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| 83.50 | Cargo Bed (cu. ft.) | 78.5 |
| 464 | Torque (lb-ft) | 430 |
| 7 | Standard Screen (in) | 4.2 |
Historically, heavy-duty pickup shoppers had one primary goal: find the biggest, most powerful, and most capable truck and buy it. Considerations like comfort, styling, and luxury were either low on the list or not on it at all. Today’s buyers want more, but between the 2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD vs 2022 Ford F-350, which truck can provide it?
It’s true that these trucks deliver all the utility heavy-duty truck buyers expect, like tow ratings of over 30,000 pounds and more than enough torque to haul fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers effortlessly – but a new trend is emerging, and it’s all about high-end luxury and family-oriented cabin extras. Buyers today want more than just brawn.
The Sierra 3500 and the F-350 are two of the most popular heavy-duty pickups on the market. Both offer plenty of HD capability, but which truck delivers more extras, like infotainment, high-end cabin appointments, and space for family and cargo? Gone are the days of heavy-duty trucks with vinyl seats and hand-crank windows: nowadays, the beast is also a beauty. But which of these massive rigs shows off its elegant side better?
If you’re shopping for a heavy-duty truck, it’s a given that you need a pickup with substantial power and utility. Since both the GMC Sierra 3500 and the Ford F-350 deliver plenty of towing and hauling capability, the real comparison lies with what else these trucks have to offer. Who says you shouldn’t be surrounded by luxury even when you’re hauling around a heavy piece of equipment or a bed full of gravel?
The 2022 Sierra 3500 Denali stands out as a premium heavy-duty model because of GMC’s focus on upscale interior finishes, like real walnut or ash wood trim and perforated leather seating surfaces. Craftsmanship and attention to detail are evident everywhere in the upgraded cabin.
Ford offers similar interior appointments on its high-end F-350 Limited, but buyers need to come up with a lot more money to get them – roughly $20,000 more. Not only that, but the Limited doesn’t offer truly unique premium features, like the available console vault and outdoor bed-mounted Kicker audio system found on the GMC Sierra Denali.
At the highest trim levels, both trucks achieve parity of luxury thanks to common high-end features like heated and ventilated seats, navigation, and smartphone integration technology. Form-fitting bucket seats in the front and cushy bench seating in the rear still allow room for family-friendly cubbies, chargers, and cup holders. However, Ford’s complex lineup requires luxury-seeking buyers to push up to ultra-expensive trims to access premium features.
In a fairly equal playing field, then, which one should you choose? The biggest one, of course. The GMC Sierra 3500 captures the top spot for interior cabin space, with a cavernous – and class-leading – 43.03 inches of front headroom and 44.53 inches of front legroom. The F-350 gets by with 40.8 and 43.9 inches, respectively. Also, the simplified lineup means easily navigating to the premium Denali trim when you want the best-of-the-best.
Do you want to upgrade to a diesel engine and squeeze the most possible power out of your truck? Don’t visit a Ford dealer. It’s amazing that Ford doesn’t pair its diesel motor with an equally capable transmission. Heavy-duty truck buyers covet diesel power for its low-end torque power, but if you add Ford’s diesel motor, get ready to live with the same 10-speed transmission it mates to gas engines.
GMC’s Duramax diesel engine, capable of delivering up to 910 lb-ft of torque at a low 1600 rpm, is paired with a category first Allison 10-speed automatic transmission and a standard engine block heater. It’s a one-two punch of capability that’s unmatched by any other heavy-duty truck, giving the GMC Sierra 3500 a big leg up on the F-350.
What’s so great about the Allison transmission? It’s an electronically controlled shifter with a special tow/haul mode that holds each gear a little longer for better control and more cooling ability. Also, the transmission has an Auto Grade Braking feature that will automatically downshift when traveling the downside of steep grades, saving the brakes from excess wear and keeping occupants and payload safer.
The GMC Sierra 3500 also offers the category-leading Multi-Pro Tailgate. The six-function tailgate transforms from a basic gate to a stairway, long cargo stop, and even mobile desk. GMC was the first manufacturer to reimagine the tailgate, and as other manufacturers, like Ford, work to catch up, the company is already eyeballing the cargo bed.
Inside the Sierra 3500’s cargo bed, you’re just as likely to find an outdoor Bluetooth-enabled Kicker sound system and LED lighting as you are more conventional features. But if you are looking for a work-ready pickup, you will be more than satisfied by a high-strength steel bed, multiple cargo tie-downs with corners rated at 500-lbs, and the most cargo volume in its class – 69.6 cubic feet on the standard bed and 83.5 cubic feet on the long bed.
Ford’s F-350 pickup also offers a multi-function tailgate that adds an integrated tailgate step. Unfortunately, that’s it. It’s a two-function system that doesn’t provide the variety of uses found on GMC’s Multi-Pro system. Does it matter? We think it does, especially since buyers are shelling out upwards of $60,000 for fully-equipped heavy-duty pickups.
Considering it’s the 2022 model year, we’re expecting both trucks to feature next-generation technology, and they do. The Ford F-350 has a larger touchscreen, but to find it, you’ll have to travel up the trim lineup to the expensive Lariat model. Otherwise, the base XL has no touchscreen at all, and the XLT is only outfitted with an 8-inch version.
The GMC Sierra 3500 makes an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen on the center stack available on all trims (except the value-priced HD Pro work truck), even the entry-level SLE. It’s offered with SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and voice-activated technology. The SLT and higher trims can upgrade to a premium Bose audio system to optimize in-cabin entertainment.
The 2022 GMC Sierra 3500 boasts a class-leading 15 camera views within its complex and multi-faceted onboard camera and display network. Additionally, a huge 15-inch Head-Up display helps drivers stay on top of what’s happening with speed, navigation, and more without ever taking their eyes off the road. HD Surround Vision is a 360-degree camera view that comes in handy when parking or backing out of driveways or parking spaces.
GMC’s trailering technology leads the category in innovation. The available Transparent Trailer View - the only one of its kind - lets drivers virtually see past and through their trailers. Simply set the trailer profile, calibrate the view, and display the image on the infotainment touchscreen. Other views include Side Mirror View, Bed View, and more.
Ford offers similar trailering technology, but the absence of features like Transparent Trailer View has us wondering why its camera innovations are lagging behind those of manufacturers like GMC. Ford’s system includes four cameras, but it’s clear that it can’t offer the same 15 different views found on the GMC Sierra.
If pre-game tailgate parties are high on your list of fun weekend activities, GMC has a fun entertainment feature for you. Enter the MultiPro Audio System by Kicker, a 100-watt exterior audio system that’s built right into the MultiPro tailgate. It runs on auxiliary power, so the engine doesn’t have to be running for it to work. It’s also dirt and water-resistant, making it perfect for camping.
If the time has come to add a new heavy-duty pickup to your fleet, you’ll find the best selection and lowest prices at Rick Hendrick GMC. Visit our showroom today to test drive the beastly Sierra 3500. Once you find your perfect truck, let our finance experts uncover low, affordable loan and lease rates for your individual budget.
Buying a new truck requires focusing on specifications like towing capacity and available torque to ensure the one you buy is up to the task you need it to perform. Here at Rick Hendrick, our sales consultants are truck experts. They understand the complexities associated with choosing a properly-equipped pickup and can help you narrow down your choices.
Not only do we carry a large selection of new and used heavy-duty trucks, but we also offer on-site service and maintenance at our state-of-the-art service facility. You’ll keep your truck running factory new when you trust our factory-trained technicians to handle all your oil changes, tire rotations, and mechanical repairs.
On behalf of the entire Rick Hendrick team, we invite you to call, stop by, or shop on our website today. We’re standing by to provide world-class customer service and the best pricing and selection around. We can’t wait to help you!
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.