2023 Toyota Tacoma 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 from the front. While its exterior design was widely appreciated, the interior had some shortcomings. The material quality, especially in the top trims, didn't match up to its competitors from Ram and Ford. Additionally, the cabin, though not cramped, wasn't as spacious as the Ram 1500 and Ford Super Duty.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma, a midsize truck, offered a more compact and assertive stance. Its upright grille and tall bed made it look substantial without appearing overly large. The Tacoma was available in various trim levels, including the base SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro, with multiple powertrain options and bed lengths. The TRD Pro trim, tested in bright Solar Octane paint, featured underbody skid pads, a TRD-tuned suspension, and a unique grille, making it a cool and capable off-road truck.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD boasted impressive figures with its 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque, a maximum payload capacity of 3,597 pounds, and a maximum trailering weight of 18,500 pounds. 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. However, it lagged behind the Ford F-250 Super Duty and Ram 2500 in towing capacity.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma, on the other hand, offered a standard 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 159 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, managed by a six-speed automatic transmission. Most buyers preferred the more powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produced 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. Despite the V6's power advantage, the Tacoma wasn't a quick truck and required significant throttle input to reach highway speeds. The TRD Pro trim, equipped with 4WD and a TRD-tuned suspension, handled off-road conditions well but had a tendency to wander on paved roads.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD offered three cab configurations, two pickup bed lengths, and available 4WD, making it a highly functional truck. It could seat up to six passengers, with abundant passenger space in both the front and rear seats. The truck's height required some effort to get in, but the side assist step and corner-step rear bumper made access easier. Inside, the Sierra 2500HD featured a wide and deep center console, dual glove boxes, hidden storage compartments, and a 120-volt household-style power outlet.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma provided plenty of configuration choices, including the access cab with clamshell-style doors and a six-foot-one-inch bed, and the double cab with a choice of bed lengths. The access cab's rear seats were tight and uncomfortable, while the double cab offered easier entry and better seat quality. The front seats had ample cubby space, but the steering wheel's limited extension made it challenging for tall drivers to get comfortable. The five-foot bed was large enough to carry gear for a four-day skiing trip.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD featured 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, with a navigation system available on higher trims. The truck came with hitch guidance, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, and OnStar. The Bose premium audio system provided rich sound, but the voice-recognition system had some quirks. The Sierra's 15 available camera views, including a "transparent trailer" view, were a competitive strength.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma, while not class-leading in technology, offered an intuitive interface with a 7-inch touchscreen in base SR trims and an 8-inch touchscreen in higher trims. All Tacomas came with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The interface was simple but outdated compared to newer Toyota models. The premium JBL audio system and two USB-A ports were available, but the Tacoma lacked some of the advanced tech features found in competing trucks.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD came with 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 GVWR, the Sierra 2500HD was not rated by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2023 Toyota Tacoma featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and automatic high beams. The TRD Pro trim also had blind-spot monitoring, rear- and side parking distance sensors, and a surround-view camera. However, the Tacoma lacked lane-keeping assist and rear automatic emergency braking. It received four out of five stars in NHTSA crash-test evaluations, missing top marks in frontal crash and rollover tests.