2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD vs 2023 Ford F-150

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD, redesigned for the 2020 model year, featured a bold exterior design with a tall hood, squared-off lines, and a massive grille. Its commanding presence, especially from the front, made it one of the better-looking heavy-duty trucks on the market. Inside, however, the Sierra HD's interior had its shortcomings. Material quality, particularly on the top trims, didn't match the standards of its competitors from Ram and Ford. The cabin, while not cramped, wasn't as spacious as that of the Ram 1500 and Ford Super Duty.

The 2023 Ford F-150 offered a familiar and appealing design, avoiding any unusual details that might turn customers off. Inside, the F-150 adopted a modular, Lego-like approach, emphasizing function over form. The test truck featured the available Ford Work Surface upgrade, which allowed the transmission shifter to fold and deploy a flat interior work surface on the center console. However, this made the shifter feel loose and flimsy. The cloth seats, though surprising at the as-tested price point, were appreciated for their agreeable surface temperature in both cold and hot weather.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD, equipped with a 6.6-liter V8 engine, offered 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque. Its maximum payload capacity was 3,597 pounds, and it could tow up to 18,500 pounds. Despite these impressive figures, it wasn't the most capable in its class. The Duramax diesel engine, paired with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, provided abundant power. However, the ride was jittery when unladen, improving with added weight. The AT4 trim, with its off-road equipment, handled off-road courses with ease, though a slight vibration from the steering column was noted.

The 2023 Ford F-150, with its optional twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, produced 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. It paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and an optional four-wheel-drive system. The F-150's maximum towing capacity was 14,000 pounds, and its maximum payload rating was 3,315 pounds. The ride, while better than the last standard-tuned Silverado, wasn't as composed as the Ram 1500. The F-150 felt structurally solid, with secure handling and stout brakes. The steering was unremarkable but not irritating, and the truck was unexpectedly quiet inside at freeway speeds.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD, with three cab configurations and two pickup bed lengths, was highly functional. It could seat up to six passengers, with abundant space in both the front and rear seats. The truck's height and the AT4 package's extra lift made entry a bit challenging, but the side assist step aided traction. Inside, the Sierra 2500HD offered plenty of storage, including a wide and deep center console, dual glove boxes, and hidden storage compartments in the rear outboard seats. The MultiPro tailgate, available on the base Pro trim and standard on SLE and above, provided six distinct functions to improve loading and unloading.

The 2023 Ford F-150, equipped with step rails, made climbing in and out easier. The XLT trim offered comfortable seats for five people, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and eight-way for the front passenger. Storage was abundant, with a large bin under the front center armrest, trays and cubbies on the center console and door panels, and dual glove compartments. The rear cushion could be flipped up or the seatback folded flat for added in-cab cargo room. The test truck's cargo bed had a factory-applied spray-in bedliner and the 2.0-kW Pro Power Onboard system, though climbing into the bed was challenging without the available tailgate step.

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. The Denali trim came with a navigation system, and it was available on SLT and AT4 trims. The Sierra 2500HD also featured hitch guidance, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, and OnStar with connected services. The 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 it easier to hook up a trailer and keep an eye on things behind.

The 2023 Ford F-150, with XLT trim, came with Ford's Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 12-inch touchscreen display, enhanced voice recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. Ford Pass Connect services provided access to a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The voice recognition system was excellent, and the standard stereo offered decent sound. The test truck also had remote engine starting, remote tailgate locking, an integrated trailer-brake controller, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The On Board Scales with Smart Hitch helped prevent overloading the bed and assisted with determining the tongue weight of a trailer.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD was available with advanced driving-assistance systems, 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 NHTSA nor the IIHS rated the crashworthiness of the 2022 GMC Sierra 2500HD.

The 2023 Ford F-150, equipped with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0, included automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and automatic reverse braking. The Assist part of the package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, evasive steering assist, intersection assist, and speed-sign recognition. The F-150 SuperCrew earned high marks from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, with a four-star rollover resistance rating.