These trucks are jam-packed with creature comforts.
It took many years before the capable pickup truck convinced us that it could also double as a luxurious daily driver, equipped with all the creature comforts you'd typically find in a high-end sedan or SUV. The Lincoln Blackwood and Cadillac Escalade EXT were both examples of premium automakers failing dismally at creating a luxury truck. Lincoln, for instance, produced less than 20% of the number of Blackwoods originally planned.
The thing is, even if it has the fanciest leather-lined cabin and an admired badge, truck buyers still want a legacy of durability along with that. That's why Ford, GMC, Toyota, and others have found great success in launching luxurious – and expensive – versions of their traditional full-size pickups in recent years. The GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate and Toyota Tundra Capstone are the two newest players, but they aren't the only luxury pickups you can buy in 2022.
Every truck here will be capable enough for most needs, but which one does the best job of pampering its occupants?
Toyota Tundra Capstone
The outgoing Toyota Tundra was one of the last trucks we'd recommend if luxury was high on your agenda, but the new Tundra Capstone has flipped that notion on its head. Clearly, Toyota is no longer content to only go after off-road enthusiasts and those seeking a basic workhorse. For starters, you wouldn't want to risk scratching the Tundra Capstone's 22-inch chrome wheels by taking it off-road. The body wears a lot of flashy chrome, and you enter the cabin via automatic running boards.
Once aboard, you'll be astonished at the leap that Toyota has taken from the previous Tundra generation to this one. The Capstone comes with semi-aniline leather upholstery, the same material you'll find on upper-spec versions of the all-new Lexus LX.
In this plush Tundra, it comes in an exclusive black-and-white color combination and is complemented by authentic Dark American Walnut wood with an open-pore finish.
Acoustic glass keeps out the din of the city, and a panoramic roof bathes the cabin in light. A 14-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital driver's display, a 10-inch color head-up display, and heated/ventilated seats in both rows are all standard. A powerful 437-horsepower hybrid powertrain and an adaptive variable setup with load-leveling rear height control air suspension make for smooth, refined progress. You'll have to cough up $73,530 for the privilege of driving off in Toyota's most opulent truck yet, but your neighbors will be more than impressed.
GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate
At the recent Chicago Auto Show, we had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the new Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate for the first time and it did not disappoint. Outside, this range-topper is distinguished by a bespoke grille in Vader chrome, large 22-inch wheels with machined accents, power assist steps, and the brand's versatile MultiPro tailgate.
GMC has pulled out all the stops in the Denali Ultimate's interior. There's leather seating upholstery, a leather-trimmed instrument panel, a premium microsuede headliner, and even the A- and B-pillar handles are leather-wrapped. The sumptuous front seats are 16-way power-adjustable, heated, cooled, and will massage your tired back.
Open-pore Paldao wood trim completes the picture and topographical maps of the summit of Mount Denali are laser-etched into it – it's a bit cheesy, but it's another detail that sets apart the Denali Ultimate.
Materials aside, the Denali Ultimate is also loaded with technology. It has a 15-inch multicolor head-up display, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a 13.4-inch touchscreen, and a digital gauge cluster. On the highway, the Super Cruise partially autonomous system, an unstressed 6.2-liter V8, and Adaptive Ride Control suspension will almost make you forget you're in a truck at all. And starting from $78,700, the Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate is pricier than a Mercedes-Benz GLS 450.
Ford F-150 Limited
Like the trucks mentioned above, the Ford F-150 Limited is filled to the brim with luxury trimmings. However, it may have just been edged as the ultimate luxury truck by its GMC and Toyota rivals, even if the F-150 is still the leader on the sales charts. The handsome F-150 Limited comes with Satin Chrome exterior trim, power-deployable running boards, a twin-panel moonroof, and 22-inch polished aluminum wheels.
Inside, there are standard leather seats with 10-way power-adjustability in front, whereas the GMC above has 16-way massaging front seats. The Ford has heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and genuine wood interior trim. A classy and cool Admiral Blue color scheme is unique to this model.
A clear 12-inch touchscreen and a digital gauge cluster are standard, while the 18-speaker B&O Unleashed sound system boasts six more speakers than the GMC. Ford’s answer to Super Cruise, the BlueCruise system, is standard along with a forward sensing system and active park assist.
Whereas the Tundra Capstone comes with 4×4 as standard, the $74,335 F-150 Limited only has 4×2 as standard. Add the 4×4 system and the price rises to $77,760. You’ll also need to go for the PowerBoost hybrid powertrain at an additional $1,900 to get close to the Tundra Capstone’s outputs, by which point the Ford will cost $79,660 excluding destination.
Ram 1500 Limited
Before the competition above upped their game, the Ram 1500 had the nicest cabin in this class. The most luxurious model in the 1500 lineup is the Limited which begins at $60,595, far below its rivals above. But digging deeper reveals why this is. Outside, the 1500 Limited rides on “only” 20-inch wheels by default – two sizes smaller than its rivals – but 22-inch polished wheels are available. Still, it gets plenty of shiny chrome detailing and power running boards, but you have to pay $995 more for Ram's multi-function tailgate and $1,495 for a dual-pane panoramic sunroof.
The Ram still rides more smoothly than most other trucks, a huge part of what makes it feel luxurious. Acoustic front door glass also aids in keeping the cabin quiet on the move. Black leather is standard, which doesn't look as welcoming as the lighter Ford and Toyota cabins. And, if you want premium quilted leather bucket seats, you're forced to spend $3,200 more on the turbodiesel engine.
When the latest 1500 launched, its 12-inch touchscreen blew us away. It's still fantastic, but both the Toyota and GMC now have even larger displays. And, whereas the first three trucks have standard adaptive cruise control, it's only an option here.
The 1500 Limited has eight-way power front seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear seats, a nine-speaker sound system, and a seven-inch display between traditional gauges. Rivals offer a more advanced fully digital display.
The Ram may cost less, but you need to add a lot of extras to get it closer to the other trucks on this list and even then, it's missing some of the best extras. It's a perfectly classy pickup, but it's now been surpassed.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country
Like its GMC Sierra corporate sibling, the Silverado has been comprehensively facelifted for the 2022 model year. Chevy has worked hard to improve the Silverado 1500 which will be available in spring 2022. The most lavishly specified model is the High Country. Whereas last year’s model had a plasticky cabin with an uninspired design, the new one is a vast improvement. There’s a new 13.4-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. On the High Country, leather upholstery and authentic open-pore wood trim, along with a cleaner design, make it feel a world apart from last year’s model. Stainless steel speaker grilles for the Bose sound system are pleasing to the eye as well.
The High Country is available with the same Super Cruise system found on the latest GMC Sierra, allowing for comfortable hands-free driving on compatible roads. Like the other trucks on this list, the exterior of the High Country is embellished with chrome and large alloys up to 22 inches in size. At under $60,000, the High Country is much cheaper than the top Sierra, although GMC’s offering is better-equipped as standard. The Chevy also doesn’t ride quite as serenely as the Ram, so while it’s a much-improved luxury pickup, it’s not the best one you can buy.
GMC Hummer EV3X
We would’ve named the Hummer EV First Edition as our pick here, but you can no longer buy this truck as all First Editions have been sold out. The next model in line is the EV3X with three motors, a $99,995 price tag, and loads of features that qualify it for a place on this list. Like lesser models, it comes with an adaptive air suspension and adaptive ride control. Transparent sky panels, a 13.4-inch touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch driver information display are all standard.
Although the cabin design is more rugged than the other trucks on this list, features like Super Cruise, a 14-speaker Bose sound system, a MultiPro tailgate, and an UltraVision surround-view system with up to 18 camera views make the Hummer EV means it is just as advanced as the rest. And, with the ability to cruise with zero mechanical noise, it'll potentially be even nicer to drive on the highway. That's when you're not taking advantage of its 830 hp and 11,500 lb-ft of wheel torque. If you do get hold of a First Edition model somehow, it has an even nicer Interstellar White interior.
Keyword: Most Luxurious Pickup Trucks You Can Buy In 2022