Starting at
Starting at
13,300 | Max Towing (lbs) | 12,00 |
36 | Fuel Economy (mpg combined) | 20 |
6.2L V8 | Top Engine (type) | 3.5L V6 |
The 2022 model year pickup segment continues to become more competitive as each manufacturer attempts to one-up the others with new features, overhauls, and improvements. One of the most recognized names in the market is going head-to-head with a truck from one of the most popular automakers in the industry. The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs 2022 Toyota Tundra is a competitive match-up that highlights the recent improvements both brands have undertaken to elevate their full-size pickup trucks.
Both trucks are available in multiple trim formats. The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 comes in eight different trims, starting with the entry-level WT trim, followed by the Custom, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, and the LTZ. The Silverado 1500 diverges from the typical format for the 2022 model year, with the ZR2 trim, a first for the light-duty pickup, offering intense off-road capabilities. Finally, at the top of the trim lineup is the High Country, giving Silverado 1500 owners lots of luxury and comfort features to indulge in. The 2022 Toyota Tundra, meanwhile, offers truck enthusiasts five different trims, including the base SR5, followed by the Limited and the Platinum. A special 1794 Edition luxury edition pays homage to Texas, while the TRD Pro is the high-end off-road offering of the lineup.
The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 vs 2022 Toyota Tundra are very comparable in many regards, but when it comes to fuel economy, there's only one clear winner, and it isn't the Tundra. The Tundra's redesign for the 2022 model year includes two different powertrains: the 3.5-liter i-Force Turbo V6 and the 3.5-liter i-Force Max Turbo V6 Hybrid. Both powertrains deliver high-end performance for the Tundra, but it comes at the expense of overall fuel economy, even with the hybrid V6 offering e-save options.
The Tundra tops out at an EPA estimated rating of 18 miles per gallon in the city and up to 24 miles per gallon on the highway when configured in rear-wheel drive. The 4x4 modes drop down to 17 miles per gallon in the city and 22 miles per gallon on the highway. Those aren't great numbers for a truck that downsized from a V8 to a turbocharged V6 - if you are going with a smaller engine, you should at least see some real fuel economy savings.
For the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500, you're looking at a maximum of 23 miles per gallon in the city and 31 miles per gallon on the highway with the turbocharged Duramax diesel in rear-wheel drive. In 4x4 models, you can still achieve up to 22 miles per gallon in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway with the Duramax. The 6.2-liter V8 is the only one that somewhat comes up short on the stack at 15 miles per gallon in the city and 20 miles per gallon on the highway. However, that is only 2 miles per gallon less than the Tundra, and Chevy does it with a reliable V8. All the other powertrain options for the Silverado 1500 offer more efficient fuel economy compared to the Toyota Tundra.
Off-road capability is the top-end feature for the 2022 model years of both the Tundra and the Silverado 1500. The Tundra TRD Pro has seen some massive upgrades to match the competition in the off-road area, whereas the ZR2 is a new trim entry for the Silverado 1500 designed to elevate the off-road capabilities of Chevy's light-duty pickup. Both trucks take pride in a robust offering of high-end technologies and features.
The TRD Pro makes itself known with a specialized grille that features an integrated LED light bar, with the turbocharged 3.5-liter i-Force Max V6 hybrid sitting under the hood, delivering 437 horsepower and up to 583 pound-feet of torque. Toyota implemented all-new suspension tuning for the Tundra TRD Pro as well, sitting atop 18-inch BBS forged alloy wheels with Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires. Skid plates and mud guards help protect the undercarriage, while the 4x4-ready models come equipped with an electronic-locking rear differential, along with optional Multi-Terrain Select options for when you venture off-road, and technologies for rock crawling, which includes a CRAWL mode for crawl control.
The TRD Pro also comes with specialized FOX bypass shocks. The 2.5-inch diameter FOX internal shocks increase the overall height of the Tundra by 1.1-inches as part of the front lift. Polytetrafluorethylene shock fluid combined with oil helps strengthen the bores to stabilize the performance for the roughest of bumps and shunts. The added front stabilizer bar and multi-link rear suspension are designed to provide both stability and flexibility for articulation and wheel travel. This is topped off with the air-ride suspension to raise and lower the height of the vehicle based on road conditions, known as the Adaptive Variable Suspension.
Chevy has taken note of the competition's pursuit of off-road perfection and has steadily increased the Silverado 1500's capabilities over the years. The introduction of the ZR2 comes with a bevy of great off-road technology, which includes a re-tuned off-road chassis with specifically calibrated suspension changes to handle the harsh conditions of off-road travel. This includes all-new one-pedal rock crawling capabilities thanks to the inclusion of the all-new Terrain Mode, which allows the Silverado 1500 to venture into previously uncharted territory.
The Silverado 1500 ZR2 is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 420 horsepower while putting down 460 pound-feet of torque to the wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. The engine helps the ZR2 achieve its all-new off-roading feats. Said feats are made possible thanks to the first-ever application of Multimatic DSSV's 40mm high-performance spool-valve dampers for the Chevy Silverado.
For those of you unfamiliar with the DSSV spool-valve dampers, these are only available on a very few select production vehicles. The Silverado ZR2 is one of those rare production vehicles to make use of these motorsports-ready dampers, offering multiple tuning curves for both the front and rear of the truck, which includes three separate spool valves to control damping and three connected chambers for fluid flow. This allows for even more electronic adjustments and dynamic adaptation for precision handling when it comes to the Silverado being able to tackle some of the most varied and difficult terrain for a vehicle to traverse. This adds a whole new level of precision handling for a light-duty pickup when it comes to off-road driving.
The engineers also utilized bespoke tuning for the springs to work with the Multimatic dampers for increased articulation for the front and rear axles. This, in turn, makes it easier for the Silverado 1500 ZR2 to travel through extremely uneven or undulating terrain. With the added front and rear e-locker differentials, the Silverado is finely tuned to (re)gain traction on even the most slippery, wet, or soft surfaces. Traction is further enhanced with the 18-inch wheels paired with 33-inch off-road mountain tires. Undercarriage skid plates along with an all-new redesigned front fascia featuring a specifically designed front bumper for off-road durability allow the Silverado 1500 ZR2 to achieve an impressive 31.8-degree approach angle.
The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro features some impressive off-road capabilities, but the 2022 Silverado 1500 ZR2 has taken the competitive edge to the next level. With a lot of exclusive tuning and high-end off-road performance components, the Silverado 1500 ZR2 isn't out to take prisoners. The motorsports-level Multimatic dampers and reinforced suspension only add to the ZR2's off-road appeal.
Both the 2022 Toyota Tundra and 2022 Chevy Silverado are capable of impressive towing feats. Both have also been upgraded for the 2022 model year specifically to raise the bar in how they tow and how much they can tow. The 2022 Tundra, for instance, can now achieve a max tow rating of 12,000 pounds and a payload rating of 1,940 pounds. This is thanks in part to the 10-speed automatic transmission that comes with Tow/Haul modes and tuning for both uphill and downhill shifting logic.
The 17.6% towing increase for the 2022 Toyota Tundra, however, isn't enough to topple the 2022 Chevy Silverado's towing capabilities. Chevy's light-duty pickup still tops out at 13,300 pounds of max towing, but now that figure can be achieved with both the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 and the 3.0-liter Duramax inline-6 turbo-diesel. Even the base 2.7L turbocharged engine still achieves an impressive tow rating figure of 9,500 pounds.
You basically have more powertrain options with the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 and higher overall towing capacity. Two of the four powertrains offered by the Silverado exceed the 2022 Toyota Tundra's max towing capabilities by a significant margin. If towing is important to you, then the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 is going to be the better truck to have of the two.