2022 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD, redesigned for the 2020 model year, boasted a bold exterior with a tall hood, squared-off lines, and a massive grille, giving it a commanding presence. While its exterior was considered one of the better-looking heavy-duty trucks, the interior had some shortcomings. The material quality, especially in top trims, didn't quite match up to competitors like Ram and Ford. The cabin, though not cramped, wasn't as spacious as the Ram 1500 and Ford Super Duty. The Sierra 2500HD was available in five trim levels, each offering a distinct look and feel, with options for regular, extended, and crew cab body styles. The AT4 trim, focused on off-road capabilities, featured rugged design elements and luxurious interior touches, making it a handsome package for luxury off-road enthusiasts.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced new Denali Ultimate and AT4X variants, expanding on the premium Denali and AT4 trims. With eight trim levels, the Sierra appeared larger and more aggressive, thanks to an updated grille, front fascia, and headlight design. The Denali featured a "tri-linear" grille theme, while the Denali Ultimate had dark-coloured "Vader bars" inserts. The Sierra's interior saw significant changes, with a redesigned dash and new materials elevating the AT4X and Denali Ultimate trims. The AT4X, developed for off-road driving, offered a luxury-focused cabin with premium leather and genuine wood trim. The Denali Ultimate featured full-grain leather and open-pore wood, with topographical maps of Mount Denali embossed within the materials.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD was equipped with a 6.6-litre V8 engine, available in both standard gas and optional turbodiesel variants. The Duramax diesel engine, paired with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, delivered 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque. Despite its impressive power, the Sierra 2500HD was not the most capable in its class, with a maximum trailering weight of 8,391 kilograms (18,500 pounds) on the AT4 trim. In comparison, the Ford F-250 Super Duty and Ram 2500 offered higher towing capacities. The Sierra 2500HD excelled in off-roading, particularly with the AT4 trim, which included features like an automatic-locking rear differential, off-road suspension, and all-terrain tires. The truck handled off-road courses with ease, though the ride was jittery on uneven pavement when unladen.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered four engine options, including a 2.7L turbo four-cylinder, a 3.8-litre Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six, a 5.3-litre V8, and a 6.2L Ecotec3 V8. The turbo-four produced 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, with improved towing capacity. The diesel engine, with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, offered best-in-class towing for light-duty diesel trucks. The Sierra 1500's ride was smooth and comfortable, particularly in the Denali Ultimate trim, which featured a high-end look and feel. The AT4X trim, designed for off-road adventures, offered impressive ground clearance and off-road capabilities, with features like Multimatic DSSV dampers and e-locking differentials. The truck handled challenging terrains with ease, though the off-road test course didn't fully showcase its capabilities.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered three cab configurations, two pickup bed lengths, and available 4WD, making it a highly functional truck. It could seat up to six passengers, with abundant space in both front and rear seats. The truck's height required some effort to enter, but features like a side assist step and corner-step rear bumper aided accessibility. Inside, the Sierra 2500HD provided ample storage, with a wide centre console, dual glove boxes, and hidden storage compartments. The truck also featured a 120-volt power outlet and USB ports for added convenience. The MultiPro tailgate, available on higher trims, offered six functions to improve loading and unloading.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 boasted best-in-class cargo capacity, even with its short bed. The interior was spacious, with generous headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. 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 Sierra 1500's cabin was filled with knobs and buttons, contrasting with the trend towards larger screens and digital touchpads. In the AT4X trim, off-road controls were split between the steering wheel and centre console, adding to the complexity.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered a range of infotainment systems, with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen, depending on the trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on SLT and above, with navigation available on higher trims. The truck featured hitch guidance, Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, and OnStar services. The Bose premium audio system provided rich sound, though the voice-recognition system had some quirks. The Sierra 2500HD's 15 available camera views, including a "transparent trailer" view, made towing and reversing easier.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 featured larger display screens, with a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen on most trims. The infotainment system, with Google built-in, offered Bluetooth, OnStar, and wireless smartphone connectivity. The Denali models had an interactive start-up screen, while the larger touchscreen allowed for personalization and dual modes. Wireless charging was available on higher trims, along with a 15-inch head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD was equipped with advanced safety and driver-assistive features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Teen Driver system was standard, allowing parents to monitor their teen's driving habits. The truck's mass provided safety in collisions but posed risks to smaller vehicles and pedestrians. The Sierra 2500HD was not rated by NHTSA or IIHS due to its high GVWR.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced GM's Super Cruise, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system, as a standard feature on the Denali Ultimate. The system offered hands-free driving, automatic lane changes, and trailering capability. The Sierra 1500 featured up to 14 camera views, including a bed view camera and Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert. GMC Pro Safety, the automaker's suite of driver-assistance systems, included features like forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The Sierra received mostly "Good" crash safety ratings from IIHS but had a "Marginal" grade in the front-passenger small overlap test and a "Poor" grade for headlights. NHTSA rated 2WD models four out of five stars for crashworthiness.