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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  2007 GMC Sierra Classic Z71 - 2007 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Robert Okray - June 15 - 9:46 am

  My last truck was a Chevy and ran 250k. My Gmc has 90k and runs like new. Dont be cheap, get the SLT. All the goodies are awesome.

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  2007 GMC Sierra Classic Z71 - 2007 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Robert Okray - June 15 - 9:46 am

  My last truck was a Chevy and ran 250k. My Gmc has 90k and runs like new. Dont be cheap, get the SLT. All the goodies are awesome.

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  Love this 6.2l slt, this is a 6.2L not 5.3 - 2014 GMC Sierra 1500
  By thatblacktruck - May 23 - 10:24 pm

  First off this review is for my 6.2L not the 5.3l. I came from a 2013 GMC denali . this new 2014 is by far better, Very Quiet, and this new 6.2L is a Real Rocket, I am getting yes AVE 17.8 with mostly City driving about 20 miles per day this is amazing compared to my 2013 denali which got Ave 14.8 City. this 2014 I purchased is a mid year build (6/14) and Built in the Indiana plant, and they have done a great job during assembly, things fit well no noises or Rattles and no problems so far. Turning radius is great, no Radio Reception problems I am not sure yet about the headlamps, they seem to be fine, however I do not like the interior lighting, its all LED and no footwell lighting.

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  What a Ride - 2003 GMC Sierra 1500
  By dcintron - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle weight makes for a comfortable ride. Handles the interstate like a luxury car. The Quadrasteer feature makes moving around the city a breeze. Parallel parking and parking garages with appropriate height clearance are easy to handle. The Denali has good acceleration. Does not get blown around when passing the Big Rigs. Dont expect better than 14 miles per gallon, about 13 mpg at 80 mph. Once youve driven the Denali youll never want another full-size pick-up without Quadrasteer.

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  Reliable, comfortable truck with decent fuel econ. - 2007 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Mizzou Engineer - April 16 - 11:11 pm

  This truck has been very reliable for 11 years. Repairs have been minimal. Routine service is easy. Fuel economy has averaged about 19.5 mile/gal with mostly rural driving. The truck is extremely comfortable to drive. It has good load and trailer towing capacity. Acceleration is adequate, but not impressive. The 40/20/40 seats are very comfortable.

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  Reliable, comfortable truck with decent fuel econ. - 2007 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Mizzou Engineer - April 16 - 11:11 pm

  This truck has been very reliable for 11 years. Repairs have been minimal. Routine service is easy. Fuel economy has averaged about 19.5 mile/gal with mostly rural driving. The truck is extremely comfortable to drive. It has good load and trailer towing capacity. Acceleration is adequate, but not impressive. The 40/20/40 seats are very comfortable.

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  Best truck on the market...Period - 2008 GMC Sierra 1500
  By hound - April 11 - 6:40 pm

  Gas mleage is remarkable for a large truck with the 5.3 l engine. I typically average 18.9 combined driving and 20.2 on long interstate trips and have measured it numerous times. I test drove all the trucks on the market and this is hands down he best on the market. The quietness, comfort, handling, audio system is just simply the best on the market.

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  Life - 2004 GMC Sierra 1500
  By erynlynne - March 28 - 1:19 am

  This truck is a life saver for me, got into a car accident was going 85 and hit a telephone. I truly believed it saved my life, i just bought another one same year. Truck has a amazing build! i would tell anyone about this truck and how amazing it is.! i absolutely LOVE it.

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  2005 GMC - 2006 GMC Sierra 1500
  By w. conlee - March 24 - 2:00 pm

  Gas mileage is very good, truck is very comfortable to drive. I have very positive comments from others about the overall appearance. The heated mirrors are very helpful.

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  GMC Sierra - Suberb Value - 1999 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Stunts - March 22 - 10:00 am

  I am amazed by this truck. I used to be an F150 owner, but have switched product loyalty to the GMC. This is strong, reliable, good-looking, great riding truck.