Overview & Reviews

The pickup truck has long been a mainstay of American byways and highways, and GMC has been there from day one. Originally used and respected by farmers, construction workers and small-business owners, GMC's hauler was a basic workhorse known for its reliability and longevity. More recent times have seen GMC's full-size truck adopt the name Sierra. And thanks to a variety of body styles, powertrains and trim levels, the Sierra is as adept at serving as the weekday family car as it is at transporting home-improvement supplies or towing a boat on the weekends.

Older versions of the GMC Sierra 1500 pickup have been praised for their strong work ethic, but soundly criticized for their bland, cheap cabins. With the newer generations, however, fit and finish is notably better. Of course, there are other choices in the full-size pickup truck market, but the Sierra 1500 remains a solid pick no matter what the intended use.

Current GMC Sierra 1500
Redesigned for 2014, the latest GMC Sierra 1500 is both trimmer and stronger than before. The V6-powered regular cab truck, for example, is about 250 pounds lighter this year while the engine lineup, particularly the V6, benefits from higher output and efficiency. Other changes for the new Sierra 1500 include revised suspension tuning for a smoother ride, forward-hinged rear doors on extended cab models and newly available safety features.

This full-size pickup is offered in regular cab, extended (double) cab and crew cab body styles with various bed lengths. Trim levels consist of base, well-equipped SLE, luxurious SLT and off-road-oriented Z71, and there is a choice of either two- or four-wheel drive.

All but the SLT come standard with a 4.3-liter V6 that makes 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque, enough muscle to tow up to 7,200 pounds. The 5.3-liter V8 (standard on the SLT and optional on other Sierras) makes 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The new V6 is vastly superior to the old V6, not only in terms of power and performance but also refinement. Of course, the 5.3-liter V8 delivers strong acceleration as long as you're not shy about laying onto the gas pedal when needed -- it has a rather lazy response otherwise. The six-speed automatic provides smooth and timely shifts and the Sierra 1500's towing performance is commendable.

Overall ride and handling dynamics are solid, as the GMC Sierra 1500 feels robust structurally, yet compliant and comfortable over broken pavement. Models fitted with the Max Trailering package, however, have a noticeably stiffer ride that can grow tiresome. The newest Sierra is also very quiet, even at higher freeway speeds. On serpentine roads, the GMC goes around turns in a confident manner and its steering is well-weighted. Off road, the Sierra similarly feels composed.

Used GMC Sierra 1500 Models
The previous-generation GMC Sierra 1500 was produced from 2007 through 2013. There were three body styles (regular, extended and crew cabs), and trim levels ranged from no-frills "Work Truck" to ultra-plush Denali.

Powertrain choices through these years encompassed everything from an anemic 4.3-liter 195-hp V6 to a muscular 6.2-liter V8 with 403 hp. Most Sierras, however, were fitted with either a 295-hp 4.8-liter V8 or a 315-hp 5.3-liter V8. A four-speed automatic was initially standard across the board except on the Denali's 6.2-liter V8, which came with a six-speed unit. Eventually, the six-speed was fitted to the 5.3-liter V8 as well. Either rear- or four-wheel drive could be specified.

Calling cards of this GMC Sierra 1500 include strong performance, a refined and quiet ride (even with the heavy-duty towing package) and a comfortable, sensible cabin. The Denali was certainly plush, though it still didn't have the same space or high-end ambience of its Ford and Ram top-of-the-line rivals. Other potential downsides included minor ergonomic missteps and the hesitant downshifts of the four-speed automatic transmission. We had no such gripe with the excellent six-speed automatic, however, thanks to its smooth and on-point performance.

Potential buyers should be aware of the significant changes made throughout the years. For 2009, the Denali's 6.2-liter, 403-hp V8 with its excellent six-speed automatic became optional on select other trims. That year also saw the debut of Bluetooth, a back-up camera option that didn't require the optional navigation system, and the "XFE" (extra fuel economy) package for the crew cab. The following year, 2010, saw the 5.3-liter V8 get the six-speed transmission and variable valve timing, which both improved fuel economy slightly. The 6.0-liter V8 (367 hp and 375 lb-ft) that had been offered since 2007 was dropped that year while side curtain airbags, front seat side airbags and stability control all became standard across the board. Lastly, USB connectivity (standard on Denali) became optional on the SLE and SLT. For 2012, the navigation system was updated (now hard-drive-based) and trailer sway control joined the safety features list.

Before this was the popular 1999-2006 generation of the Sierra. Underneath the conservatively handsome styling, a family of new V8s debuted, ranging in size from 4.8 to 6.0 liters. They offered output ranging from 255 hp with the smallest 4.8-liter, to 345 hp from the high-output 6.0-liter V8 in the Sierra Denali. A base V6 was also available, but as expected, most Sierras came fitted with one of the V8s. A unique four-wheel-steering option (called QuadraSteer), debuted about midway through this generation and cut the truck's turning circle down significantly to 37.4 feet -- around 10 feet less than a typical full-size pickup – making U-turns and maneuvering in tight spots much easier . Unfortunately, QuadraSteer was discontinued for 2006 due to a low take rate, as buyers were put off by the high cost of this option.

Consumers more interested in function than flash should be happy with a half-ton Sierra from this era. The truck offered plenty of performance and work capacity, but was hampered by a dated cabin design fraught with cheap materials and below-average fit and finish.

The previous generation of GMC Sierra 1500 pickups ran from 1988-'98. Standard cab and extended cab body styles were offered, as was a crew cab, though the latter was actually from the previous 1981-'87 generation. Although six-cylinder and diesel V8s were offered, chances are strong that most GMC trucks from these years will have either a 5.0- or 5.7-liter V8 mated to a four-speed automatic. In keeping with tradition, one could choose either rear-wheel drive (indicated by a "C", e.g. "C1500") or four-wheel drive (indicated by a "K"). Trim levels for these C/K1500 trucks include the bare-bones Special, base SL, midlevel SLE and top-line SLT. Strengths of these trucks include powerful, durable powertrains, while weaknesses center on sketchy build quality and subpar materials within the cabin.

For more information on older GMC pickups, go to our GMC Sierra 1500 history page.

User Reviews:

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  Denali - 2002 GMC Sierra 1500
  By StarmanT - April 29 - 10:00 am

  This is an expensive truck, but everyday I drive it, I think this is worth it. The four wheel steering is awesome - parking lots are a snap! I pulled a UHaul trailor a few days ago - first with a Toyota Sequoia, then the Denali. Everything youve read is true. I did some quick lane changes and the trailor stays right behind the truck. My hats off to GMC on this truck. Outstanding job!

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  Only GMCs from here on out... - 2004 GMC Sierra 1500
  By jafowac - April 27 - 10:00 am

  Awesome truck! I never thought I would purchase a GMC due to the perceived price premium, but I think I got a great deal. Buy near the end of the month and email offers to the dealerships. I got mine for $27600 after $4250 in rebates...total $29006 out the door. Check out carbuyingtips, they have a very good spreadsheet to help you with your offer. I thought about getting the Denali, but for $5k+ more, you get quadrasteer (which I really wanted), 6.0l engine, full time AWD, a different grill and fake wood interior trim....not worth the price difference to me.

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  Best PU on the road - 2002 GMC Sierra 1500
  By denali owner - April 11 - 11:00 pm

  This truck has the comforts of a car, and the abilities of a truck. Interior is comfortable, and it will haul and tow like nobodys business. 4 wheel steering is amazing! You can u- turn on the average city street and the manueverability in parking lots is unbelievable. Drive one. Try to drive something else. Enough said.

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  GMC Z-71 4x4 All Terrain - 2010 GMC Sierra 1500
  By usapatrick - March 28 - 9:35 am

  We traded in a 2000 Chevy 4X4 ext cab, 5.3 loaded with over 128K trouble free miles. This truck was the obvious replacement. Better looking than the new Chevrolet, now are priced the same with higher resale value. We did not bother with Ford since their warranty and 4 more engines changes showed us instability from within. This truck now has 5000 miles and is up to 16 mpg in town, 20+ mpg hgwy. We got it loaded with leather, buckets etc except sun roof and NAV. The Z-71 4X4 All Terrain package is a bargain. The new 5.3 V8 with the 6 speed automatic is much better than the old power train. We had the dealer put in the wheel well liners, Ziebart and more chrome. Look no further, buy one!

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  heck of a truck - 2004 GMC Sierra 1500
  By 2eagles - March 19 - 2:00 am

  A great truck. I had a 1992 Sierra and loved it. I bought this truck and a week later took it on a 2000 mile elk hunting trip to Colorado. It was a long drive made enjoyable thanks to GMC. The snow in the mountains was no problem and the truck was perfect. This truck rides better and is quieter than my wifes 2002 Bonneville SLE.

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  2005 Sierra - 2005 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Bill - March 18 - 8:30 pm

  Truck has exellent performance with the 5300 engine. The gas mileage we averaged on an 800 mile trip was 20 miles per gallon which I thought was exellent for a truck of this size. It has plenty of legroom room in the back seats. I considered an F150, but after comparing the two I went with the GMC

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  gmc - 2007 GMC Sierra 1500
  By jose - March 10 - 5:43 pm

  Its a very confortable truck, really impressive in gas mileage, excelent handling, and very quiet. Everything on it is easy to use, from the seats that fold up to the radio controls.

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  Quality matters - 2008 GMC Sierra 1500
  By retiree - March 8 - 12:36 am

  This 1500 Work is great. Gas economy exceeds sticker rating. Light touch on steering, nicely tuned exhaust for a 4.3L. Standard sound system inc XM is v good. Of all my pickups this one is solid, smooth and a "keeper". Fogs nice touch but not necessary. Ergonomics good.

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  Best Truck I ever owned! - 2008 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Bill - March 1 - 10:26 am

  I have built quite a few cars and trucks over the years, this by far out performs them in an all around sense. I got a pretty basic truck for my buisness so thats why comfort is a marked low. My only complaints are that I didnt go bigger with an extended or crew cab, and we need the 6 speed in the basic trucks too. The motor is the most impressive part of this truck. I have a tool box and tonneau, and now acheive up to 22 mpg. The six speed wouldnt work here. My friends Scion TC only get 25-27 mpg average so Im very very happy.

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  GMC - They are professional grade! - 2003 GMC Sierra 1500
  By fireman bill - February 28 - 2:00 am

  I have the quad door, with the 5.3 engine, and I love it. The Bose stereo rocks, its a nice looking rig, pulls my 21 boat with ease. Im 44 years old, and this is the finest truck Ive ever owned.