The first five series of 222 had the sPkw Horch 801 chassis with the 3.5 litre engine. In May 1942 an improved chassis, the sPkw type V, was introduced, incorporating hydraulic brakes and a 3.8 litre engine. At the same time the frontal armour was increased from 14.5mm to 30mm, but the rest of the armour plate thickness remained unchanged. The main armament comprised a 20mm KwK 30 quick firing cannon. The gun could fire both armour piercing and high explosive rounds and both sorts of ammunition were carried. The KwK 30 was a variant of an aircraft weapon and could achieve a rate of fire of 280 rpm (albeit with a 10 round magazine) Nonetheless this was a potent weapon that produced a muzzle velocity of 780fps and was capable of piercing 14mm of sloped armour at 500m. This was potentially deadly against the 8mm armour of the US M8 armoured car that was in widespread use throughout the second half of the war; as this thickness of armour plate could be pierced at over 1000m. A coaxial 7.92mm MG34 was fitted to the left of the main armament. Sighting was by telescope and the gun was fired through use of a foot pedal. A hand wheel controlled traverse and elevation. Two mechanically-fired smoke launchers were fitted to each side of the turret. The turret was in the shape of a ten sided pyramid and was relatively cramped. A hinged anti-grenade screen was mounted on top. However, firing proved extremely difficult with the screen raised and this had to be lowered to engage targets.

The SdKfz 222 was issued to the Panzerspahwagen squadrons of the Aufklarungs battalions. With only a short range radio, it accompanied the armoured cars with long range sets, in order to provide covering fire and engage enemy armoured reconnaissance vehicles. The 222 served in all campaigns on all fronts from 1939 until the end of the war.