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Newsweek has released its list of 2022 Autos Awards winners, and the magazine rated one pickup truck the best. We’ll give you a hint as to which one it is: it has an all-new design for 2022, you can order it in a seriously capable off-road version, or you can get it with a full luxury trim that rivals a Cadillac Escalade, and you can even order a stonking diesel engine. Of course, it’s the 2022 GMC Sierra, but why did Newsweek pick it for not just one, but two, awards?

Why is the GMC Sierra the best 2022 full-sized truck?

Newsweek said that the new design of the GMC Sierra 1500 didn’t just make it the best full-sized truck in 2022, but the Most Improved Vehicle, too, and cited its revisions.  The Sierra got a big update for 2022 that, frankly, the truck needed. It was nice, but 2021 interior looked plain and it was dominated by two giant gloveboxes and the screen in the center, while large, still seemed dwarfed by the size of the truck. But now, the new interior looks properly lux. It gets a giant 13.4-inch, horizontal, touchscreen that’s tilted toward the driver, and a much cleaner overall look.

Outside, the truck got a refreshed front and rear with more chrome and a bolder stance. Also, GMC added a funky “expressive lighting animation,” per GMC, that makes the truck seem like a happy puppy when you approach. Also, it got more tech, but more on that later.

Denali trims lose one thing that was old-school

2022 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate interior
2022 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate interior | GMC

On upper-level trims, the Sierra loses one feature that always made it feel old-school. You can now get a console-mounted shifter in place of the old-style column-mounted shifter. Six-passenger trucks get the column shifter, however. The new 2022 and 2023 GMC Sierra trucks also get the latest Super Cruise, which is GM’s hands-free driving tech. The technology lets you drive on thousands of miles of pre-mapped highways.

How much should I pay for a 2023 GMC Sierra?

The 2022 Sierra was named the best 2022 truck, as well as most improved, by Newsweek.
The 2022 GMC Sierra AT4X parked off-road, showing off Cayenne Red Tintcoat.

The new Sierra comes in eight trim levels, from the basic Pro work truck, which starts at $37,195 for a regular cab, to the Denali Ultimate that starts at $81,195 with a 3.0-liter diesel, or $83,695 with the mighty 6.2-liter gasoline V8. But, of course, outdoorsy types should check out the new AT4X trim, which starts at $78,295, but comes with a factory lift and special off-road shocks.

Most versions of the 2022 Sierra come with the new 2.7-liter turbocharged engine. It makes 310 horsepower, as well as 430 lb-ft of torque, which comes near to the diesel for thrust. But, you can also order a 5.3-liter V8, which makes 355 horsepower.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.