We’ve all seen the commercials pitting the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs 2022 Ford F-150. Pickup trucks are now apparently capable of pulling multiple times their weight, and then some. Do you want a truck that can pull the supports out from an overpass? Do you want a pickup that can tug-of-war with an 18-wheeler? How about a truck that can unearth a public sewer system with one good tug on the manhole cover?
Trucks like the Chevy Silverado and Ford F-150—the ancient rivals of the pickup truck world—always advertise strength. It’s no wonder why—after all, people do rely on these powerhouses for some serious work. And that’s not including the actual commercial-grade trucks that Chevrolet and Ford offer in generous supply.
But there’s no such thing as a vehicle that can do it all (although some try). Who wants a jack-of-all-trades vehicle when you could drive something with obvious standout appeal? The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 and the 2022 Ford F-150 are clear winners in many regards. Namely, they can both tow and haul cargo with the level of potency you’d expect of a commercial truck. But which has bragging rights outside of brute strength?
We know what you’re thinking—to truck enthusiasts, strength is all that matters. But nobody, not even the most rough-and-tumble truck driver, can claim they don’t need a little luxury here and there. So, which of these two trucks offers the kind of comfort, tech, sophistication, and style the other considers an afterthought—or falls short of altogether?
By the Numbers
Let’s get the arm wrestling out of the way because nobody can talk trucks without talking capacity. The figures speak for themselves. The 2022 Silverado 1500 delivers as much as 460 lb-ft of weight-hauling torque for a towing capacity of 13,300 lbs max. Check out the 6.2-L EcoTec3 V8 powertrain for maximum heft, alongside surprisingly agile road performance.
As for payload, ratings are unofficial as of this publication, but early estimates top out at 2280 lbs. Those tons of bricks you certainly intend to transport are no match here. You also get up to 89.1 cubic feet of storage in the long bed configuration, an industry leader. So maybe you can toss a few cinder blocks into the mix, too.
Meanwhile, the 2022 Ford F-150 tops out at 570 lb-ft of torque in the 3.5-L Turbo V6 Hybrid model. Choose the EcoBoost powertrain for a massive towing capacity of up to 14,000 lbs. The payload maximum tops out at a respectable 3,325 lbs. Although, this requires a pricey upgrade to the “Coyote” V8 powertrain.
Nobody can accuse either the new Silverado 1500 or F-150 of slacking off. These try-hard trucks want you to know what they’re capable of. Both Ford and Chevy throw around the terms “best in class” with the enthusiasm of a parent at a child beauty pageant.
But who stops to think about the luxury features that make driving a truck worthwhile? Won’t someone stop and think of the upholstery? It turns out both Ford and Chevy do (they just prefer not to admit that they’re suckers for comfort). Start with a look inside the 2022 Ford F-150.
A Sensitive Side
Ford’s classic pickup has some comfortable fittings once you step into the cabin. If you’re willing to upgrade from its bare-bones work truck base model, that is. After all, the standard XL trim brags about air conditioning as a special feature. You can’t expect much beyond some wind in your face.
However, you can choose to toss additional wads of cash at your F-150 to enjoy a few more handy features. With each rising trim, you get varying degrees of comfort and special functions. Take the dizzying, high-performance Raptor, for example, which offers higher horsepower ratings and off-road prowess in exchange for lower towing/payload. However, even as you pay to the high heavens for an F-150, it never gets quite luxurious enough.
Ford seems to be after a kind of home-office-on-wheels aesthetic, with its geometric lines and oversized, bland console. An available Interior Work Surface offers several square feet to set down a laptop and other white-collar work supplies. Plus, the optional 12-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen rivals handheld tablets with its enormous touch controls. However, these conveniences come with a price, and it’s worth repeating that the base model provides little to enjoy.
“But what about the onboard generator?” Well, that’s a lovely feature, and sure to power up the rare offroad woodworking session. Overall, you can’t shake the feeling that Ford put all their stock in workhorse power, with little else to enjoy. Let’s see how Chevy fared. Here’s a closer look at the 2022 Silverado 1500’s luxury offerings.
An Overdue Upgrade
Say it with us—it’s ok to care about how your truck feels. By that, we mean the Silverado 1500 has quite a cozy cabin. The cockpit offers the amplest head and legroom of the year. Plus, stylish, contrasting upholstery ranges from sleek to rustic—depending on your preferred color palette.
One of the biggest updates for the Silverado 1500s 2022 model year is its cabin, ported over from General Motors’ popular SUVs like the Tahoe. Now, Chevy’s most popular pickup is noticeably modernized, relaxing, and sleek. It’s a reinvented look for the new line of trucks, save the great-value work truck reserved for frugal functionality.
If you want a more comfortable, sophisticated cabin, the latest Silverado 1500 finally delivers—after years of lagging behind. Even the base work truck’s utilitarian, hardy vinyl upholstery has modern lines and refreshed colors. Standout features in higher trims include a brand-new, 12.3” digital gauge cluster behind the steering wheel. This lines up perfectly with the prominent infotainment screen in the center dash. Rearranged controls look sleeker than ever, while the electronic precision shifter mechanism feels powerful in your grip.
The crew cab feels incredibly spacious and is the perfect configuration should you opt for the elegant High Country edition, which features refined, open-pore wood accents and the finest leather upholstery yet from a Chevy truck. Storage cubbies, slots, and compartments are in full supply in every edition.
And yet, even with its beveled edges and cohesive wraparound motifs, the cabin still maintains its Silverado edge. Finally, Chevrolet has delivered on years of unmet demands and has imbued the Silverado with luxury options. What was once the spartan work truck of the auto world—even at higher trims—is now customizable to your whims.
The Verdict
The Ford F-150 has consistently offered a host of comfort and convenience tech features and has been a longtime favorite. However, the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 has undergone a makeover this year, and we can’t help but gawk at it. With no fewer than nine trims and a noticeably shapely cabin, the Silverado family finally offers more than no-fuss brawn. Plenty of fine tech and safety features come standard, too.
Sure, the F-150 has its fair share of pleasantries, but these are mostly locked to the luxury-priced Limited trim. Additionally, we can’t help but feel that the F-150’s aesthetics took a step backward for 2022. Meanwhile, the 2022 Silverado 1500 has made a tremendous leap, becoming one of our favorite glow-ups of the year.
