Is the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X a Good Pickup Truck? 4 Pros and 3 Cons

Americans love their pickup trucks, as evidenced by how many of them are rolling out of dealerships. The Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-Series and Ram pickups are the three top selling vehicles in the U.S., and the GMC Sierra isn’t far behind — so when the time comes for an update, it’s a pretty big deal.

Related: 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X Review: Beautifully Built for Things It Will Never Do

When GM last redesigned their full-size pickups for 2019, we were impressed with their increased capability, improved powertrains and driving dynamics. But the one key area that still needed work was their interiors, which lagged behind the quality of competing models from Ford and Ram. For 2022, an extensive freshening has largely remedied that, with tremendous improvements in the GMC Sierra 1500’s cabin. The changes  make it both more functional and a nicer place to be. Fit and finish are vastly improved, along with materials quality.

GMC made some other tweaks while they were at it, with updated styling, added tech features and a shuffling of trims. Overall, the results are impressive, making the Sierra 1500 a much more competitive option in a hotly contested market.

Not all is ideal however, as Cars.com’s Aaron Bragman recently found out after spending some extended seat time in an updated Sierra 1500 AT4X. Hit the link above to read his complete review; for a quicker look, read on for four things we like about the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X and three things we don’t.

Things We Like

1. Upscale Off-Roading

The new AT4X trim adds more luxury and tech features to the still-available AT4 off-road trim, offering added capability in a more posh environment. Most significant is a raised, adaptive suspension, with special springs, dampers and increased travel. Other distinctive goodies include class-exclusive locking differentials, 18-inch black wheels with more aggressive off-road tires, extensive use of blacked-out trim and LED foglights.

2. Stout Powertrain

The only powertrain choice with the ATX4 is a 420-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 engine matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission. That’s OK because it’s a good one. With 460 pounds-feet of torque, the big powerplant is quick to respond and has no trouble getting the ATX4 smoothly up to speed with a pleasing V-8 soundtrack. Towing capacity is 8,900 pounds.

3. Lap of Luxury

Off-road considerations aside, the biggest improvement with the 2022 freshening is in the cabin, which is a vast upgrade over the previous Sierra 1500. Lower trims have lost their low-rent look in favor of better plastics and added soft-touch materials, while upper trims are downright luxurious and ready to compete with the best in the category. There’s also more to distinguish the Sierra from its Chevy Silverado counterpart, including a different dashboard.

4. Updated Tech

A new reconfigurable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster lets drivers choose among several options and looks, and it’s augmented by a big 15-inch full-color head-up display that’s also configurable and quick to respond, with all kinds of information to choose from. There’s also a giant 13.4-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash that now runs the Google Built-In operating system.

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Things We Don’t Like

1. The Downside of Off-Road Prowess

Those 18-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac mud-terrain tires may be a good choice for the mucky stuff, but they aren’t as well suited for driving on pavement. The aggressive knobby tread pattern results in a fair bit of tire noise entering the cabin and a more squirrelly feel on dry pavement. Both issues are most noticeable at highway speeds.

2. Mixed Bag of Google

The new Google Built-In operating system adds some convenience, allowing users to transfer information and preferences between the vehicle and other devices. You can also use your phone to access and control various systems. But that also means that some functions (such as voice controls) that were embedded in the truck are now cloud-based, so they won’t work in areas without a cellular data signal.

3. It’ll Cost You

Our loaded 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X came to slightly less than $80,000, a not-insignificant chunk of change for most buyers. While that is expensive, its price is not out of line with competing pickups and is pretty much the new normal as buyers demand more luxury features and pickup trucks increasingly are used for primary transportation. But if you’re truly planning to venture off-road, you might think twice about doing so in an $80,000 truck.

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