Help Is on the Way for GM's Full-size Trucks

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

No, General Motors hasn’t tapped an army of virus-resistant robot workers from Boston Dynamics to build its bread-and-butter models; rather, the pickups themselves will undergo changes to boost appeal amid potent competition from Detroit rivals.

Sometime next year, The General’s full-sizers will reportedly correct a mistake that held the duo back upon their debut.

Unfortunately, there’s no word on any exterior changes coming to the polarizing Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra siblings. Instead, it’s the inside of the trucks that stand to take on a new look. Lackluster cabins were a weak point when the new-for-2019 trucks arrived, especially when compared to Ram’s equally new 1500.

With Ford now gearing up to ship a new F-150 to dealers, GM can’t afford to leave itself exposed on any flank. Despite their, um, aggressive styling, the Silverado and Sierra boasted cabins that felt like warmed-over retreads of what came before; in high-zoot trims, the ambiance wasn’t on par with the sticker price.

Automotive News is now reporting a looming change first announced by GM Authority late last year — a rumor the publication fleshed out last month. The pickups are due for an interior overhaul next year, AN claims, hinting at a 2022MY introduction. Citing sources in the know, GM Authority said the ’22 Silverado is in line to receive the center stack and console found in the next-generation, 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban. It’s assumed the Sierra will snag choice interior bits from the GMC Yukon.

In the case of GM’s new crop of full-size SUVs, the interiors underwent vast changes, while the exterior saw an evolutionary design update. It’s the opposite of what occurred with GM’s trucks.

It’s expected that the automaker’s HD trucks, new for the 2020 model year, will see similar changes come 2022 or 2023.

[Images: Steph Willems/TTAC, General Motors]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • APaGttH APaGttH on Jul 27, 2020

    Didn't GM have to do with GMT800, giving the interiors a major overhaul in design and equipment in 2003? There wasn't anything inherently bad with the first half GM800 interiors, but they definitely felt and looked like they were designed by Playskool. Aesthetically not pleasing, but desirable if you're using a truck as a -- truck. The current GM interiors are abysmal.

    • Lou_BC Lou_BC on Jul 27, 2020

      @APaGttH - Valid points. I always get a laugh out of the "soft touch plastics" complaint made by many journalists. I grew up in pickups that had metal interiors. The dash pad and arm rests were usually padded. The rest was metal or a very stiff plastic.

  • Flipper35 Flipper35 on Jul 28, 2020

    Given how GM has operated in the past if they ever get these just right they will cancel them the next year.

  • Corey Lewis Think how dated this 80s design was by 1995!
  • Tassos Jong-iL Communist America Rises!
  • Merc190 A CB7 Accord with the 5 cylinder
  • MRF 95 T-Bird Daihatsu Copen- A fun Kei sized roadster. Equipped with a 660cc three, a five speed manual and a retractable roof it’s all you need. Subaru Levorg wagon-because not everyone needs a lifted Outback.
  • Merc190 I test drive one of these back in the day with an automatic, just to drive an Alfa, with a Busso no less. Didn't care for the dash design, would be a fun adventure to find some scrapped Lancia Themas or Saab 900's and do some swapping to make car even sweeter. But definitely lose the ground effects.
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