Used 2022 GMC Sierra 2500

The Sierra HD is a range of pickup trucks from GMC that are bigger and more capable than the full-size Sierra 1500. The lineup consists of the 2500 and 3500 models, the latter being more capable and more expensive than the former. If you need to do serious towing for something like a big camper or a horse trailer, a Sierra HD is a great option.

A few things make the Sierra HD stand out from other tough competitors in this segment like the Ford Super Duty and the Ram Heavy Duty. There’s variety in its model range that includes an off-road-oriented AT4 model and the luxurious Denali trim. It’s also available with the MultiPro tailgate, which has six different functions, including load stops, steps, and even a desk.

Truck enthusiasts will appreciate the two excellent engines available. You have your choice of a 6.6-liter gas V8 or a 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8 in both the 2500 and 3500 models.

The GMC Sierra HD drives like a big truck since that’s precisely what it is. However, it’s shockingly tranquil for its size, and it never feels unwieldy. Overall, it drives like a smaller vehicle. Both engines make gobs of power and torque, but it never feels like it’s going to get away from you.

The tranquil ride continues, even when towing or hauling heavy loads. This is a truck that makes no fuss about towing, as long as it’s within the recommended parameters. When equipped with the available Duramax diesel V8, it never runs out of breath, even when climbing an onramp with a trailer behind you. With the gas V8, it’s a little more strained when working hard, but it gets the job done.

One unique feature of this truck that isn’t shared with its rivals from Ford and Ram is the independent front suspension. That translates to a more comfortable ride — especially on rough roads — without sacrificing capability.

The inside of the GMC Sierra is more upscale than the average truck. The design is functional and truck-like but has a premium feel, especially in the higher trims. It’s plenty roomy in the front seats, no matter which cab and box configuration you go with. The Double Cab models have useable back seats, but if you’re going to have back-seat passengers often, you will want a Crew Cab model. There are some clever options like rear seatback storage, under-seat storage, and a huge center console.

While the more expensive trims of the Sierra HD present themselves as luxury vehicles, the Ram HD can get a little nicer while staying in a similar price range. Make no mistake, the Sierra HD Denali is a premium truck, but the Ram HD Limited is arguably even more excellent. If you want a top-of-the-line luxury truck, you should cross-shop the Sierra HD with the upper trims of the Ram HD and the Ford Super Duty, along with the GMC’s corporate cousin, the Chevy Silverado HD.

The exterior styling of the GMC Sierra HD does a great job of projecting the brand’s ethos of being rugged yet premium. It has enough straight lines to give it the traditional profile of a truck, but it has some tasteful modern flair that makes it look more upscale than the typical truck.

The look of the Sierra HD can change quite a bit as you work your way up the model range. The Denali model has a flashy chrome grille and unique wheels. The AT4 model has more black exterior accents, red tow hooks, and a taller ride height. You can pick the Sierra that best suits your style and your budget.

A few excellent exterior features that come standard on every Sierra HD include trailering mirrors, a side bed step, and LED exterior lighting.

MULTIPRO TAILGATE
The available MultiPro tailgate has six functions, including load stops, a full-width step, and a work surface.

DENALI TRIM
The top Denali trim of the Sierra HD makes this truck more luxurious than you thought a heavy-duty pickup could get with features like open-pore wood trim, supple leather seats, and much more.

The standard features on the GMC Sierra HD base model are a little sparse since it’s a work truck. New for 2022, the base trim of the Sierra HD is called the Pro model. Some standard features on the Sierra HD Pro include the 6.6-liter gas V8 engine, air conditioning, a rubberized vinyl floor, trailering mirrors, 17-inch steel wheels, integrated bed steps, rear corner steps, LED headlights and taillights, and 12 cargo tie-downs.

The standard infotainment system on the Sierra HD is pretty advanced. It’s a 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a backup camera, and Bluetooth connectivity. You also get two standard USB ports.

There’s also a standard trailering package, which comes with a tow hitch and a hitch guidance system that incorporates the backup camera to make it easier to hook up a trailer by yourself.

There’s a lot of variety in the model range of the Sierra HD, with four distinct trims available above the base Pro trim. The SLE trim adds some extra features while still being pretty humble. SLE adds cruise control, a 4.2-inch color driver information center, a carpeted floor with rubberized vinyl floor mats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, body-color door handles, aluminum wheels, and power-adjustable mirrors. The SLE model is also where the highly functional MultiPro tailgate becomes standard.

There’s also an optional SLE Convenience Package, which adds dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable driver’s seat, tilt/telescoping steering column, heated steering wheel, heated front seats, LED fog lamps, LED cargo bed lighting, remote start, push-button start, and two USB ports in the second row.

There are two Driver Alert Packages available for the SLE, SLT, and AT4 models. The contents of both Driver Alert Packages are standard on the Denali trim. Driver Alert Package I includes front and rear parking sensors, lane-change alert, side blind-zone alert, and rear cross-traffic assist.

Upgrading to the Driver Alert Package II adds forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, and a following distance indicator.

The mid-range SLT trim of the Sierra HD adds some excellent premium features while keeping the pricing reasonable. Standard features on the SLT model include dual-zone automatic climate control, carpeted floor mats, an auto-dimming mirror, an SD card reader, an HD backup camera, power-adjustable front seats, memory driver’s seat and mirrors, a heated steering wheel, chrome door handles and mirror caps, LED fog lamps, LED daytime running lamps, all-terrain tires, and digital variable steering assist.

An available SLT Convenience Package adds front bucket seats with a center console, ventilated front seats, a rear sliding power window, a universal garage door opener, roof marker lamps, and heated rear seats in the Crew Cab model. On top of that, there’s an available SLT Premium Package that adds more luxurious features like more safety tech, chrome running boards, and a spray-on bed liner.

The AT4 trim is the most off-road-oriented model of the Sierra HD. It adds a rugged appearance package with some blacked-out exterior trim, unique wheels, red recovery hooks, off-road suspension, and taller ground clearance. The AT4 trim is available exclusively with a crew cab.

There’s an available AT4 Preferred Package that adds a bed view camera, an HD surround-vision camera, a universal garage door opener, a rear sliding power window, an upgraded 8-inch infotainment system with navigation, Bose premium audio, roof marker lamps, and a wireless charging pad.

On top of that, an available AT4 Premium Plus Package adds both Driver Alert Packages, a power sunroof, an AT4 high clearance step, and the Technology Package (a camera mirror and a color head-up display).

The Denali trim is the top luxury model in the Sierra HD model range. It has a classy appearance package that adds tasteful chrome and unique wheels. It also adds the upgraded 8-inch infotainment system with navigation, Bose premium audio, wireless charging, both Driver Alert Packages, a Safety Alert Seat, a bed view camera, and an HD surround-view camera.

There’s an available Denali Ultimate Package that adds the contents of the Technology Package and a power sunroof.

When it comes to HD pickup trucks like this, torque is the most important specification. The Sierra HD does well in this category. The standard engine is a 6.6-liter gas-powered V8 producing 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. It’s upgradable to a 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8, which has a significantly higher torque rating and maximum towing and payload capacities. It produces 445 hp and a whopping 910 lb-ft of torque.

The gas V8 can tow up to 18,500 pounds and has a maximum payload capacity of 3,863 pounds. The Duramax V8 with a dual-rear-wheel configuration can tow up to 36,000 pounds or haul up to 6,610 pounds in the bed. Those are impressive numbers, but its rivals from Ford and Ram have slightly higher max torque ratings and towing capacities.

The gas V8 comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and the Duramax is linked to an Allison 10-speed automatic.

There are no official fuel economy ratings for this truck because the EPA does not calculate fuel economy estimates for trucks in this class.

6.6-liter V8
401 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
464 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8
445 horsepower @ 2,800 rpm
910 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A