The 2022 GMC Sierra Is Better Than its Corporate Counterpart Based on Looks Alone
General Motors produces two pickup trucks under its corporate banner in North America, the Chevrolet Silverado, and GMC Sierra. The two truck lines share many similarities as corporate stablemates, but subtle differences in utility, features, and overall design aesthetic set them apart. But is the 2022 GMC Sierra better than the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado based on looks alone?
2022 GMC Sierra beats Silverado in a beauty contest
According to MotorTrend’s recent review of the best full-size pickup trucks to buy in 2022, the 2022 GMC Sierra beat out the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado on looks alone. As corporate counterparts, there are not a lot of differences between the two trucks. They share chassis design and power train options, and some of the body panels look like they’d fit either truck, but there are subtle differences they could point out without calling the Silverado “kind of funky looking.”
2022 GMC Sierra
The 2022 GMC Sierra comes in eight trim levels. The Pro, SLE, Elevation, SLT, and Denali trims offer a choice between two and four-wheel drive, while the AT4, AT4X, and Denali Ultimate are only available in four-wheel drive.
According to GMC, the Pro trim comes in five cab/truck bed configurations with regular, double, and crew cabs mated to short, standard, and long beds. The Pro trim allows the standard bed on any cab configuration but only mates the long bed to the regular cab and the short bed to the crew cab. Other trims offer fewer options, but all feature the popular crew cab/short box configuration at a minimum.
Engine choices for two-wheel-drive models include two gasoline options and one diesel-powered, including the following:
- 2.7-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder with 310 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque
- 5.3-liter V8 with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque
- 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder that produces 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque
Opting for four-wheel drive adds the choice of a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 that makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque along with the other three options.
Fuel economies range from a low of 13 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway for the 6.2-liter AT4 trimmed four-wheel drive equipped with mud-terrain tires to 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway with the two-wheel-drive fitted with the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel.
Why is the 2022 GMC Sierra better?
The 2022 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate is about $9,000 more expensive than the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado High Country. But, while exterior looks are important, it’s what’s inside that counts. And the Sierra Denali Ultimate wins inside with a more luxurious feel thanks to its wood-trimmed two-tone interior and open-pore ash wood panels.
Ultimately, “better” is subjective and depends primarily on the truck’s intended use. People who opt to spare no expense to ride in the lap of luxury will likely find the 2022 GMC Sierra better than a comparably equipped Silverado. At the same time, those looking for a work truck to fit the needs of their landscaping or hotshot business might opt for the equally capable but less luxurious 2022 Chevrolet Silverado WT. In fact, they might get two for the price of the 2022 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate.
