2022 GMC Sierra Preview | GM's 'premium truck' is actually now premium

Pros: Quiet and torque-rich Duramax diesel; big touchscreen on most trims; great trailering tech; versatile MultiPro tailgate

Cons: Worse ride than most rivals; AT4X priced like a Raptor but doesn't go like a Raptor

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 is GM’s upmarket half-ton pickup, with a supposed emphasis placed on interior quality and materials rather than bare-bones durability. Supposedly, at least. In reality, the most recent generation hardly lived up to that promise as it showed few upgrades over its Chevy Silverado sibling, which itself possessed a ho-hum, not-really-trying interior clearly overshadowed by Ram and Ford that at least match it in most other respects. It was particularly noticeable when comparing top trim levels. GMC's supposedly premium entry, and especially the Denali, just didn't cut it.

That changes in a huge way for 2022. First, there’s not just one new and massively improved interior, there are two. The SLE, Elevation and SLT once again share their interior design with the Silverado, but that includes a more visually appealing design, better materials, smarter storage and a significant technology upgrade thanks to the standard 13.4-inch touchscreen running the user-friendly Android Automotive OS. The AT4 and Denali trim levels, including the new AT4X and Denali Ultimate, step things up even further with a different dash design and upgraded interior materials. The Ultimate definitely lives up to its name with a characterful and, yes, premium vibe that stands tall against the best of Ford and Ram.

Other welcome updates include the option of Super Cruise on top trim levels and a massively more powerful base turbo four-cylinder engine (it produces more torque than the 5.3-liter V8!). Effectively, the 2022 GMC Sierra is now the truck it should’ve been since the beginning of this current generation and definitely worth a look – especially if you’re in the market for a premium truck.

Now, a bit of housekeeping. While the massively updated model shown here is officially the 2022 GMC Sierra, there’s a chance you could come across something called the "2022 Sierra Limited.” That was just last year's truck with the 2022 model year stapled to it. There are many reasons for this, but suffice it to say, if you see a ’22 Sierra Denali with the ugly robot-face dashboard (below right), you’re looking at a Limited. Also, the availability of Super Cruise and other features have been hampered by supply shortages.

Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy

What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Trim Levels   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features

What's new for 2022?

As described above, the 2022 Sierra underwent a slew of welcome changes. Those not touched on include chassis upgrades made to trucks with the Duramax diesel that increased tow ratings when equipped with the Max Tow package. It’s also worth underlining that the luxurious AT4X and Denali Ultimate are new this year.

What are the Sierra interior and technology like

There are actually three Sierra interiors. The base Pro (picture above, below right) gets last year’s ho-hum interior and 7-inch touchscreen interface (it has a totally acceptable GM interface), which is just fine for a basic work truck like the Pro. No complaints. The SLE, SLT and Elevation then get the same all-new interior design as upper Chevy Silverado trim levels (picture above, below left), including a more appealing design, a console-mounted electronic shifter for five-passenger interiors, better switchgear, an upgraded instrument panel and, most notably, a 13.4-inch widescreen touchscreen running Google’s Android Automotive tech interface skinned specially for GMC. The Sierra’s rival trucks at these price ranges come standard with smaller screens.

Besides its accompanying screen size, we’ve found the Android Automotive system to be easy enough to figure out and appreciate how well integrated it is with Google Maps (as opposed to streaming it through your phone from Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which are both included BTW). You could have some issues if you’re trying to navigate in an area without cell data, so knowing how to download map content before hand will be needed. Aside from that wrinkle, this interface is one of the better ones out there, though it’s also competing with Ram’s exceptional Uconnect and Ford’s solid Sync systems.

OK, so to this point, everything we’ve said would basically apply to the Chevy Silverado. For 2022, though, the Sierra Denali, AT4 and the new range-topping AT4X and Denali Ultimate trim levels get a special-to-GMC interior design, each with their own flavor of luxury. The AT4 trims keep it serious with an all-black motif and gloss-black trim – the base AT4 gets some camel-colored seat accents, while the AT4X gets extended leather trim and more feature content. The Denali is ritzier, gaining wood trim, extended leather and extra alloy-look trim, plus the option for a brown interior scheme. The Denali Ultimate (pictured above, top) then really steps things up with a unique “Alpine Umber” color scheme accented with baseball-like stitching, contrast piping and a very cool topographic map of Denali (the mountain) embossed on various leather surfaces and etched into the beautiful dark wood dash trim. We take a deeper dive into it in our Sierra Denali Ultimate Interior Review. 

How big is the Sierra?

The Sierra 1500 Crew Cab (above left) offers limo-like sprawl-out space in its back seat aided by a colossal rear door. As expected, the Double Cab's rear seatback is more upright and less comfortable (above right). Legroom may be class-leading, but it's still tight behind a tall driver, meaning the Double Cab's back seat is ultimately best suited for occasional use, or children. At least its front-hinged rear doors are a better setup than the F-150 Super Cab's annoying clamshells. As usual, you can get a three-person 40/20/40 split bench up front (all trims but AT4 and Denali) or bucket seats with a full center console (not available base or SLE).

What about the bed? The thinner, taller walls introduced back in 2019 have resulted in a bed that ultimately holds more than anything else in the segment. Better still, maximum payload ranges from 1,550 to 2,250 pounds, which is generally a few hundred pounds more than an F-150 (though the right configuration from Ford offers more) or Ram 1500. Yet, there is more to consider with the Sierra's bed than just its volume and payload. For starters, it offers the MultiPro tailgate (below left), which provides myriad configurations that are seriously useful when loading and unloading. You can even outfit it with a dedicated Kicker sound system. But wait, there's more! The Denali and AT4 trims can be equipped with the CarbonPro carbon fiber composite bed (below right) that GMC says provides added "strength, durability and scratch resistance" to go with a potential 59-pound weight reduction depending on configuration. Basically, it's a bed and liner in one.

What are the Sierra fuel economy and performance specs?

The base engine on the Pro, SLE and Elevation is a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 310 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. That's a massive, 72-lb-ft upgrade over last year and considerably better than the 5.3-liter V8.  It has an eight-speed automatic and gets cylinder deactivation (yes, it can run on just two cylinders). It achieves between 17 and 20 mpg combined, which is the best fuel economy of any non-diesel full-size truck.

Standard on the SLT, AT4 and Denali is a 5.3-liter V8 that produces 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. It's optional on SLE and Elevation.  Fuel economy varies widely, however, as the engine can be paired with six-, eight- or 10-speed automatic transmissions. Unlike last year, it is only available with GM's more advanced Dynamic Fuel Management system (DFM). The result is fuel economy that ranges from 15 mpg combined for an AT4 with the six-speed automatic to 18 mpg combined with the 2WD/eight-speed combo. That's a significant spread.

Optional on the SLT, AT4 and Denali, and standard on the AT4X and Denali Ultimate, is a 6.2-liter V8 that displaces 6.2 liters and produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. It only gets the 10-speed and DFM. EPA estimates range from 14 mpg combined for those with mud terrain tires to 17 mpg for a more road-going version

A 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six that produces 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque is optional on all but the base trim (you actually get a $1,500 price reduction when selecting it for the Denali Ultimate). It too gets the 10-speed automatic. It returns 26 mpg combined with 2WD, and 24 with 4WD. That matches the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel.

What's the Sierra like to drive?

We have not yet driven the 2022 GMC Sierra, so we cannot answer this question definitively. Apart from the new AT4X, however, as well as the significant improvement in the turbo-four's torque, GM did not announce changes that should fundamentally alter the way the Sierra drives. At least in theory.

As such, here's what we've previously found with this Sierra generation.  Like every American full-size truck, the Sierra and Silverado's driving experience depends greatly on the engine you choose – and as GM offers more engines than anyone else, the spread of difference is even greater. Even before the turbocharged four-cylinder was seriously upgraded for 2022, we found it to be as beefy and efficient as advertised, easily assuaging concerns that you can't put a four-cylinder in a full-size truck. Still, if you can swing the payment, the Duramax diesel engine is a better choice – its torque matches the big 6.2-liter V8, its fuel economy will be vastly superior and it's shockingly quiet.

But we're guessing most Sierra buyers will be looking at a V8. In that case, we've found that 6.2-liter is obviously stronger than the 5.3-liter truck, but you also don't strictly need it. We've towed hefty loads with both, and the 6.2-liter is more an example of overkill than necessity. The availability of the Max Tow package on the Duramax diesel model improves its max tow rating to 13,200 pounds, making it a solid alternative to the big V8.

To this point, however, everything we've written also applies to the Silverado. The Sierra's breadth of driving experiences is actually even greater due to the Denali trim's adaptive dampers that provide superior ride and body control to the standard suspension. We've noted that Silverado/Sierra trucks have a tendency when driving over imperfect pavement for either punishing harshness (big wheels) or unusually nautical bounding (small wheels). Neither occurs with the more civilized, big-wheeled Denali. If you're looking for a reason to choose Sierra over Silverado and have the money for a big-dollar truck, this is it.

As for the new AT4X, again, we'll have to wait and see. Still, its Multimatic DSSV shock that are shared with the also-new Silverado ZR2 have a reputation for being incredibly pleasant to live with, especially considering the model’s off-road pretensions. Standard equipment includes some knobby all-terrain tires and electronic locking front and rear differentials. If you plan to go off-pavement, GMC clearly now offers a better option than before.

What other GMC Sierra reviews can I read?

2022 GMC Sierra AT4X First Drive Review

A deeper dive into what you get with the new Sierra AT4X, including a lengthy off-road drive.

 

2022 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate Interior Review

A deep dive into the new Denali Ultimate interior, which definitely lives up to its ultimate name with substantially better design and quality.

 

2019 GMC Sierra AT4 First Drive | Off-road overkill

We test the off-road-oriented Sierra AT4 when equipped with the 6.2-liter V8 and Dynamic Fuel Management.

 

2019 GMC Sierra Denali First Drive | The more things change ...

Our first drive of the current-generation Sierra Denali, including more in-depth information about its design and engineering. Although there have obviously been changes since then, the underlying engineering and mechanicals remain consistent. 

Video: the MultiPro Tailgate explained

What is the 2022 Sierra price?

GM has repeatedly changed prices for the 2022 Sierra, but what you’ll see below is up to date as of June 24, 2022. All include the $1,795 destination charge, and are for rear-wheel drive unless four-wheel drive is standard (AT4 and AT4X). Adding four-wheel drive is about $4,000. The engine in parentheses is the one attached to the lowest price for each trim level.

Pro: $47,990 (2.7-liter)
SLE: $55,950 (2.7-liter)
Elevation: $57,790 (2.7-liter)
SLT: $58,890 (5.3-liter)
AT4: $66,090 (Duramax)
Denali: $69,690 (5.3-liter)
AT4X: $80,090 (6.2-liter, only one available)
Denali Ultimate: $82,990 (Duramax)

What are the Sierra safety ratings and driver assistance features?

Every 2022 Sierra comes standard with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist and automatic headlights. Blind-spot warning, including coverage while trailering, is optional on all trim levels, except for the Denalis and AT4X, which have it standard. Adaptive cruise control is optional as a part of packages on all trims but the AT4X and Denali Ultimate, which have it standard. GM’s excellent hands-free version of adaptive cruise control, known as Super Cruise (pictured above), is standard on the Denali Ultimate and optional on the AT4X. It also brings with it an enhanced automatic emergency braking system. However, note that Sierras built after June 13, 2022, could not be equipped with Super Cruise due to supply shortages.

Every cab style of the 2022 Sierra gets the same crash ratings from the government: four stars overall, four stars frontal, five stars side and four stars rollover. The ’22 Sierra hasn’t been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but the ’21 model year got top marks of “Good” in all but the small overlap front: passenger-side test where it got a second-worst “Marginal” score. Its headlights also were rated “Poor,” but that could change with the updates for ’22.  

Watch our video review on the GMC Sierra: