GMC is unveiling the new 2022 Sierra, calling it the most advanced and luxurious Sierra ever. GMC says the new Sierra Denali Ultimate trim offers a new level of premium craftsmanship as the most luxuriously appointed Denali model ever. The lineup also welcomes the first-ever AT4X off-road trim designed for refined off-road performance. New available technology includes trailering-capable Super Cruise, Google built-in and a 13.4-inch-diagonal touchscreen.
“Sierra’s momentum continues to accelerate, as the fastest growing model in the segment,” said Duncan Aldred, global vice president of GMC and Buick. “With the 2022 Sierra, GMC is offering customers more advanced technologies, upscale appointments and increased capability across the Sierra lineup including the all-new Sierra Denali Ultimate and AT4X.”
New 2022 Sierra
The 2022 Sierra, equipped with an enhanced, standard, 2.7L Turbo High-Output engine, offers greater refinement, performance and enhanced trailering capability. GMC also tweaked the exterior to give it a bolder, wider look. The all-new interiors are designed using more premium materials and enhanced technology integration.
On the refreshed exterior you find a new grille and new dual-projected LED headlamps and a tweaked C-shaped daytime running lights. There is also new lighting animation upon approach, starting or walking away from the vehicle. The SLT and Denali get new wheel designs. Three new colors (extra cost) are also joining the lineup: Titanium Rush Metallic, Dynamic Blue Metallic and Desert Sand Metallic.
Inside, GMC designers created new interiors on SLE, Elevation and SLT trims, as well as unique premium interior designs for AT4, AT4X, Denali and Denali Ultimate trims. There are also new color and stitching designs throughout, with more premium materials throughout the cabin, further elevating the Sierra’s premium look and feel. The cabin also features a cockpit oriented instrument panel and a new more functional center console with an electronic precision shift on models with front bucket seats.
A new, available Elevation Premium Package that includes a Jet Black leather-appointed interior with bucket seats, rear seat with storage, Sierra Safety Plus Package, spray-on bedliner and more.
While a lot is new, GMC says some things haven't changed. The Sierra still offers the available, industry-first six-function MultiPro tailgate and the available CarbonPro carbon fiber composite bed, which GMC says provides more short-bed cargo bed volume — 63.9 cubic feet — than any other competitor.
Sierra Denali Ultimate
The first-ever Sierra Denali Ultimate trim offers exclusive design and premium materials, along with technologies that include first-in-class trailering-capable Super Cruise driver-assistance technology and a standard 420-horsepower, 6.2L V-8 engine. It's also equipped with the segment-exclusive CarbonPro composite cargo box, offering best-in-class short-bed cargo volume.
A unique grille in exclusive Vader chrome gives its Denali Ultimate status away, along with exclusive 22-inch wheels, finished in Low Gloss Black with machined accents. The exterior also features a Vader chrome GMC logo and unique front fender trim featuring Mount Denali. GMC’s six-way MultiPro tailgate, the Denali Premium Suspension with segment-exclusive Adaptive Ride Control, and power assist steps are standard.
The Denali Ultimate’s Alpine Umber interior builds on the already luxurious Denali cabin, with full-grain leather appointments and open-pore Paldao wood trim. The wood’s darkened finish creates a distinctive color blend, while the unique graining adds bespoke attention to detail. It also features 16-way power adjustable and massaging front seats, a12-speaker Bose Premium sound system and a standard 15-inch diagonal multicolor Head-Up Display.
There's more, too:
- Leather-trimmed instrument panel
- Full-grain leather-wrapped door panels with etched stainless-steel speaker grilles
- Full-grain leather-wrapped console lid
- Full-grain leather front and rear seats with the Denali Ultimate badge on the front seatbacks
- Premium microsuede headliner, visors and A- and B-pillar trim along with leather-wrapped A- and B-pillar handles
- Standard Rear Camera Mirror, with full camera display
- Standard power sunroof
Embossed and laser-etched across the interior are a number of topographical maps of the summit of Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America. These maps can be found laser-etched on to the open-pore Paldao wood on the front passenger-side dashboard, in the full-grain leather on the front and back of the front seats, rear seat and door panels, as well as on the exterior fender vent badges.
The Sierra Denali Ultimate’s standard engine is GMC’s 420-hp, 6.2L V-8 and it is matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission featuring Electronic Precision Shift. Four-wheel drive, with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case, is standard.
Super Cruise
Super Cruise is standard on Sierra Denali Ultimate with a three-year subscription to enable the functionality and available on Sierra Denali. The hands-free driver-assistance technology can be used on more than 200,000 miles (320,000 km) of compatible roads in the U.S. and Canada.
Trailering-capable Super Cruise adds to Sierra’s class-leading roster of trailering assistance technologies, which also include up to 14 available camera views, including Transparent Trailer, GCW Alert, in-vehicle trailering app and more. The new GCW Alert will signal when the maximum weight the Sierra can safely carry is exceeded and signal when the vehicle may be overloaded.
The Sierra also offers additional safety and driver-assistance features with trailering in mind, including Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert, which accounts for the length of the trailer when changing lanes and enhancements to Adaptive Cruise Control to enable use while trailering.
GMC Pro Safety is standard and includes Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Following Distance Indicator and IntelliBeam automatic high beams.
Sierra AT4X
GMC says the all-new Sierra AT4X is part of the brand's efforts to break ground in the premium truck category. GMC says it delivers advanced off-road capability without compromising the on-road comfort, tech, towing, and payload capability expected from a premium pickup.
It rides on 18-inch black wheels with LT265/70R18 Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Mud-Terrain tires and features a standard 6.2L V8 engine mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
Other highlights include:
- Unique Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers
- Unique springs that, with the Multimatic dampers, increase maximum front and rear suspension travel by 50 mm and 25 mm, respectively, compared with the standard AT4 suspension
- Two-speed transfer case, with selectable modes for different off-road conditions — including Terrain Mode, which allows one-pedal rock crawling
- Front and rear e-locking differentials, a combination not offered by any other competitor in its class
- Specific off-road chassis and suspension calibrations
- Unique, larger steel transfer case shield
- Available rocker guard accessory
In the cabin, GMC says its luxury-focused Obsidian Rush interior balances capability with comfort and convenience. The cabin features premium leather, including full-grain leather-wrapped and technical grain leather accents, all highlighted with white piping and red stitching.
The interior also features authentic, dark Vanta ash wood trim, best-in-class 16-way power-adjustable and massaging front seats, a premium microsuede headliner, a 15-inch-diagonal Head-Up Display, power sliding rear window, power sunroof, a 12-speaker Bose® Premium Series audio system with Center Point technology and more.
AT4X’s payload capability is 1,420 pounds and its trailering rating is 8,900 pounds.
New Technology
The centerpiece of the 2022 Sierra’s redesigned interior (SLE trim and above) is an all-new and customizable 13.4-inch-diagonal horizontal touchscreen, along with a 12.3-inch-diagonal digital, configurable instrument cluster.
The Sierra also comes with Google built-in compatibility (standard on all trims except Pro), with three years of service included with AT4 and Denali trims. With it, many of a user’s favorite phone features are available in the vehicle through the infotainment system, including Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play. With Google Assistant, drivers can use their voice to get directions, play their favorite podcasts, control vehicle functions and more, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Google built-in is compatible with both Apple and Android devices, working with and complementing existing connectivity features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as available Amazon Alexa (standard on SLE trim and above).
Additional Sierra technologies include an available multicolor 15-inch-diagonal Head-Up Display.
2.7L Turbo and 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel Updates
The 2022 Sierra features a standard enhanced 2.7L Turbo High-Output engine. Highlights include:
- Torque estimated at 420 lb.-ft. (569 Nm) — a more than 20 percent increase over the current engine
- A new, more rigid cylinder block casting is complemented with a 30 percent-stiffer crankshaft, which enabled engineers to enhance smoothness, reduce noise and tune the engine for greater torque production, particularly in the usable low-mid rpm range
- Higher maximum trailering ratings of 9,600 pounds with 2WD models and 9,300 pounds with 4WD models are achieved with the new 2.7L Turbo
- Shift scheduling revisions with the 2.7L Turbo’s eight-speed automatic transmission enhance refinement and deliver quicker downshifts, for a greater feeling of power on demand.
GMC says improvements to the 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel along with chassis changes now allow inclusion of the max tow package, so the 3.0L Duramax, with 277 class-leading diesel horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque, now has a max tow rating of 13,200 pounds (Double Cab 2WD with 20-inch wheels and Max Trailering Package) — a 4,000-pound improvement over the 2021 Sierra. The Sierra also offers best-in-class light-duty diesel 4WD towing, at 13,000 pounds.
Other available powertrains are the 5.3L V-8 with Dynamic Fuel Management and the 6.2L V-8 with Dynamic Fuel Management. All V-8's and the 3.0L Duramax are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Availability and Pricing
The refreshed GMC Sierra arrives at dealerships in the first quarter of 2022. Customers can place reservations at www.gmc.com.
Base pricing for each trim will be available at reservation. MSRP, including destination charge, for Denali Ultimate is $80,395, AT4X is $74,995, Denali is $61,295, AT4 is $60,995, SLT is $50,895, Elevation is $45,495, SLE $43,895 and Sierra Pro is $32,495.
Full pricing will be announced closer to the start of production.
Photos Credit: GMC