2023 Chevrolet Colorado vs 2022 GMC Sierra 1500

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced the Denali Ultimate and AT4X variants, enhancing the already luxurious Denali and rugged AT4 trims. With eight available trims—Pro, SLE, Elevation, SLT, AT4, Denali, AT4X, and Denali Ultimate—the Sierra presented itself as a more imposing and aggressive vehicle compared to its Chevrolet Silverado counterpart. Though the Sierra’s dimensions remained unchanged, updates to the grille, front fascia, and headlight design made it appear wider and stronger. The new split-C headlights were seamlessly integrated within the grille, enhancing the truck’s broad look.

Distinctive grille designs set each trim apart. The Denali featured thicker, chunkier chrome inserts with a “tri-linear” pattern, creating a bold, toothy appearance. The Denali Ultimate replaced the chrome-heavy grille with exclusive dark-colored “Vader bars” inserts. SLT, AT4, and AT4X trims boasted intimidating grilles with chrome, black, and dark nickel accents. The Denali and Denali Ultimate also came with new 22-inch wheel designs—bright-polished chrome for the former and low-gloss black for the latter. The rest of the Sierra’s exterior design remained unchanged, offering standard, double, or crew cab configurations and various bed options, including a carbon fiber composite bed and six-function MultiPro tailgate. New premium paint options included Titanium Rush Metallic, Dynamic Blue Metallic, and Desert Sand Metallic.

Inside, the Sierra's most notable changes were evident. Despite unchanged dimensions, the redesigned cabin felt wider and more spacious. The new dashboard design featured long, straight lines, mirroring the truck’s exterior grille. Premium materials were available in specific trim packages, with the AT4X and Denali Ultimate boasting luxurious interiors with premium leather, open-pore wood, and microsuede trim. The Denali Ultimate also included topographical maps of Mount Denali, tastefully embossed and laser-etched within the woods and leather.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss, meanwhile, featured a factory suspension lift, box-flared fenders with charcoal gray trim, and a deeply sculpted hood. The Radiant Red Trail Boss sported a popular blacked-out look and an off-road-ready stance. The new Colorado’s styling was well-executed, maintaining visual balance and detailed elements without excess. Inside, the Colorado drew inspiration from the Camaro, with dashboard toggle switches and round outboard air vents adding a sporty touch.

However, the base Work Truck (WT) and Trail Boss trims suffered from a predominantly gray, cheap interior. The Trail Boss at least had a functional front skid plate, contrasting with the WT’s lack of one. Higher trims like the LT, Z71, and ZR2 offered more aesthetically pleasing cabins with body color paint and nicer materials.

The 2023 Colorado was available in both two-wheel drive (2WD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) configurations. Our Trail Boss trim featured several optional extras, including red paint, a spray-on bedliner, the Advanced Trailering Package, the Skid Plate Package, and the Trail Boss Convenience Package II, totaling an MSRP of $42,150, including the destination charge.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 offered a diverse range of powertrains, including four engine options and two transmission choices, with rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) configurations. The standard 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the 3.8-liter Duromax turbo-diesel inline-six received enhancements for the 2022 model year. The turbo-four produced 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, a significant 20%-plus increase in torque over the previous model. Its eight-speed automatic transmission was updated for smoother shifts, and a more rigid cylinder block and stiffer crankshaft reduced noise and improved torque. The base engine’s maximum trailering rating increased to 9,600 pounds for 2WD models and 9,300 pounds for 4WD models.

The diesel engine, with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, also saw an improved tow rating. Certain 2WD Sierra models with the Max Trailering Package were rated up to 13,200 pounds, while 4WD models were rated at 13,000 pounds, the best in class for light-duty diesel trucks.

The Sierra also offered two V8 engines: a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, and a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, both paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The high-output V8 was standard on the AT4X and Denali Ultimate trims, with the 3.0-liter Duramax available as an option for the Denali Ultimate.

The Sierra Denali Ultimate 4WD delivered a remarkably smooth and quiet ride, despite its substantial size and weight. The AT4X, designed for off-road driving, also exhibited smooth on-road manners, thanks to its advanced suspension and e-locking differentials. Off-road testing at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park showcased the AT4X’s capabilities, although the testing terrain did not fully challenge the truck’s potential.

In contrast, every 2023 Chevy Colorado came equipped with a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. Output varied by trim: WT and LT trims produced 237 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the Trail Boss and Z71 trims delivered 310 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. The ZR2 model matched the 310-horsepower rating but boasted 430 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard across the lineup, with WT and LT trims featuring a single-speed transfer case, while the Trail Boss, Z71, and ZR2 had a two-speed transfer case.

The Trail Boss and ZR2 benefited from suspension lifts (2-inch and 3-inch, respectively) and wider front tracks, with the ZR2 featuring exclusive Multimatic DSSV dampers for superior off-road performance. The Trail Boss and Z71 rode on all-terrain tires, while the ZR2 came with mud-terrain tires.

The Colorado Trail Boss offered several driving modes, including Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, Terrain, and Baja (exclusive to the ZR2). Hill descent control was standard on the Trail Boss trim.

In off-road conditions, the Trail Boss performed well, with minimal rear-wheel slip and impressive ground clearance of 9.5 inches. The truck remained remarkably quiet on pavement, with a robust suspension and thick tire sidewalls providing a smooth ride over various surfaces. The Trail Boss’s structural rigidity and comfortable steering effort made it easy to drive, with satisfying acceleration, though it didn’t feel as lively as some competitors.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 boasted best-in-class cargo capacity, even with its short bed. Front headroom measured about 43 inches across all cabin types, with a rear-seat headroom average of 40 inches. Front-seat legroom was a generous 44.5 inches across the board. Rear-seat passengers in the double cab had 35.2 inches of legroom, while crew cab occupants enjoyed 43.4 inches. The redesigned dash provided less glovebox space, though numerous storage compartments compensated for it.

The Sierra’s interior, while luxurious, had a low centerline for the cockpit, positioning screens, knobs, and buttons lower than expected, potentially distracting the driver. The AT4X’s off-road controls were split between the left of the steering wheel and the center console. Massaging seats were a welcome feature, though operating them wasn’t intuitive. Nevertheless, the seats provided a comfortable experience, especially on long drives.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss’s interior, designed for comfort, accommodated four passengers comfortably, though squeezing in a fifth wasn’t ideal for long trips. The standard cloth upholstery tended to attract pet hair. The Convenience Package II added an eight-way power driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support, enhancing comfort. However, the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The rear seat provided adequate space for six-footers, with good thigh support and rear air conditioning vents (except on the WT trim).

The Trail Boss’s air conditioning cooled the cabin quickly, even during hot weather. Soft-touch surfaces were limited, primarily to armrests and seats. Storage was somewhat sparse, with small door panel trays, a practical tray ahead of the shifter, and a deep but narrow storage compartment under the center armrest. The 41.9 cubic-foot cargo bed, equipped with the Convenience Package II, featured Chevy’s new StowFlex storage panel and the Mid-Position tailgate, supporting 500 pounds.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 featured larger display screens, with a 12.3-inch digital driver information cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google built-in. Compatible with Android and Apple devices, the system was standard on AT4 and Denali trims, offering three years of complimentary service. The Denali models included a special interactive start-up screen. The infotainment screen was clear and responsive, though navigating between car-based and phone-based navigation could be confusing.

The larger touchscreen allowed for personalized dual modes, such as displaying navigation and trailering details simultaneously. Wireless device charging was standard, with available upgrades including a 15-inch multicolor head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado boasted digital instrumentation and an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google Built-in across all trims. The Trail Boss had an 8-inch driver screen, with the ZR2 featuring a larger 11-inch screen. Despite the modest interior, the digital screens added refinement, integrating Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play for a seamless user experience. The system supported Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM, OnStar, Chevrolet connected services, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Wireless charging was available, and the Colorado ZR2 came with a seven-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system provided real-time off-roading data and enhanced trailer-towing technology, including high-definition cameras for easier hitching and a surround-view system with front and back underbody views for off-road driving.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 introduced GM’s Super Cruise, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system, on the Denali Ultimate trim. Super Cruise allowed hands-free driving while requiring the driver to remain alert. It handled automatic lane changes and trailering capabilities, integrating with Sierra’s existing 14 camera views for increased safety. The GCW Alert feature warned if the truck was overloaded, and Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert accounted for trailer length when changing lanes. Adaptive cruise control was updated for use while trailering.

GMC Pro Safety was the standard ADAS suite, including forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, a following distance indicator, and IntelliBeam automatic headlights. The Sierra received mostly “Good” crash safety ratings from IIHS but did receive “Marginal” and “Poor” grades for front-passenger small overlap and headlights, respectively. NHTSA rated the 2WD Sierra four stars out of five for crashworthiness, with 4WD models yet to be rated.

The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado offered an extensive list of standard and optional safety features. OnStar provided emergency calling and automatic crash notification. The Teen Driver system tracked how young drivers performed, and the Buckle to Drive function mandated seatbelt use before moving. Chevy Safety Assist included forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Optional ADAS included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with active steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian alert with automatic braking, and rear parking sensors.

However, the forward-collision warning system in our test Colorado Trail Boss produced too many false alerts, which only improved after adjusting the gap setting. This issue was not unique, as other owners reported similar problems.