2023 Ford Maverick vs 2022 GMC Sierra 1500

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced the Denali Ultimate and AT4X variants, expanding on the premium Denali and AT4 trims. With eight trim levels, the Sierra appeared larger and more aggressive than its predecessor, thanks to an updated grille, front fascia, and headlight design. The Denali's grille featured a new "tri-linear" theme with thicker chrome inserts, while the Denali Ultimate had dark-colored "Vader bars." The AT4X and other trims had less showy but equally intimidating grille designs. New 22-inch wheels were available for Denali and Denali Ultimate, with other trims also receiving new wheel designs. The exterior design remained largely unchanged, offering various cab and bed options, a carbon fiber composite bed, and a six-function MultiPro tailgate. Three new premium paint options were also introduced.

Inside, the Sierra's cabin felt more spacious due to a redesign that emphasized long, straight lines. The AT4X trim, designed for off-road driving, featured premium leather, Vanta ash wood trim, and a microsuede headliner. The Denali Ultimate trim took luxury to the next level with full-grain leather, open-pore Paldao wood, and microsuede trim, along with embossed and laser-etched topographical maps of Mount Denali. Both trims elevated the Sierra's interior to new heights of luxury and functionality.

The 2023 Ford Maverick retained its familiar look, with a blocky front end and headlights that set it apart from other Ford trucks. The big news was the Tremor off-road package, which added blacked-out logos, headlights, and taillights, as well as a unique Avalanche Gray color. The Tremor package also included tow hooks in "Tremor Orange," updated fender vents, and a new grille with orange accents. The $1,495 Tremor Appearance Package added a Carbonized Gray roof and mirrors, black side graphics, and special 17-inch wheels with a Tremor Orange accent.

The base Maverick XL came with 17-inch Sparkle Silver-painted steel wheels, while the XLT trim had 17-inch Carbonized Gray aluminum wheels, and the Lariat trim featured 18-inch Bright aluminum wheels. The FX4 package for XLT and Lariat trims swapped these for 17-inch Ebony-painted aluminum wheels. Inside, the Maverick's crew cab featured a lot of hard plastic, but the Black Onyx seats with a heathered, salt-and-pepper look added a touch of style. The blue-tinted plastic on the door cards and center console contributed to a surprisingly highbrow look, despite the utilitarian feel of the materials.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered four engine options, two transmissions, and both RWD and 4WD configurations. The standard 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, a significant improvement over the previous model. The eight-speed automatic transmission was revised for smoother shifts, and the engine's updates increased its maximum trailering rating to 9,600 pounds for 2WD models and 9,300 pounds for 4WD models. The 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine, with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, had a tow rating of up to 13,200 pounds for 2WD models with the Max Trailering Package.

Other engine options included a 5.3-liter V8 with 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. The higher-output V8 was standard on the AT4X and Denali Ultimate trims, with the Duramax engine available as an option for the Denali Ultimate.

The Sierra Denali Ultimate 4WD offered a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride, despite its size and weight. The AT4X trim, designed for off-road driving, also provided a surprisingly smooth ride, thanks to its Multimatic DSSV dampers and unique springs. The AT4X's off-road capabilities were tested in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where it handled challenging terrain with ease, thanks to its front and rear e-locking differentials and underbody shields.

The 2023 Ford Maverick was hybrid-powered by default, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to deliver 191 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid powertrain came with a CVT and FWD. The 2.0-liter, 250-hp EcoBoost engine, available on our tester, came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and the option to upgrade to AWD for $2,200. AWD was standard on the Lariat trim and included with the off-road packages for XLT and Lariat trims.

The Tremor off-road package, available on XLT and Lariat trims, featured Ford's "Advanced 4WD" system, capable of sending most of the rear-axle torque to either wheel. The Tremor package also included Trail Control, special front and rear springs and shocks, steel skid plates, a heavy-duty transmission cooler, and a 1-inch lift for 9.4 inches of ground clearance. The FX4 Off-Road Package, available with the EcoBoost engine, offered a towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds with the 4K Tow Package, while the Tremor package reduced towing capacity to 2,000 pounds and payload to 1,200 pounds.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered impressive roominess and utility, with best-in-class cargo capacity even in its short bed. Front headroom was about 43 inches across the lineup, while rear headroom averaged 40 inches. Front-seat legroom was 44.5 inches, and rear-seat legroom was 35.2 inches in the double cab and 43.4 inches in the crew cab. The interior featured numerous storage compartments, though the gloveboxes were on the smaller side. The driver-oriented cockpit had a low centerline, with screens and controls positioned low, which could be distracting. The cabin had many knobs and buttons, which could be overwhelming. The AT4X trim had off-road controls in two different places, while the massaging seats, though not intuitive to operate, provided a welcome feature.

The 2023 Ford Maverick, with the Tremor package, was 1 inch longer than other Mavericks but maintained the same legroom. Gas engine models offered 42.8 inches of front legroom and 36.9 inches in the second row, while hybrid models had 35.9 inches of rear legroom. The Maverick was roomier than the Hyundai Santa Cruz, with similar headroom specs. The interior featured a lot of hard plastic, but the Black Onyx seats and blue-tinted plastic added a touch of style. The base six-way manual-adjust driver's seat and four-way passenger seat could be upgraded with the Luxury Package, which added heated seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and more.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 came with larger display screens, including a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen with Google built-in. The infotainment system was compatible with Android and Apple devices, and three years of complimentary service were included for AT4 and Denali trims. The Denali models featured an interactive start-up screen with topographical maps. The infotainment screen was fast and responsive, but the similarity between the in-car Google-based navigation and Google Maps from a smartphone could be confusing. The larger touchscreen allowed for personalization and dual modes, and wireless device charging was standard. Available options included a 15-inch multicolor head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system.

The 2023 Ford Maverick, as an entry-level truck, had basic tech features. The 8-inch infotainment touchscreen had unimpressive graphics but was adequate. Standard features included Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto. FordPass Connect offered a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with a subscription. The standard sound system had six speakers. The driver-information display was 4.2 inches, except for the Lariat trim, which had a 6.5-inch LED screen. The Lariat trim also added two rear USB ports, a power-sliding rear window, ambient lighting, and a push-button start. The Lariat trim's Luxury Package included an eight-speaker B&O sound system, a wireless charging pad, SiriusXM Radio, and Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 featured GM's Super Cruise, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system, standard on the Denali Ultimate trim. Super Cruise handled automatic lane changes and trailering capability. The Sierra had up to 14 camera views for trailering assistance and a new GCW Alert feature. GMC Pro Safety included forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, a following distance indicator, and IntelliBeam automatic headlights. The Sierra received mostly "Good" crash safety ratings from the IIHS but had a "Marginal" grade in the front-passenger small overlap test and a "Poor" grade for headlights. The NHTSA gave 2WD models four out of five stars for crashworthiness, while 4WD models were not yet rated.

The 2023 Ford Maverick came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot 360 suite, including automatic high beams, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera. Available safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and hill-descent control. The reverse camera was highly sensitive to cross traffic. The Maverick earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, losing points for rollover resistance and the passenger's side in the frontal crash test. The IIHS gave the Maverick a Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention and Advanced for vehicle-to-pedestrian in daytime but only a Basic rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian at night.