Which Luxury Truck Wins? GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate Vs Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum
Newly released, the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate is one of the highest luxury pickup trucks available. The light-duty pickup truck offers all the aspects of the Sierra 1500 wrapped up in a luxurious design. Although many considered the Denali trim to be a top luxury trim, GMC went even further with the Denali Ultimate. One pickup truck that stands to contest the Sierra 1500 is the Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum. Riding on an electric platform, the EV pickup truck offers high performance and capability. The Platinum trim also stretches into the luxury sphere with a premium design and convenience features. Although GMC has started offering its own EVs like with GMC Hummer EV, we thought we’d consider the Sierra 1500 and F-150 Lightning and see which fares better in terms of performance and features.
GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate
The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate comes equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 engine that’s capable of 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. There’s also a 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel engine that delivers 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines pair with a 10-speed automatic transmission that provides the Sierra 1500 with smooth and responsive performance. The truck’s steering is also responsive and its braking system offers good control. On top of the performance, the truck features impressive towing ability as owners can make use of up to 9,000 pounds of towing capacity.
Looking at the luxury aspects of the Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate, the light-duty pickup truck arrives with a bold new fascia design alongside a Denali chrome grille. The light-duty pickup rides on 22-inch aluminum wheels and features Vader chrome badging. There are also power assist steps and dual-projector LED headlamps. Inside the Sierra 1500 is a spacious interior cabin with perforated forge leather and open-pore Paldao wood upholstery. Patterned aluminum trim and chrome accents decorate the interior and owners can take advantage of a 13.4-inch diagonal infotainment screen. Also, there’s a 15-inch head-up display and a 12-inch-speaker audio system.
Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum comes equipped with a dual-motor setup that delivers 580 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque. Although the truck’s electric powertrain offers more power than the Sierra 1500, at the end of the day it’s still an electric powertrain. Despite this hangup, the electric pickup truck offers smooth acceleration and has a 0-60 mph time of four seconds. The F-150 Lightning sees a full charge in 8 hours when using an extended-range charger. The truck also features an onboard generator which can be used to charge appliances or vehicles. For towing capability, the F-150 Lightning offers less than the Sierra managing a max of 7,700 pounds of towing capacity.
For its aesthetic, the 2022 Lightning Platinum features a unique front grille which is due to the lack of an engine. It utilizes daytime LED lights for headlights and rides on 22-inch wheels that complement its aerodynamic look. Admittedly, the F-150 Lightning is not as impressive a luxury truck on the outside as the Sierra 1500. Inside, however, the Platinum offers real wood trim accents along with a black leather-wrapped steering wheel. There’s also a large panoramic sunroof. Some materials are plastic but the electric pickup truck does feature a bigger 15.5-inch infotainment screen. There’s also a 12-inch digital display screen and an 18-speaker audio system.
Verdict
The 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate and 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum are two luxury pickup trucks with a lot to offer. Although one uses a combustion engine and the other a dual-motor, they share some similarities. They also have many differences. After drawing comparisons, when it comes down to it, the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate takes the edge. For one it starts at an MSRP of $81,900 (plus destination fee) which is cheaper than the F-150 Lightning Platinum’s MSRP of $90,874 (plus destination fee). Additionally, the Sierra 1500 offers more in terms of luxury for less. Although the F-150 Lightning offers more in terms of performance, its electric battery may prove troublesome when taking longer trips. On the other hand, the Sierra 1500 still offers impressive capability and versatility without the worry of an electric battery.
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Photo Credit: Ford/GMC