Best Luxury Trucks For 2022

The popularity of trucks has been
on an upward trajectory for decades and now accounts for over 20% of new
vehicle sales. While the humble work truck remains, modern buyers also demand
an upscale pickup appointed with premium accouterments, the latest technology,
infotainment options, and flashy details. To determine the best luxury trucks,
we looked at standard interior appointments, including substrates, legal tech, infotainment features, interior design, exterior design cues, and overall
ride quality and interior noise levels. 

1. 2022 Ram 1500 Limited

Why We Picked It: 

To celebrate the 10th anniversary
of the Ram 1500\’s top-tier Limited trim, the maker cooked up the cleverly named
Limited 10th Anniversary Package. That only adds to the Ram 1500\’s reputation
as the smoothest-riding and quietest full-size half-ton pickup on the market. The standard top-tier Limited Starts at $62,390, including a $1,795 destination, and includes leather seating, the Uconnect 5 infotainment with an 8.4-inch
screen, and premium 10-speaker audio, among other features. Power comes from the
proven 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with an eight-speed automatic, but you can spec the
e-torque version at no charge or opt for the 3.0-liter diesel for $3995. The
10th Anniversary package is a steal at $2,145, bringing quilted leather seating
and door inserts, natural wood and metal trim details, a suede headliner, jeweled
shifter knob, and a massive 12-inch infotainment touchscreen with a 19-speaker
premium sound system. Ultimately, however, Ram\’s serene interior and
smooth ride land it at the top of the list. Read full review

Pros

Smooth ride and quiet
interior 

New exclusive Blue Shade 10th
Anniversary exterior color

Available air suspension for an
even more compliant ride

Cons

Adaptive cruise and Lane Keep
assist are not standard

A lengthy option sheet can drive
prices up quickly 

Infotainment system lags and
hiccups occasionally   

2. 2022 Ford F-150 Limited

Why We Picked It:  

If you\’re a customer
who prefers the one-and-done style of shopping, the Ford F-150 Limited is for
you. True, it\’s $76,030 (including a $1695 destination fee) price is about $14,000
more dear than Ram Limited\’s base price, but the Ford comes absolutely loaded
to the gills right from the showroom floor. That means a leather-lined
interior, dual-pane sunroof, adaptive cruise control, the entire suite of Ford
360 safety and assist features, a tow package with trailer backup assist,
22-inch wheels, and more. Really, the only options are four-wheel drive ($3,425)
and the V6 hybrid powertrain ($1,900) to replace the standard 3.5-liter
EcoBoost V6 and 10-speed automatic. While the F-150 lacks few amenities, the
Ram has an edge in refinement—for now. Read full review

Pros

Fully loaded from the showroom.

Chrome accents look the part of a
gentleman farmer 

Available Hybrid brings the 7.2
kWh Pro Power Onboard system

Cons

Ram 1500 is still the champ for
interior luxury, smooth ride

Diesel option no longer available

No standalone hybrid model 

3. 2022 GMC Sierra Denali
Ultimate

Why We Picked It:

New for 2022, the Sierra Denali
Ultimate\’s interior is a mobile clubroom featuring authentic wood accents,
full-grain leather front, and rear seats, door panels, and console lid— even the
instrument panel gets wrapped in cowhide. A micro-suede headliner, 16-way
adjustable, massaging front seats, and power sunroof add to the vibe. Remarkably, GM\’s Super Cruise driver-assistance technology is standard, as are
a 15-inch Head-Up Display, 12-speaker Bose audio system, and rear-view camera
mirror all find themselves on the Denali Ultimate\’s definitive equipment list. Like the F-150 Limited, the 2022 GMC Sierra Denali adheres to the kitchen
sink approach, wearing an $80,395 MSRP as a result. 

Pros 

Class-exclusive adaptive
suspension

Proven 420-horsepower, 6.2L V-8
engine

Six-way MultiPro tailgate

Cons 

Prominent fascia is a bit bold for
some tastes

Fuel Economy is not great

Not available till late Spring
2022 

4. 2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone

Why We Picked It:

Toyota\’s Tundra Capstone is a new
entry for 2022, superseding the still-in-production Tundra 1794 edition at the
peak of the Toyota Tundra luxury mountain. Essentially the Lexus of pickups, it,
and all 2022 Tundras get a new coil-spring rear suspension that does wonders
for the ride. The Capstone ships with the i-FORCE MAX 3.5L twin-turbo
V6 hybrid powerplant and 10-speed automatic transmission as the sole
powertrain. 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats
upholstered with semi-aniline leather and a power-adjustable, leather-wrapped
steering wheel cosset the driver. In contrast, genuine walnut accents, a panoramic
sunroof, heated and cooled rear seats, and an acoustic laminated windshield and
side windows provide quiet comfort. A vertically opening rear cabin window is a
nice touch. Toyota\’s top-tier infotainment system features a 14-inch
touchscreen and 12 JBL speakers, and Toyota throws every safety and driving
assistance feature it has in on the deal. 22-inch chrome and machined wheels increase
the bling factor. We expect pricing closer to the Tundra Capstone\’s on-sale
date in the spring of 2022. Read full review.

Pros

Hybrid Powertrain promises good fuel economy for the class

Excellent amount of standard
equipment

Toyota\’s reputation for
reliability and resale value

Cons

Some buyers will still want a V8,
regardless of fuel economy

No physical tuner knob for the
infotainment 

No generator capability like the
hybrid F-150

5. 2022 Chevrolet Silverado High
Country

Why We Picked It:

Redesigned for 2019, the
Silverado missed the mark regarding interior appointments and technology. The
company pivoted and addressed the issues for the 2022 Silverado, adding new
touchscreens and software, a standard suite of safety gear, and an increased towing
rating for the diesel-equipped version. In the case of the Silverado High Country,
that means real wood trim on the console, standard leather upholstery with
detailed stitching in a choice of Jet Black or Nightshift Blue colors, and authentic
stainless accents, including the speaker grilles for the traditional Bose audio
system. GM\’s vaunted Super Cruise driver assistant technology is available in
the High Country. Remember, due to the microchip shortage, the older model
still exists as the \”Silverado 1500 LTD\” for the first part of 2022, and
luxury-seeking buyers are advised to wait until the \”new\” Silverado High
Country with the upgrades hit showrooms in the spring of 2022. It wears
a base MSRP of $58,495, including a $1,695 destination fee. Read full
review.

Pros

Stylish interior with top-quality
materials

Good powertrain choices are made
even better for 2022

Significant upgrades in standard safety
features

Cons

Not as refined as Ford or Ram and loses out to Ford on brawn

Rough ride over broken pavement

Many desirable features still
cost extra

6. 2021 Nissan Titan Platinum
Reserve

Why We Picked It:

Nissan remains a bit of an
outlier in the full-size pickup segment. However, its Titan Platinum Reserve still
has the goods to cosset occupants looking for a civilized pickup experience. Its ace-in-the-hole is its version of Nissan\’s vaunted zero-gravity seats that
are both cushy and supportive; on the downside, they come in even the base
trim. The usual accouterments are present: premium leather seating, heated
and cooled front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and wood and metal
detailing bits. The problem isn\’t that the Titan is wrong, but that
competition is better. On the other hand, the two-wheel-drive Crew Cab Platinum
Reserve starts at \”just\” $58,395, including a $1,695 destination (4×4 is $61,675). Four-wheel drive is a $3,280 upcharge. 

Pros 

Trailer tech, including sway
control and a braking controller, are standard

Standard 5-year, 100,000-mile
powertrain and limited warranty

400-horsepower V8 and nine-speed
automatic competent if not class-leading

Cons

Many basic options, standard on
the competition, are extra

Introduced for 2016 and refreshed
for 2020, it feels much older 

Lowest tow rating in the half-ton
class

E Wheelco: How Do We Rate
Cars? 

Methodology  

For 2022, our evaluation covers
seven areas: 

1.      Performance

2.     Fuel
Economy

3.     Safety

4.    Infotainment

5.     Comfort
& Room

6.    Cargo
Space & Storage

7.     Style
& Design

Overall: 100 points

Performance (15 points) The
Performance score is a subjective assessment of a vehicle\’s handling, braking,
acceleration, ride quality, and other qualitative performance measures such as
horsepower, torque, zero-to-60 time, and top speed. Towing capability for trucks
and SUVs also is considered. The performance of the vehicles is compared against
the identified competitive set. While driving, reviewers look for attributes
relative to the manufacturer\’s and consumer\’s
expectations.

Fuel Economy (15 points) The
Fuel Economy score is based on the combined mpg estimate for the entire model
lineup and how that figure measures against the identified competitive set. If no EPA data is available, the mpg estimates are based on EPA data or the manufacturer. Hybrid and plug-in electric variants within a lineup that
significantly lower their overall average will not be included in the
comparison unless the competitive set also has a hybrid or PHEV variants. Scoring for pure electric vehicles will be based on kilowatts consumed per 100
miles and the comparative mile per gallon equivalent, or MPGe. 

Safety (15 points) The
Safety score is based on crash test results from the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Vehicles
not yet rated by either agency receive zero points. Also included in the safety
rating are points awarded for certain advanced driver-assistance safety
features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. There are nine safety
features E Wheelco considers mandatory for the stock offering: forward
emergency automatic braking, forward collision warning, automatic high beams,
blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, adaptive cruise control, and
lane departure warning of its higher-level variants, lane-keeping
assistance or lane centering. Vehicles must have at least four of these in
their standard offering to receive points. Cars that offer a Level 2
self-driving system (a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane-centering)
are eligible for a bonus point.

Infotainment (15 points) The
Infotainment score is based on points awarded for certain features offered as
standard equipment on the base trim. E Wheelco identifies certain features that
are growing in popularity and have been adopted by both premium and
mainstream automakers. Some of these features include a minimum 7-inch
touchscreen (or premium vehicles that use a rotary knob, touchpad, or another mechanism to control a non-touchscreen display), wired Apple CarPlay, and
Android Auto, a customizable, digital driver information display or instrument
panel, and at least 2 USB ports. Additional points are awarded for popular
features that haven\’t been widely adopted in mainstream vehicles, such as
wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless charging capabilities.

Comfort & Room (15 points) The
Comfort & Room score is based on points awarded for the reviewer\’s
assessment of the vehicle\’s comfort, ergonomics, overall interior feel, and effective use of space. Points are also awarded for measuring rear-seat legroom and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles with segment-best legroom in either the rear seat or optional
third row are eligible for a bonus point.

Cargo Space & Storage (15
points) The Cargo Space & Storage score is based on points
awarded for the reviewer\’s assessment of the vehicle\’s large and small cargo
spaces (as well as small-item storage) and how well they serve their purpose
and effective use of space. Reviewers also consider innovative storage
solutions and flexible loading features. Points also are awarded for the cargo
space measurements for the rear cargo hold or trunk and how it compares with the
identified competitive set. Vehicles with a segment-best cargo or trunk
space are eligible for a bonus point.

Styling (10 points) The
Performance score is a subjective assessment of a vehicle\’s overall styling and
design, inside and out. Reviewers also consider the configuration of the
interior and how well the design plays into the function. Build quality also is
a consideration.