2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty vs 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty took the blocky and muscular looks of the F-150 midsize pickup to the next level. Larger in every way, Super Duty models truly looked like heavy-duty trucks. This styling wasn't just for show, as Super Duty trucks carried many upgrades over their light-duty counterparts. Long bed lengths allowed for better cargo hauling, and the trucks' tall ride height gave them better ground clearance for climbing over tough terrain or navigating a messy job site. The trucks featured giant grilles, heavy-duty bumpers, and bodywork that could stand up to taking a beating on a daily basis.

Depending on the cab configuration, the Super Duty's cabin ranged 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 got simple cloth upholstery, but higher trims, such as the Super Duty Limited, could be decked out with leather and upscale finishes that rivaled the quality of many luxury cars.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD, redesigned for the 2020 model year, featured a bold exterior design with a tall hood, squared-off lines, and a massive grille. When viewed from the front, it had a commanding presence, and many considered it one of the better-looking heavy-duty trucks on the market. Inside, however, the Sierra HD's interior had its shortcomings. Material quality, especially on the top trims, wasn't up to the standards of its competitors from Ram and Ford. The Sierra Heavy Duty's cabin wasn't quite as spacious as that of the Ram 1500 and Ford Super Duty.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD was available in five trim levels, each with a distinct look and feel, and in regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab body styles. Two pickup bed lengths were available as well. The Pro trim was geared toward fleet operators and contractors, while the SLE and SLT added creature comforts for mainstream buyers. The AT4 was for off-road enthusiasts, and the Denali appealed to those wanting a proper luxury truck. The AT4 and Denali were offered exclusively in crew cab form. Our test truck, the off-road-focused AT4 trim, featured black chrome accents, C-shaped LED lighting, a hood air-induction system, red recovery hooks, 20-inch wheels with high gloss black accents, and the optional high-clearance step. Inside, it had Jet Black with Kalahari upholstery, heated and ventilated front perforated leather seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, premium front and rear floor liners with removable carpet inserts, a premium GMC infotainment system, a wireless charging pad, and Bose premium audio.

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, producing 430 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. The 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine was rated at 475 hp and 1,050 pound-feet of torque. All engines came paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Super Duty trucks came standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) but could be upgraded with four-wheel drive (4WD). The Ford F-350 could be ordered in a dual-rear-wheel configuration for better towing capacity. Maximum payload capacity specs extended to 4,060 pounds in some configurations, and towing could reach over 36,000 pounds for models with a gooseneck setup. The turbodiesel V8 engine offered the best capabilities of any Super Duty drivetrain. With options, the Super Duty could become a capable off-roader, with Tremor models featuring factory lift kits, beefy tires, and muscular styling.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD, with its 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque, had a maximum payload capacity of 3,597 pounds and a maximum trailering weight of 18,500 pounds. The Sierra 2500HD's 6.6-liter V8 engines—standard gas and optional turbodiesel—were strong performers. The excellent Allison 10-speed automatic transmission that came with the Duramax diesel made it an extremely capable truck, though not the most capable. The Ford F-250 Super Duty's maximum tow rating was 22,800 pounds with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8, while the Ram 2500 heavy-duty truck could tow 20,000 pounds with the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-six. Our test truck had the optional Duramax diesel/Allison automatic transmission powertrain combination, which provided abundant power. The Sierra 2500HD felt quick unladen, and shifts from the Allison 10-speed were silky smooth. The ride improved as weight was added, either in the pickup bed or with a trailer. The AT4 trim handled off-road courses with ease, thanks to its equipment, including an automatic-locking rear differential, a two-speed transfer case, a traction-select system with off-road and tow/haul modes, heavy-duty air cleaner, the X31 off-road suspension with twin-tube Rancho shocks, skid plates, all-terrain tires, trailering package, and a trailer brake controller.

Despite being built with a 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 much more at home on job sites than cruising tight city streets. Their size made parking, maneuvering, and visibility difficult, while their large doors and tall ride height made entering and exiting a challenge. 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 be difficult, despite the running boards. The trucks also offered a clever tailgate design that could be optioned with steps and a handle for easy entry into the bed.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD, with three cab configurations, two pickup bed lengths, available 4WD, and several convenience features, was highly functional. Most versions seated five, but it could accommodate up to six passengers with a front-row bench seat. Passenger space in both the front and rear seats was abundant, with plenty of headroom, legroom, knee room, and hip room. Getting into the Sierra 2500HD required some effort, especially with the extra lift from the AT4 package. The best approach was to use the flat side step and assist handle. The side assist step, coated with a rough texture, aided traction, especially in the rain. The corner-step rear bumper made accessing items in the deep cargo box or the 12 fixed cargo tie-downs easy. Inside, the wide and deep center console offered plenty of room for an iPad or small laptop. There were dual glove boxes on the front passenger side, and the rear outboard seats had hidden storage compartments. The rear center seat position had a fold-down armrest with integrated cupholders, and beneath the flip-and-fold back seat was more storage. The test vehicle had a 120-volt household-style power outlet at the base of the center stack and another outlet at the back of the truck's bed. The tailgate, available on the base Pro trim and standard on SLE and above, offered six distinct functions to improve loading, unloading, and accessing the cargo box.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty featured Ford's Sync 3, one of the most intuitive and easy-to-use infotainment systems on the market. Menus were clearly labeled and did not require several taps to navigate, making the system less distracting to use daily. The base XL trim got a non-touch display as standard, but a larger touchscreen was available on other trim levels. The system ran Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and higher trims got upgraded audio systems. The trucks were available with various tech options, including a WiFi hotspot, upgraded heated and ventilated seats, adjustable upfitter switches for accessories and other powered gear, and a rapid heating unit for diesel-equipped trucks.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered a range of infotainment systems, with either a 7-inch or 8-inch color touchscreen, depending on the trim level. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on SLT and above (available on SLE but not the base Pro trim). A navigation system was standard on the Denali and available on SLT and AT4 trims. The Sierra 2500HD came standard with hitch guidance for hooking up trailers and Bluetooth for connecting various wireless devices. SLE and above included SiriusXM satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, and OnStar with connected services. Our test vehicle's Bose premium audio system filled the 2500HD's huge cabin with rich sound. The voice-recognition system, however, delivered some odd results. One competitive strength for the Sierra was its 15 available camera views, making it easier to hook up a trailer and keep an eye on things behind while underway. The "transparent trailer" view appeared to make the trailer invisible, and the standard rear camera mirror provided a clear picture of what's behind, especially when visibility was compromised.

The 2021 Ford F-250 Super Duty offered a variety of safety features, though many were available as added-cost upgrades or for higher trims. A trailer tow package brought special camera views and Ford's Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature. Blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision alerts, and more were available. Super Duty trucks were considered commercial vehicles and were not crash-tested in the same way as light-duty trucks, so the NHTSA and IIHS had not issued scores for them.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD was available with driving-assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, following distance indicator, hill-descent control, and front and rear park assist. Standard items included HD Surround Vision, a rear-seat reminder system, driver Safety Alert Seat, and a Teen Driver system. The Sierra 2500HD's mass made it both safe and unsafe, as its extra weight could cause severe damage to smaller vehicles and pedestrians. The numerous camera views were essential for safety. Due to its high GVWR, neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had rated the crashworthiness of the 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD.