2023 Honda Ridgeline vs 2022 GMC Sierra 1500

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 presented an imposing and rugged exterior with its all-new Denali Ultimate and AT4X variants. Expanding on the premium Denali and the off-road-focused AT4 trims, the lineup offered eight distinct configurations: Pro, SLE, Elevation, SLT, AT4, Denali, AT4X, and Denali Ultimate. Compared to the Silverado’s mid-cycle update, the Sierra looked heftier and more aggressive, thanks to an updated grille, front fascia, and split-C headlights that seamlessly integrated into the grille design.

The Denali trim featured a new grille with thicker, chunkier chrome inserts following a "tri-linear" theme, which balanced a toothy glamour with a tough persona given its massive size. The Denali Ultimate traded its chrome-heavy grille for dark-colored, trim-exclusive “Vader bars” inserts, maintaining a similarly grandiose look. For the SLT, AT4, and AT4X trims, redesigned grilles paired chrome, black, and dark nickel accents, retaining an intimidating yet classy appearance.

New 22-inch wheels adorned Denali and Denali Ultimate trims, differing in color finishes. The Sierra's exterior design remained consistent in profile and rear, with options for standard, double, or crew cabs along with various box lengths based on cab type. Notably, it offered a carbon fiber composite bed, a six-function MultiPro tailgate, and three new premium paint options: Titanium Rush Metallic, Dynamic Blue Metallic, and Desert Sand Metallic.

Interior updates made the Sierra’s cabin feel more spacious despite unchanged dimensions. The redesigned dashboard adopted straighter lines, complementing the truck's exterior while new materials elevated the cabin’s luxury feel. The AT4X interior embraced off-road functionality with premium leather, contrast piping, stitching, Vanta ash wood trim inserts, and a microsuede headliner. The Denali Ultimate epitomized luxury with full-grain leather, open-pore Paldao wood, and well-integrated topographical embossments of Mount Denali in its woods and leather finishes.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline, following its styling update a couple of years prior, showcased a bolder front end, larger dual exhaust outlets, and more aggressive tread design on its wheels, creating a rugged look. Available in four trims—Sport, RTL, RTL-E, and Black Edition—each model featured a robust V6 engine, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and a torque-vectoring AWD system. Interestingly, the Ridgeline Black Edition could also be purchased in white or gray paint options.

Prices ranged from $38,800 to $49,866 depending on trim and additional features like accessory wheels and premium paint, making it pricier than some of its competitors like the Toyota Tacoma Limited. However, unlike traditional pickups, the Ridgeline was refined, sharing its platform with the Passport crossover SUV, resulting in sophisticated driving dynamics. Its interior mirrored the Passport, promoting quality and comfort, though the design dated back to the 2016 Pilot. It offered good outward visibility, practical storage solutions, and a modern, upscale feel with a sensible layout.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 came with multiple powertrain options including a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, a 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six, a 5.3-liter V8, and a 6.2-liter V8, along with eight-speed and ten-speed automatic transmission choices. The turbo-four delivered 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, an impressive upgrade from previous models. Its eight-speed automatic transmission was recalibrated for smoother shifts, and structural enhancements contributed to reduced noise and better torque delivery, allowing a maximum trailering rating of 9,600 pounds for 2WD models and 9,300 pounds for 4WD ones.

The turbo-diesel engine offered 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, achieving a class-leading tow rating of 13,200 pounds for 2WD models with the Max Trailering Package, and 13,000 pounds for 4WD models, making it best-in-class among light-duty diesel trucks. The 5.3-liter V8 produced 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, while the 6.2-liter V8 churned out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The ten-speed automatic was standard for the diesel and V8 engines, with the higher-output V8 standard on AT4X and Denali Ultimate trims.

Driving the Denali Ultimate 4WD was an experience in luxury, with a smooth, quiet, and compliant ride, despite its substantial size and 22-inch wheels. It handled surprisingly well for a truck weighing over 5,000 pounds. The AT4X trim excelled both on and off-road, boasting Multimatic DSSV dampers and class-exclusive e-locking differentials. Despite its off-road prowess, it maintained a commendable on-road performance.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline shared its 3.5-liter V6 engine with other Honda models, outputting 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and torque-vectoring AWD. Its unibody construction limited towing capacity to 5,000 pounds, falling short of traditional pickups but achieving a competitive 1,583-pound payload capacity.

On-road, the Ridgeline showcased refined driving dynamics akin to a high-end SUV. It offered quick, smooth acceleration, a quiet and comfortable ride, and nimble handling in urban environments. During a lengthy road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco, it averaged 22.6 mpg, close to its 24 mpg EPA highway rating, outperforming many midsize competitors in fuel efficiency. The Ridgeline’s unibody platform, independent suspension, and AWD system delivered exceptional ride quality and handling for light off-roading but lacked the robustness for serious four-wheeling.

The GMC Sierra 1500 excelled in spaciousness and utility. Even the short bed offered best-in-class cargo capacity, with front cab headroom at 43 inches and 44.5 inches of legroom. Double-cab models featured 35.2 inches of rear legroom, whereas crew cabs offered 43.4 inches. While the gloveboxes were somewhat limited in size, the cabin boasted numerous storage options, including hidden seat compartments.

Ergonomically, the Sierra's design was less intuitive, with low-placed driver-oriented screens and a plethora of knobs and buttons, which could be overwhelming and distracting. Conversely, the massaging seats, despite their complex controls, added a touch of luxury and comfort.

The Honda Ridgeline focused on daily-driving practicality with a functional interior similar to the Passport SUV, comfortable seating, and convenient storage options. The rear bench provided adequate space but wasn't as roomy as the Passport, featuring a high seating position and rear air vents. The rear seat cushion flipped up, offering additional load floor space, and various storage compartments enhanced the cabin's utility.

The Ridgeline’s standout feature was the dual-action tailgate and in-bed trunk. Its 64-inch cargo bed with a flat floor and 50-inch wide space at the wheel wells was complemented by a 7.3 cubic-foot lockable and weatherproof underfloor trunk with a drain plug. This space was ideal for transporting various items securely or using as a cooler.

Comparatively, the Sierra’s higher towing capacity and extensive cargo area suited demanding hauling needs, while the Ridgeline offered innovative storage solutions for everyday practicality.

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 provided advanced tech features with standard larger display screens— a 12.3-inch digital driver cluster and a 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Google integration. The interface supported Android and Apple devices, with three years of complimentary service for higher trims. The Denali’s startup screen incorporated an engaging visual of the Denali terrain.

Despite seamless system responsiveness, some users found map navigation slightly confusing with overlapping phone-connected maps. The larger touchscreen allowed dual-mode displays, and conveniences like wireless device charging, a 15-inch head-up display, and a 12-speaker Bose system added tech sophistication.

In comparison, the 2023 Honda Ridgeline’s infotainment system appeared dated. It came standard with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, basic HondaLink services, and an 8-inch touchscreen, but lacked modern graphics and responsive interface. Only higher trims like RTL-E and Black Edition included navigation, a premium sound system, bed speakers, and wireless charging, though the latter feature was inconsistent.

The user interface was straightforward but flawed in areas like manual radio tuning and navigation. Voice recognition and response times lagged, requiring detailed step-by-step command inputs. The infotainment system felt outdated, calling for an imminent overhaul.

GM’s Super Cruise was a significant addition to the 2022 GMC Sierra, offering a hands-free driving experience, though still requiring drivers to be alert. On San Diego’s Interstate 5, it performed intuitively, handling automatic lane changes and offering trailering capability. Standard safety features included forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, IntelliBeam headlights, adaptive cruise control, and trailering assistance features like GCW Alert and Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert.

The Sierra received mixed safety ratings, with “Good” marks from IIHS but “Marginal” in front-passenger small overlap tests, and “Poor” headlight grades. NHTSA rated 2WD models four stars for crashworthiness, with 4WD models unrated.

The 2023 Honda Ridgeline relied on aging driving aids. Standard Honda Sensing included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were limited to RTL trim and higher. The adaptive cruise sometimes struggled with braking and acceleration balance.

IIHS awarded the Ridgeline mostly favorable ratings, minus the headlights. NHTSA granted it top scores in crash tests and a four-star rollover rating.