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:
Showing 371 through 380 of 787.00-
Powerful and Comfortable - 2008 GMC Sierra 1500
By spud90 - June 24 - 12:46 pmI have never owned a truck before, but I will be moving my son to college and am planning some large home renovations. I bought this truck because dealers are making incredible deals on full-size trucks. A 2.5 ton vehicle with a 315hp engine that gets 15mpg around town is not bad in my opinion. Mine is a 4x2 because I am always on asphalt and it rarely snows in SE Virginia. One tip: Stabilitrak comes with traction control. So consider this option with a 2WD if you want a lower sticker and really dont want/need the extra maintenance and fuel comsumption of a 4WD. This vehicle handles well and is smooth and quiet. It reminds me of a 1977 Lincoln Town Car, only it handles much better.
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09 Sierra Ext 5.3L Stealth Gray - 2009 GMC Sierra 1500
By Eric Henson - June 14 - 11:43 pmThe dealership was great in selling me what I wanted. I looked at Dodge, Ford and Toyota and I kept going back to the Sierra. I love this truck for the look and the price.
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"Eli" - 2007 GMC Sierra 1500
By leecp34 - June 10 - 4:33 amI traded in a 07 Dodge 2500 Cummins. I wasnt pulling as much. Surprised that every day I like the truck even more. Gorgeous truck just hope that the mileage goes up. 700 miles on it averaged 17 on highway.
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Amazing GMC Truck - 2004 GMC Sierra 1500
By Darren - June 8 - 7:13 pmEverything about this truck is amazing, from the way it drives, to all of its abilities, towing, hauling, etc. The most impressive thing is the Autotrac 4WD system, I have off roaded with it in the snow, and never slipped a tire, even in over a foot of snow!
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2003 GMC 4WD Pickup - 2003 GMC Sierra 1500
By Walt Moore - May 29 - 7:36 pmI bought this new and its generally been great. The windshield wiper control module burned out but that has been the only unscheduled service in 37,000 miles. So far I really like this truck and would buy it again, but I wont really know for another 15 years, which is about how long I plan to keep it.
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This is one amazing truck! - 2008 GMC Sierra 1500
By Denjhe - May 24 - 12:26 amI have had my Black/black 08 Sierra Denali for about 2 months now. Amazing power. Amazing comfort.. Amazing headturner. A beautiful ride in every way. The MPG of 11-12 in the city is a bit of a nuisance but if you spend $42K for a truck you better not whine about the cost of fuel!! If you have the means you should buy this truck.
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Highway Cruiser - 2014 GMC Sierra 1500
By bigw2014 - May 8 - 5:04 pmThis truck is great on the highway - smooth ride even empty, unbelievably quiet, comfortable seats, lots of luxury features. I am coming out of an Infiniti SUV and this thing compares very favorably with it on the highway. I am getting about 19-20 on the highway thanks to the cylinder deactivation, which you can only see indicated on the dash, you never feel it at all. It feels like a Mercedes, everything is solid and tight - hard to believe this is a GM product it seems so well-built. I drive country roads at night, the lights are ok - not horrible not great. Get the fog lights, they help. I run the fog lights all the time.
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Pleasantly surprised - 2004 GMC Sierra 1500
By rooddoggie - April 29 - 4:43 amI bought my 04 SLE extended cab 2WD last month and this truck gives me so much for my money. It accelerates effortlessly with the 5.3, shifts smoothly with the AT, and get 22 mpg on the freeway... thats right, 22 MPG!
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Will only Buy GMC - 2004 GMC Sierra 1500
By Raider "E" from napa - April 19 - 10:00 amthe best truck I have ever had by far! i purchase a single cab in 2000 loved tha one so in 2003 i purchase an extended cab witht the 5.3 liter V8 the motor is strong and performs very well! I strongly recomend it.
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Sweet Deal - 2006 GMC Sierra 1500
By Douglas - April 17 - 7:50 pmI have owned Chevy, Ford, and Dodge and I will stick with GM trucks. this new GMC is great all the way around, nice ride, great power for pulling my bass boat, so much room, and very well put together interior.
