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2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Refresh: Here’s What We Know & Expect

Update: it’s here! GM has just revealed the 2022 GMC Sierra refresh. Hit these links for complete info:

The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 refresh will debut on October 21st at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, when GM will address (arguably) criticisms of the fourth-generation full-size pickup truck that launched for the 2019 model year. Here’s what we expect from the Sierra refresh.

Model Line

The 2022 GMC Sierra is expected to continue being offered in the same lineup as for the first three years of availability. That means that the familiar trims – base, SLE, Elevation, SLT, AT4, and range-topping Denali are all expected to return for the refresh. However, the eponymously name Sierra base model, GMC’s entry-level work truck, will be renamed to Sierra Pro.

Additionally, the off-road-oriented Sierra AT4 is expected to add the new Sierra AT4X with even more capability. The difference between AT4 and AT4X could be similar to that between the 2022 Silverado ZR2 is to the Trail Boss.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Sierra refresh is expected to gain two new packages. The first is the Denali Black package, which will black out chrome elements on the range-topping model. The package has been confirmed for the Sierra’s SUV relative, the GMC Yukon Denali for the 2022 model year. Finally, the top-end Denali Ultimate package will make the Sierra “the most advanced and luxurious pickup in its class.”

Exterior

As for the exterior, the 2022 GMC Sierra refresh will feature new front ends for all models. In fact, we’ve already seen the updated front fascia for the Denali model. The changes will be comprised of new headlights with a more prominent C-shape, which has become GMC’s signature.

In addition, the grilles are likely to grow in size just slightly, while the front air curtain feature will receive a new treatment.

New wheels will also join the lineup, as will new colors.

Interior

The 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 Sierra Limited have been criticized for their dated and/or uninspired cabin. GM will address this via an all-new interior like the one refreshed 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500.

In fact, GMC will could end up offering three interiors on the 2022 Sierra refresh. The Pro model will feature the carry-over interior from the current model. Meanwhile, SLE, Elevation, SLT and AT4 models should get a revamped cabin like the one in the refreshed 2022 Silverado, which includes a new center stack with a large, horizontal infotainment screen and an all-new digital instrument cluster.

Interior of 2022 GMC Sierra Denali 1500

The range-topping Denali will most likely get an a standalone interior, much like GMC has done with the 2021 Yukon Denali, which features a unique cockpit compared to all the other Yukon trims.

Google Automotive will power the infotainment screen, and the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving assistance system has been confirmed for the Denali models. Much like the 2022 Silverado High Country, Super Cruise in the 2022 Sierra Denali will be capable of accommodating trailers.

Mechanical

Mechanically, we expect the 2022 GMC Sierra refresh to offer the same engine lineup of the refreshed 2022 Chevy Silverado. That means the 4.3L V6 LV3 and 5.3L V8 L82 naturally aspirated gasoline engines will be dropped.

Meanwhile, a new high output version of 2.7L I4 L3B turbocharged gasoline motor will become the standard base engine, bumping torque from 348 to 420 pound-feet. Power will stay the same at 310 horses. The 8-speed auto transmission that is paired with L3B will feature improvements. The remaining three engines will be mated to the 10-speed automatic.

Those remaining engines include the naturally-aspirated gasoline engines – the 5.3L V8 L84 (355 horses, 383 pound-feet of torque) and 6.2L V8 L87 (420 horses, 460 pound-feet of torque) will continue unchanged.

The 3.0L I6 LM2 turbo-diesel Duramax engine will also remain unchanged, making 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet. However, it will gain a higher maximum tow rating of around 13,000 pounds thanks to the ability to add the max trailering package to the baby Duramax engine, a new combination that was not previously available.

Additionally, the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 will switch over to GM’s Global B electrical architecture, enabling features like GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver assist system. It will also, very unfortunately, prevent third party tuning.

The 2022 GMC Sierra refresh follows the pre-refresh 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Limited and 2021 GMC Sierra 1500, arriving late as a result of complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The truck will enter production in the first quarter of the 2021 model year, with order books expected to open in December.

GMC told the world to “get ready to see all the ways Sierra is redefining what a pickup can be,” and GM Authority is anxiously awaiting to see the final product once it’s revealed. To that end, we’re being told by sources to expect at least one “surprise” during the reveal.

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Vince grew up in a GM family, likes manuals, and thinks this is the golden age of the automobile.

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Comments

  1. Give me the AT4X please!

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    1. I hope it’s real!

      Reply
      1. I hope it’s supercharged with the LT4.

        This would make sense in the grand scheme of GMs lineup. Just as Ford loads the raptor with the best of the best GM has to do the same too

        Reply
        1. Not likely… LT4 is not designed for pickup truck duty.

          Reply
          1. Explain the TRX and Raptor engines

            Reply
    2. The 5.3 is still standard with the 8 speed. The 10 speed is AVAILABLE. Y’all make it sound like the 2.7 is the only one available with the 8 speed. Why does gm authority not watch gm’s all female press release of the 2022 Silverado on YouTube?

      Reply
  2. I have a weird feeling we may see the curved OLED display from the Escalade show up on the denali ultimate…

    Reply
    1. Not gonna happen as far as I know. The spy photo in the article is the Denali stack, no matter the package.

      Reply
  3. I’m a GM guy but….the 5.3 that comes in 90% of there vehicles is class worst. Why haven’t they updated this engine yet? And they aren’t expecting new powertrains until 2025 which means this 355hp engine will be last place for years to come.

    Reply
    1. Class worse? How so? It actually punches above its weight class. It out accelerates most others (excluding 6.2 and 3.5 ecoboost) while getting better mpg and this is their mid tier motor. The top dog from Dodge (the 5.7) it out performs even down on power. So no, it isn’t anywhere near class worst. It is down on power on paper but in performance and real world it out performs most of the competition. If anymore is wanting for about 2 grand more you can get the 6.2 in many trims now. Might want to do your homework next time rather than a blanket statement from general numbers you see in a brochure…

      Reply
      1. I own this engine and it’s s a great engine. But it definitely doesn’t outperform the 5.0, 3.5 ford engines and it’s close with the 2.7. Toyotas new engine is better, Nissan’s 5.6 is better, sorry but the Ram 5.7 still has more power. The fact that you said Dodge about says it all. And the 6.2 is great but it requires Premium and at $1.60 per liter right now no thank-you.

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        1. I run 87 in my 6.2l and it will eat the trucks you mention. Upgraded air intake and exhaust and its 5.7 seconds 0-60

          Reply
        2. It definitely outperforms the 5.0… OP said it doesn’t outperform the 3.5.. not sure why you said the same.. no one knows how Toyotas new deal is gonna work in the real world, but it looks antiqued already.. Nissan might as well quit making trucks altogether.. OP also said that the 5.7 Fiat clunker has more power but still gets outperformed.. which is true.. stop reading brochures and get some real life experience Kiddo..

          Reply
  4. The time of the GMC ended after 2018, the design was excellent and classic, and its sales in the Gulf were wholesale because of the classic design and the emergence of the rear and front fenders. Now the design is bad and they enlarged its size. I do not know why every year they increase its size. This makes it heavy for rough places

    Reply
  5. GM can easily get almost 500 horsepower out of the naturally aspirated 6.2 engine in the Corvette, why can’t they bump the power from 420 to 475, or at least 450 and offer that in the Denali and the AT4-X? GM needs to step it up to remain competitive with other offerings out there.

    Reply
    1. Because at that power level the 6.2 can’t meet truck durability requirements. Towing trailers up Colorado mountain passes in 100 degree summer heat, is different than cruising around in a sports car.

      Reply
      1. Are they saying this truck can’t be tuned? Like tuning out the speed limiter and auto stop?

        Reply
        1. That’s exactly what that means. Corvettes (C8) already have this software. People tuning them have been running aftermarket stand alone ECMs.

          Reply
  6. please put the 3.0 Duramax in the AT4 X

    Reply
  7. Do we really think that the SLE is going to get the work truck interior? SLE is equivalent to Chevy’s LT and it is getting the uplevel interior.

    Do we think that there is a chance that there could be a SLT with the elevation appearance? It seems that the Elevation is quite popular despite being only available as a mid range model.

    Reply
    1. 2 for 2

      Reply
  8. That “surprise” reveal better be upgraded payloads. When I looked at a 2020 Sierra SLT it had less payload than my 2014 Acadia SLT, and less than 200 lbs extra GAWR on the rear axle.

    Reply
  9. Kindly explain the difference between the ’21 Silverado 1500 trailering package offered on the baby Duramax engine (rated at 9000 pounds) and the ’22 model rated at maximum tow rating of around 13,000 pounds. What does the Max Package have for an additional 4000 pounds?

    Reply
  10. Nothing in the 1500 class interests me until GM owns up to mechanical issues and durability of the 5.3 & 6.2L motors.

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    1. I’ve had 3 6.2L 1500s and zero issues

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    2. what mechanical and durability issues? Do you mean the handful of complaints you read about on a forum where 10 people make a big stink of an issue that 0.001% actually have in the millions produced? Or are you referring to the small window if supplier part issues that made it on the trucks? The 5.3 & 6.2 are more towards the top in terms of reliability. You see the issues Fiat has with the Ram and of course the constant strain of issues with the ecoboost you see on their forums (though they have improved) the GM engines are more towards the top, so many of them are in the hundreds of thousands of miles without major issues. So again, what exactly are you talking about not referencing a few forum posts or going back a decade to early versions of the motor?

      Reply
      1. I’ve had (4) 5.3’s and (2) 6.2’s. Two of the four 5.3’s used well over 1 quart of oil per 1,000 miles. One of the two 6.2’s scrubbed a cam lobe because the plastic tray that keeps the roller lifters aligned wore out. Beyond the engines, two of two 6L80’s needed rebuilds (1 at under 100k miles, 1 at over 100k), and one of one 8L90’s needed a rebuild at 100k. All meticulously maintained, best synthetic fluids, highway miles, no towing. The issues are real. If you keep the trucks long enough, you’ll find out (the hard way). Of everything I just described, warranty covered ONE item – and it wasn’t the 6.2 replacement.

        Reply
      2. You must run one of these gm forums because you constantly talk about them like you know how many people are saying they have issues.

        Reply
  11. Real metal, leather and wood everywhere will be needed to claim that “most luxurious truck” title, 15+ speakers, rear seat cooled and ventilated seats. Escalade levels of luxury.

    Reply
    1. The number of speakers is always such a weird competition… there is zero reason to have 15… I’ll take a good setup of components with nice amps and sub versus 15 mediocre to low end speakers..

      Reply
      1. The brands of speakers these trucks have are not mediocre lol. gm has Bose jeep has McIntosh others have B&W all these are high end audio

        Reply
  12. Been here a while but just joined so this is my first post… So GMC is going to give the 1500 Sierra a HD treatment it looks like, OK butch it up, that’s fine, but what’s with the Denali Ultimate?! I thought the Denali WAS the ultimate GMC! Plus it needs to be more than a grille and a few options, it truly needs to be ultimate! That and they can’t claim to be the ultimate luxury truck if it STILL doesn’t have a panoramic sunroof like Ford has….Just saying…

    Reply
    1. If you go on the Ford F150 forums you’ll find that a lot, I mean a lot of people have issues with the sunroofs, leaking, rattling, getting hung up, or just not working. A sunroof does not belong in a truck, especially one that is going to be used off road with all the bending stresses put upon the frame with losing all that structural integrity of the roof being removed. If you ever have a rollover, and that glass shatters there’s nothing between you and road.

      Reply
      1. No I get that, but I don’t believe anybody spending that kind of money is ever going to take it off road anyway. I see lot’s of Raptors running around that have obviously never been off road. Either that or they detail the heck out of them! My point is GM still isn’t offering panoramic sunroofs in vehicles it’s competition has for years.

        Reply
    2. The panoramic sunroof is a horrible idea. They leak, rattle, and make your interior hot as hell… the only people that want that gimmick have never had one before and probably have never had a regular sunroof either.. they’re trash..

      Reply
  13. Per usual there has been an early leak, there is already a video on YouTube showing the Denali Ultimate and AT4X. Exterior won’t really surprise anyone since it’s been leaked for awhile. (Both nice looking trucks IMO) Only surprise for me was the AT4X, it’s more casual and does not use a high clearance front bumper or hood bulge like the ZR2. The Denali and AT4X share the same dash but use different trims and materials. Interior is a huge step forward, lots of stitching in these trucks. For those wondering where the brown High Country interior went it can now be found on the Denali Ultimate. Interestingly it’s not used on the dash, just the tops of the seats and part of the door sides. Like many I wish the 5.3 and 6.2 had received a power bump, but overall it’s a nice update for an MCE.

    Reply
    1. Lol they have to penny pinch somehow I wonder if all gm executives wear penny loafers?

      Reply
  14. The new interior is enough to bring me back to GMC, but that front end is a downer! Too rounded. Everything else they make has that GMC Squared grill. (Acadia). Disappointing.

    Reply
  15. what does the word refreshed mean on the 2022 GMC serria Denali. Is it a 2021 model redone to look like a 2022, options , trim etc. I want a real 2022 not a 2021redone.

    Reply

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