2021 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2022 Ford Maverick

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 was a popular choice for those seeking a stylish and upscale truck, particularly with the Denali trim level. The Denali was often compared to a luxury vehicle, offering a sense of prestige. For those not interested in the Denali's chrome accents, other variants could still be optioned to reach similar price points. The Sierra AT4, priced at $66,695 MSRP, was the off-road-ready version, featuring a 2-inch suspension lift, off-road suspension, and unique design elements like red front recovery hooks. The AT4 CarbonPro Edition Package added a carbon fiber composite cargo bed and a MultiPro Audio System for the tailgate, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics.

The Sierra AT4's black-on-black color scheme looked sleek but was impractical for a truck designed to get dirty. Inside, the truck featured a sea of black plastic with some caramel seat trim and metallic accents. The rubber floor mats with snap-in carpeted inserts were practical for off-road adventures. However, the cabin's industrial-themed design felt outdated, and the truck's high price tag in Denali trim suggested it deserved a more luxurious interior.

The 2022 Ford Maverick, in contrast, had a more conventional pickup look, drawing design cues from larger Ford trucks like the F-150 and Ranger. However, its front end featured large headlights and a grille crossbar that set it apart. The Maverick was smaller than the Ford Ranger, measuring 199.7 inches in length and 68.7 inches in height. Unlike Ford's larger trucks, the Maverick used a unibody platform shared with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport SUVs.

The base Maverick XL came with 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims offered 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels. The Maverick First Edition package, available only for 2022, added black graphics, a soft tonneau cover, and unique wheels and paint colors. The interior design was heavy on plastic but featured multicolored elements and exposed fasteners, giving it character. The base XL had seats with a neat weave pattern, and higher trims offered leather upholstery. Ford's design team managed to make the Maverick's interior both affordable and stylish, proving that entry-level vehicles don't have to sacrifice aesthetics.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered an affordable Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder engine for $995, which was a bargain compared to Ford and Ram's diesel trucks. This engine produced 277 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and 460 pound-feet of torque at just 1,500 rpm, delivering maximum thrust quickly. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Duramax engine provided smooth gear changes and optimal torque distribution. The automatic four-wheel-drive system was user-friendly, allowing for easy switching between rear-wheel drive and 4WD modes.

During testing, the Sierra averaged 21.1 mpg, slightly below the EPA's rating of 24 mpg in combined driving. The AT4's suspension handled rough terrain confidently and provided a comfortable ride on highways. The truck's all-terrain tires performed well off-road, and the Sierra's towing capacity reached up to 9,300 pounds with the Duramax diesel engine. Our test truck, a crew cab 4WD short bed AT4, had a towing capacity of 8,800 pounds and a payload rating of 1,810 pounds.

The 2022 Ford Maverick came standard with a hybrid powertrain featuring a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This setup produced 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. An optional EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine offered 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid was available only with front-wheel drive, while the EcoBoost offered standard FWD or optional all-wheel drive.

The Maverick FX4 off-road package, available for AWD XLT and Lariat trims, included different suspension tuning, underbody protection, hill-descent control, and specific drive modes. During testing, the Maverick FX4 handled off-road conditions well but was better suited for light off-roading compared to traditional pickups. On pavement, the Maverick's unibody platform provided a smoother ride than body-on-frame trucks. The hybrid powertrain offered linear power delivery and a refined driving experience, while the EcoBoost provided more towing capability and spirited acceleration.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered spacious seating, with large, supportive front seats and a roomy rear bench capable of accommodating three adults comfortably. The test truck's leather seats were durable but lacked a luxurious feel. Both front seats had power adjustments, heating, and cooling functions, while the heated steering wheel was useful in cold weather. Rear passengers enjoyed heated seats, rear air conditioning vents, and a power sliding rear window.

The Sierra's CarbonPro Edition package added a carbon fiber composite cargo bed, saving 60 pounds of curb weight and improving durability. The bed held between 62.9 and 89.1 cubic feet of cargo, depending on length, and featured up to 12 cargo tie-downs. However, interior storage was less impressive compared to other full-size pickups, with smaller or narrower compartments. The rear seatback cubbies were a unique feature but lacked locks for secure storage.

The 2022 Ford Maverick, available only as a four-door crew cab, offered more legroom than the Toyota Tacoma and slightly more front legroom than the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Maverick excelled in interior storage, with numerous cubbies, a large storage bin, cupholders, and an open door-card design for large water bottles. The FITS (Ford Integrated Tether System) provided slots for various accessories, and Ford planned to release measurements for 3D-printed custom accessories.

The Maverick's 4.5-foot bed, though shorter than the Ranger's, offered 1,500 pounds of payload capacity. It featured an in-bed power outlet, tailgate tiedowns, and a multi-position tailgate for securing large items. The FlexBed system included tiedown cleats and indents for dividers or a false floor, allowing for versatile cargo management. The Maverick's towing capacity reached 4,000 pounds with the EcoBoost engine, while the hybrid towed up to 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 came equipped with various camera-based technologies, including a surround-view camera, trailer- and bed-view cameras, and a rear camera mirror. These features, part of the optional Technology Package, made maneuvering the truck easier. The package also included a 15-inch head-up display and an 8-inch driver information display.

The Sierra's infotainment system offered a choice between a 7-inch and an 8-inch touchscreen display. The test truck had the 8-inch screen, which featured large volume and tuning knobs, physical menu shortcut buttons, and excellent voice recognition technology. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. The Bose premium sound system was adequate but not as impressive as audio systems in some competitors.

The 2022 Ford Maverick featured the older Sync 3 infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though not wireless versions. An 8-inch touchscreen and a built-in WiFi hotspot were standard. The system's graphics and functions were basic, but the screen size was appropriate for the Maverick's price range. The interior included a large slot for phones, available wireless charging, and a stand-up slot for cable management. Hybrids also had a brake-coaching feature to optimize regenerative braking.

The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 offered optional safety features like forward collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and automatic emergency braking. The Denali trim included blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning, with lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a Safety Alert Seat available on other trims. Adaptive cruise control was optional for the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. The Sierra's crash-test ratings were mixed, with a four-star overall rating from NHTSA and "Marginal" ratings from IIHS for front passenger protection and LATCH anchor accessibility.

The 2022 Ford Maverick's crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Optional features included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane centering, and evasive steering assist.