EVs, hybrids plug into pickup segment
Batteries will power a historic number of trucks.
The pickup landscape is electrifying this year. Along with several all-new or redesigned trucks, you’ll find innovation, divergence and a few juicy surprises.
Batteries will power a historic number of trucks. Ford’s all-electric 2022 F-150 Lightning is due this spring, offering plenty of oomph and cargo volume. The standard battery should be good for 220 miles, while an available high-capacity battery will bump the range up another 80 miles or so. Tow ratings are expected to go as high as 10,000 pounds. The F-150 Lightning starts at $39,974 for the workconfigured Pro version, while the XLT carries a $52,974 price tag.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is Ford’s all-new 2022 Maverick ,a compact pickup with a recycled name but a new hybrid powertrain. Mavericks will start at $19,995 and should eke out close to 40 mpg in the city.
Exclusively crew cabs, the Maverick’s base 2.4-liter gas engine and electric motor send a total of 191 horsepower to the front wheels, good for 2,000 pounds of towing or a 1,500-pound payload.
With its versatile 4.5-foot “flexbed,” the Maverick could fit your garage — as well as your budget and lifestyle.
Subtle as a freight train, the GMC 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup has begun delivery. Despite starting at $112,595, reservations for the loaded EV Edition 1 launch version sold out in 10 minutes. Boasting three motors, 1,000 horsepower and 1,100 lb.-ft. of torque, the truck should be able to go 329 miles on a full charge. Towing is capped at 7,500 pounds. A two-motor EV2X version with greater range and an MSRP of $89,95 is coming. GMC’s sister division, Chevy, debuted its Silverado 1500 EV at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
GMC has refreshed its 2022 Sierra 1500 with new front fascia and grilles and dual projector LED headlights. There are also two new upscale trims — the Denali Ultimate and AT4X — that have premium interiors and more. There are also more powerful 2.7-liter turbocharged and 3.0-liter diesel engines. The Sierra AT4X is rated to tow up to 8,900 pounds.
Toyota’s Tundra finally gets a complete makeover for 2022. For the first time since its introduction as a 2000 model, Toyota’s full-size pickup won’t offer a V8. Instead, the Tundra comes with a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that makes 389 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel efficiency has improved by at least 33 percent: the EPA rates the 2WD Tundra at 18/23 mpg city and highway. This spring, a hybrid version dubbed i-Force MAX will be added to the mix, producing 437 ponies and 583 lb.-ft. at 2,400 rpm.
Nissan’s Frontier is another pickup that was long in the tooth. For 2022, the redesigned midsize truck’s aggressive styling — which includes a gaping grille that’s in vogue for the segment — is backed by a brawny chassis, a smoother, more stable suspension and a 310-horse V6 that delivers 281 lb.-ft. of torque via a nine-speed automatic transmission. The PRO-4X and new 2WD-only PRO-X versions get LED headlamps and fog lights. The Frontier can tow up to 6,720 pounds when configured properly.