truck bed offered a flat, scratch-resistant surface with a lockable, weatherproof trunk. The Ridgeline's bed also featured tie-down cleats and optional accessories like a bed tent and in-bed stereo speakers.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 featured larger display screens, with a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen with Google built-in. The infotainment system offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, along with a 15-inch head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The system was fast and responsive, though the similarity between in-car and smartphone navigation screens could be confusing.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline's infotainment system, dating back to the mid-2010s, included Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. The 8-inch touchscreen was smaller than expected, with outdated graphics and slow loading times. The user interface was simple, but the lack of a tuning knob and manual radio station tuning was frustrating. The Ridgeline's wireless charger worked inconsistently, and the technology felt in need of an update.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 featured GM's Super Cruise, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system available on the Denali Ultimate trim. The Sierra also offered up to 14 camera views, adaptive cruise control, and GMC Pro Safety, which 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.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline came equipped with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard in Canada. The Ridgeline received favourable crash-test ratings from the IIHS, with only the headlights scoring below "Good" or "Acceptable." The NHTSA awarded the Ridgeline top marks in crash tests and a four-star rollover resistance rating.