2021 Toyota Tacoma vs 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma presented a classic truck aesthetic with boxy fender flares, a tall hood, and a shield-like grille. Its design was a stark contrast to the more streamlined Ford Ranger and General Motors midsize twins, avoiding the exaggerated features of larger trucks like the Toyota Tundra. Unique styling elements were available in certain models, such as the Trail Edition with 16-inch TRD Off-Road alloy wheels and the Nightshade Edition with blacked-out trim. The TRD Pro model stood out with its exclusive Lunar Rock color, blacked-out hood and fender flares, and Rigid Industries LED fog lights.

The Tacoma's body-on-frame construction, typical for pickups, benefited towing and off-road capability but compromised ride and handling. The interior mirrored the rugged exterior with chunky plastic elements, though material quality felt lacking at higher trims like the TRD Pro. Despite the optional leather upholstery, the TRD Pro's circa-$45,000 base price seemed steep given its focus on off-roading rather than luxury. The Tacoma offered Access Cab and Double Cab configurations, with the latter providing more passenger space but still falling short in terms of interior room compared to competitors.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD, redesigned for 2020, boasted a bold exterior with a tall hood, squared-off lines, and a massive grille, giving it a commanding presence. Inside, the Sierra HD's interior, while functional, lagged behind competitors in material quality, especially in top trims. The cabin, though spacious, wasn't as roomy as the Ram 1500 and Ford Super Duty. The Sierra 2500HD came in five trim levels, each with distinct features, and offered regular, extended, and crew cab body styles. The AT4 trim, focused on off-roading, featured black chrome accents, C-shaped LED lighting, and a high-clearance step, while the Denali trim catered to luxury truck buyers.

Our test of the AT4 trim revealed a rugged, handsome package with Jet Black and Kalahari upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a premium GMC infotainment system. The AT4's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like an automatic-locking rear differential, a two-speed transfer case, and twin-tube Rancho shocks. Despite its off-road prowess, the Sierra 2500HD's ride was jittery on uneven pavement, though it improved with added weight.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma offered two powertrain options: a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine producing 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine, available with both a six-speed automatic and a six-speed manual transmission, featured Toyota's D4S fuel-injection system for better fuel economy. The Tacoma's part-time 4WD drivetrain included a standard electronic rear limited-slip differential, with a fully locking rear diff available.

The TRD models built on the Tacoma's solid off-road foundation. The TRD Off-Road model included a locking rear differential, upgraded suspension with Bilstein shocks, Multi-Terrain Select drive modes, and Crawl Control. The TRD Pro added Fox internal-bypass shocks, a 1-inch front lift, retuned rear suspension, and Goodyear Wrangler Kevlar-reinforced all-terrain tires. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Tacoma's on-road performance was less impressive, with slow acceleration and poor ride quality. The maximum towing capacity was 6,800 pounds, and the maximum payload capacity was 1,685 pounds, though these figures varied depending on the configuration.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD featured two 6.6-liter V8 engines: a standard gas engine and an optional Duramax turbodiesel. The Duramax diesel, paired with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, produced 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque. Despite its power, the Sierra 2500HD's towing capacity of 18,500 pounds and payload capacity of 3,597 pounds were lower than some competitors. The Ford F-250 Super Duty and Ram 2500 offered higher maximum tow ratings with their respective diesel engines.

Our test truck, equipped with the Duramax diesel, demonstrated abundant power, requiring firm brake pressure to prevent unintended movement when shifting out of Park. The Sierra 2500HD felt quick for a three-ton truck, with smooth shifts from the Allison 10-speed transmission. However, the ride was jittery on uneven pavement, improving with added weight. The AT4 trim's off-road capabilities were impressive, handling hills and rough terrain with ease, though a slight vibration from the steering column was noted during off-road driving.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma's Double Cab configuration, while offering four doors, compromised interior space. Rear headroom and legroom were the worst in the segment, and front headroom and legroom were also below average. The tall hood impaired forward visibility, and the interior felt cramped. The rear seats folded up to reveal storage cubbies, but other in-cab storage was limited. The Tacoma's bed featured a standard rail system with tie-down cleats and an optional 120-volt outlet, but lacked clever storage solutions found in competitors.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD, with three cab configurations and two pickup bed lengths, offered abundant passenger space in both front and rear seats. Getting into the tall truck required effort, aided by the side assist step and assist handle. The interior featured a wide and deep center console, dual glove boxes, and hidden storage compartments in the rear outboard seats. The rear center seat had a fold-down armrest with integrated cupholders, and additional storage was available beneath the flip-and-fold back seat.

Our test vehicle included a 120-volt household-style power outlet at the base of the center stack and another outlet in the truck bed. The Sierra 2500HD's MultiPro tailgate, standard on SLE and above, offered six functions to improve loading and unloading. Combined with the rear power outlet, the tailgate could serve as a mobile office.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma's base SR trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen, while higher trims had an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was functional but unremarkable, with plain graphics and basic functions. The TRD Pro model included the optional Multi-Terrain Monitor surround-view camera system, useful for off-road and parking maneuvers.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered a range of infotainment systems with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on SLT and above, with a navigation system available on SLT and AT4 trims. The Sierra 2500HD included hitch guidance, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, and OnStar with connected services. Our test vehicle's Bose premium audio system provided rich sound, though the voice-recognition system had some quirks.

The Sierra's 15 available camera views, including the "transparent trailer" view, made trailer hookup and monitoring easier. The standard rear camera mirror provided a clear view behind, especially useful when the rear seats were occupied.

The 2021 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the passenger-side small overlap front test. Headlight ratings varied by trim, but the Tacoma earned a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. NHTSA gave the Tacoma a four-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side crash tests. Standard driver-assist features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered advanced safety and driver-assist features, including 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's mass provided safety benefits in collisions but posed risks to smaller vehicles and pedestrians, making the available safety systems and cameras essential.