2022 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty took the blocky and muscular aesthetics of the F-150 midsize pickup to a more imposing level. Larger in every dimension, the Super Duty models truly embodied the heavy-duty truck persona. This wasn't just for show; the Super Duty trucks came with numerous upgrades over their light-duty counterparts. Long bed lengths allowed for better cargo hauling, and the tall ride height provided superior ground clearance for tough terrains or messy job sites. The trucks featured giant grilles, heavy-duty bumpers, and robust bodywork designed to withstand daily wear and tear.

Inside, the Super Duty's cabin varied depending on the cab configuration, ranging from tight and utilitarian to spacious and plush. The base XL trim offered good headroom and legroom but was otherwise a stripped-down work truck. Lower trims featured simple cloth upholstery, while higher trims like the Super Duty Limited could be outfitted with leather and upscale finishes that rivaled many luxury cars.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced the Denali Ultimate and AT4X variants, expanding on the already premium Denali and AT4 trims. With eight trim levels available, the Sierra appeared larger and more aggressive compared to the Silverado’s mid-cycle makeover. The updated grille, front fascia, and headlight design made the Sierra look wider, with new split-C headlights integrated within the grille for a seamless, precise look.

The Denali's grille transitioned from a mesh pattern to a “tri-linear” theme with thicker, chunkier chrome inserts, giving it a tough yet extravagant appearance. The Denali Ultimate featured dark-colored “Vader bars” inserts, while the SLT, AT4, and AT4X trims had less showy but equally intimidating grille designs with chrome, black, and dark nickel accents. New 22-inch wheel designs were introduced for the Denali and Denali Ultimate, with bright-polished chrome for the former and low-gloss black for the latter. The Sierra's exterior design remained largely unchanged, offering standard, double, or crew cab options with various bed lengths. The interior saw significant updates, with the AT4X and Denali Ultimate trims elevating their luxury game with premium materials and advanced features.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered three powertrains. The base engine was a 6.2-liter V8 producing 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. A 7.3-liter V8 was available, delivering 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine was the most powerful, rated at 475 hp and a staggering 1,050 pound-feet of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD), the Super Duty could be upgraded to four-wheel drive (4WD). The F-350 model could be ordered in a dual-rear-wheel configuration for enhanced towing capacity. Maximum payload capacity reached up to 4,060 pounds in some configurations, and towing could exceed 36,000 pounds with a gooseneck setup. The turbodiesel V8 offered the best capabilities among the Super Duty drivetrains. Off-road capabilities were also impressive, especially with the Super Duty Tremor models, which featured factory lift kits, beefy tires, and muscular styling.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered four engine options and two transmissions, with both RWD and 4WD configurations. The standard 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine was enhanced to produce 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, a 20-plus-percent increase in torque from the previous year. The eight-speed automatic transmission had revised gear ratios for smoother shifts, and the engine updates increased the base engine’s maximum trailering rating to 9,600 pounds for 2WD models and 9,300 pounds for 4WD ones.

The 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six engine also saw improvements, with a class-leading 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Certain turbo-diesel Sierra 2WD models with the Max Trailering Package were rated up to 13,200 pounds, a 4,000-pound increase from the previous year. 4WD models were rated at 13,000 pounds, best-in-class for light-duty diesel trucks. Other engine options included a 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, and a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The six-cylinder diesel and V8 engines came with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

On the road, the Sierra Denali Ultimate 4WD offered a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride, despite its size and weight. The Sierra AT4X impressed with its on-road manners, almost matching the Denali Ultimate in smoothness and luxury, even with its off-road-focused features. Off-road testing in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park showcased the AT4X’s capabilities, with its Multimatic DSSV dampers, unique springs, and class-exclusive front and rear e-locking differentials.

Despite its focus on hardcore utility, the 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered plenty of creature comforts. The front seats came in a 40/20/40 folding bench setup as standard, providing a comfortable armrest with cupholders for the driver and front passenger. Crew Cab and Super Cab models offered generous rear seats with easy access through the trucks' huge doors.

However, the Super Duty trucks were more at home on job sites than on tight city streets. Their size made parking, maneuvering, and visibility challenging, and the large doors and tall ride height could make entering and exiting difficult. From behind the steering wheel, the F-250's flat hood and towing height could make it feel like driving a bulldozer. Loading child seats and entering the truck could also be challenging, despite the running boards. The tailgate design, which could be optioned with steps and a handle, provided easy entry into the bed, though it wasn't as elaborate as the tailgate functions on the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered impressive roominess and utility, with even its short bed providing best-in-class cargo capacity. The interior was a sanctuary, with front headroom around 43 inches and rear headroom averaging about 40 inches. Front-seat legroom was 44.5 inches, while double-cab rear-seat passengers had 35.2 inches of legroom, and crew cab passengers enjoyed 43.4 inches.

The Sierra's cabin featured numerous storage compartments, though the new dash design resulted in smaller gloveboxes. The lower compartment could only fit the owner’s manual and related papers, while the upper compartment could accommodate two 16.9-ounce water bottles with some effort. Ergonomics were a bit perplexing, with the centerline of the driver-oriented cockpit positioned low, making the time spent moving eyes from the road to a screen or button longer. The cabin had an overwhelming number of knobs and buttons, contrasting with other automakers' trend towards larger screens and integrated digital touchpads.

The AT4X trim had off-road controls positioned in two different places, which could be confusing. However, the massaging seats were a welcome feature, though not intuitive to operate. Once activated, the seats provided a pleasant massage, breaking up the monotony of long drives.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty featured Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, known for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Menus were clearly labeled and required fewer taps to navigate, making the system less distracting to use daily. The base XL trim came with a non-touch display, but a larger touchscreen was available on other trims. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with higher trims offering upgraded audio systems.

The Super Duty trucks were available with various tech options, including a WiFi hotspot, upgraded heated and ventilated seats, and adjustable upfitter switches for accessories and other powered gear. A rapid heating unit was available for diesel-equipped trucks, quickly raising the cabin temperature before the engine warmed up enough to provide heat.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 came standard with larger display screens. The driver information display was a 12.3-inch digital cluster, and the infotainment system featured a 13.4-inch touchscreen with Google built-in. Compatible with Android and Apple devices, three years of complimentary service were included for Sierra AT4 and Denali trims. The Denali models had an interactive start-up screen showing the Denali materializing and disappearing over topographical maps.

The infotainment screen offered a clean and simple display with large, easy-to-read icons. The system was fast and responsive, but figuring out which map to use when a smartphone was connected could be confusing. The larger touchscreen allowed for personalization and dual modes, such as displaying both navigation and trailering details simultaneously. Wireless device charging was standard across the Sierra lineup, with available options including a 15-inch multicolor head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered a variety of safety features, though many advanced driver aids were available as added-cost upgrades or for higher trims. A trailer tow package included special camera views and Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature. Other available features included blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision alerts.

As commercial vehicles, Super Duty trucks were not crash-tested like light-duty trucks, such as the Ford F-150. Therefore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did not issue scores for these trucks.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced GM’s Super Cruise, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system. Super Cruise required the driver to be alert and able to retake control but was one of the best Level 2 systems available. It handled automatic lane changes and offered trailering capability. The Sierra had up to 14 camera views to assist with trailering, and a new GCW Alert feature signaled when the maximum weight was exceeded. Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert and updated adaptive cruise control were also available.

GMC Pro Safety, the automaker’s suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), included forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, a following distance indicator, and IntelliBeam automatic headlights. The 2022 GMC Sierra received mostly “Good” crash safety ratings from the IIHS but earned a “Marginal” grade in the front-passenger small overlap test and a “Poor” grade for headlights. The NHTSA awarded Sierra 2WD models four out of five stars for crashworthiness, while 4WD variants had not yet been rated.