2023 Nissan Frontier vs 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD, redesigned for the 2020 model year, showcased a bold exterior with a tall hood, squared-off lines, and a massive grille, giving it a commanding presence. However, its interior, while functional, fell short in material quality compared to competitors like Ram and Ford. The Sierra HD's cabin, though not cramped, wasn't as spacious as its rivals.

The 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. The Pro trim was basic, while the SLE and SLT added more comforts. The AT4 was off-road-focused, and the Denali aimed at luxury. Our test drive of the AT4 trim revealed a rugged, handsome package with black chrome accents, C-shaped LED lighting, and premium interior features like heated and ventilated leather seats and a Bose audio system.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier was offered in four trim levels: S, SV, Pro-X, and Pro-4X. The exterior redesign, inspired by the 1986 Nissan Hardbody, and the new-for-2022 interior were well-received, leading to minimal changes for 2023. Updates included a Midnight Edition for the SV trim and Lava Red interior accents for the Pro-X and Pro-4X trims.

The Frontier's Pro grades featured heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, with a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat and a 60/40-split flip-up rear bench seat. The nine exterior color options included unique shades like “Baja Storm” tan and Tactical Green. The Frontier's interior was designed for comfort and functionality, with ample storage and a focus on reducing noise levels.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD boasted impressive figures with its 445 horsepower, 910 pound-feet of torque, 3,597 pounds of maximum payload capacity, and 18,500 pounds of maximum trailering weight. Despite these numbers, it was considered underpowered compared to its diesel-powered heavy-duty competitors. The Sierra 2500HD's 6.6-liter V8 engines, both gas and turbodiesel, were strong performers, especially when paired with the excellent Allison 10-speed automatic transmission.

Our test truck, equipped with the Duramax diesel/Allison automatic transmission, demonstrated abundant power. The engine's strength required firm braking when shifting out of Park to prevent unintended movement. The Sierra 2500HD felt quick unladen, but the ride was jittery over uneven pavement, improving with added weight. The AT4 trim excelled in off-roading, thanks to its equipment like the automatic-locking rear differential, X31 off-road suspension, and all-terrain tires.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier's 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 310 hp and 281 pound-feet of torque, was standard across the lineup. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, it provided adequate performance for in-town driving but required multiple downshifts for highway acceleration. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with a shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive system available.

The Frontier's towing capacity was up to 6,720 pounds, with a maximum payload of 1,610 pounds. The EPA rated its fuel economy at up to 20 mpg combined for RWD models and 19 mpg combined for 4WD models. The Pro-4X trim balanced off-road capability with on-road comfort, featuring a progressive suspension and noise reduction measures. Hydraulic steering, with an increased gear ratio, improved maneuverability at low speeds.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered three cab configurations, two pickup bed lengths, and available 4WD. It could seat up to six passengers, with abundant space in both the front and rear seats. The AT4 package added extra lift, making entry a bit challenging but manageable with the side assist step. The interior featured a wide and deep center console, dual glove boxes, and hidden storage compartments in the rear seats.

Convenience features included a 120-volt household-style power outlet, USB ports, and a wireless charging pad. The MultiPro tailgate, available on the base Pro trim and standard on SLE and above, offered six functions to improve loading and unloading. The tailgate could be lowered via a switch, remote key fob, or manually, and combined with the rear power outlet, it created an outdoor mobile office.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier was available in two cab configurations: Crew Cab and King Cab. The Crew Cab, standard on Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, offered four full-sized doors and a larger interior space, with a 5-foot bed by default. The King Cab, with two full-sized doors and two rear access doors, came with a 6-foot bed standard.

The Frontier's cargo bed volume was increased, with the 5-foot bed offering 40.1 cubic feet and the 6-foot bed 46.4 cubic feet. The hydraulically assisted tailgate opened slowly and could be closed with one hand. The Pro-4X trim featured skid plates for off-roading, while the interior offered Zero Gravity seats and ample storage, including under-seat storage in the second row.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered a range of infotainment systems with either a 7-inch or 8-inch color 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 came with 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 towing easier. The standard rear camera mirror provided a clear picture of what's behind, even with a full back seat.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier made wireless Apple CarPlay standard on Pro-X and Pro-4X trims, with a wired connection required for Android Auto users. The Pro trims also featured two USB-A and two USB-C ports, and a wireless charging pad. The two available 120-volt power outlets generated 400 watts when parked and 50 when in motion.

Infotainment was hosted through an 8-inch touchscreen for S and SV trims, while Pro-X and Pro-4X got a 9-inch touchscreen. A four-speaker audio system was standard on S and SV trims, with a six-speaker system on Pro-X and Pro-4X. Our tester had the available 10-speaker Fender premium sound system, which delivered impressive bass. The 7-inch digital gauge cluster was standard, with an off-road gauge cluster available on Pro-X and Pro-4X.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered a range of high-tech safety and driver-assistive 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.

Due to its high gross vehicle weight rating, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the crashworthiness of the 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD.

The 2023 Nissan Frontier came standard with forward-collision warning, trailer sway control, a driver-attention monitor, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and rear-door alert. Lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were available but not standard. Traffic-sign recognition and intelligent cruise control were standard on Pro-4X.

The NHTSA gave the 2023 Nissan Frontier a four-star overall safety rating. The Crew Cab-configured 4WD truck scored five stars on the side crash test but earned four stars on the Frontal Crash test and three on the Rollover test. The IIHS rated the 2022 model Superior for daytime front vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention, Advanced for nighttime front vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention, and Acceptable for seat belt reminders.