Overview & Reviews

GMC is a division of General Motors that focuses on producing SUVs, trucks and vans. Though GMC's vehicles are mechanically similar to related Chevrolet products, they are typically differentiated by unique features, trim levels and minor styling tweaks. The automaker's full-size pickups and SUVs are the most compelling offerings in its lineup; in many cases, its products in these categories are class-leading.

The marque's roots lie in the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company, a truck manufacturer that was founded by Max Grabowski in 1902. The outfit was purchased by General Motors in 1909 with the intention of having it serve as a division dedicated to building tough and capable trucks. The brand came to be known as GMC Truck; early models include the T16 and T20. Most of the manufacturer's trucks were very utilitarian in nature and functioned as dump trucks, fire trucks and military vehicles. GMC Truck's 3/4-ton Model 16 saw duty in World War I, serving mostly as a battlefield ambulance.

Sales continued to climb in the 1920s. After switching to a six-cylinder Buick-built motor, GMC Truck's 1- and 2-ton trucks earned the distinction of being the fastest in their classes. By the '30s, the line had grown to include everything from half-ton pickups to 10-ton trucks and buses. New models included the popular 1936 Suburban, which was essentially a truck-based station wagon that paired a truck's utility with a car's creature comforts.

World War II was a time of expansion for GMC Truck, thanks to its acquisition of Yellow Truck & Coach. Once again, the automaker's vehicles were tapped for wartime duty. New models like the Jimmy and the DUKW (nicknamed the Duck) were widely used by American troops.

Postwar, GMC Truck models became more consumer-oriented, and many were revamped to offer styling that more closely resembled passenger cars. The 1950s and '60s witnessed an upswing in sales, thanks to the popularity of recreational vehicles like GMC-based motor homes and pickup campers. The Jimmy name was revived and assigned to the brand's first ever sport-utility vehicle in 1970. That decade and the next saw a continued rise in the brand's popularity. The early '90s saw the brief appearance of the Syclone and Typhoon. The former was a small street pickup that burned up the asphalt with its turbocharged V6 and all-wheel drive. The latter was essentially a two-door SUV based on the same platform. Either one of these oddball speedsters could rip through a quarter-mile in around 14 seconds flat, making them among the quickest vehicles ever offered by General Motors. Also, by this time, GMC Truck had trimmed its moniker; the brand is now known simply as GMC.

In the past few decades, GM has consolidated its products and GMC's trucks have become less individualistic as a result. Today, most of GMC's vehicles are virtually identical to those sold by Chevrolet. The main differences lie in minor features and design tweaks that give GMC's offerings a more upscale image.

User Reviews:

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  Best Truck I have ever owned!! - 2005 GMC Canyon
  By Devastator_454 - April 18 - 10:25 pm

  I had no intention of trying to improve this vehicle when I first bought it. But after driving it for the first 2mths I was curious about what else I could do to improve its performance and make it more fun to drive. Just adding a K&N intake to it, the results were undeniable. Since then I have added a Magnaflow exhaust system, changed the 3.42 to 4.10 and added belltech anti-sway bars to name a few. This truck is now Super Awesome. It is the best 4cyl truck out there. Not even import cars with modifications can beat it. One day I plan to drop a larger engine in it. Then I will really be kicken!!

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  5.3 L GMC Yukon SLT - 2001 GMC Yukon
  By brandon - April 18 - 11:38 am

  Overall, a pretty good SUV... The 5.3 V8 gives you the horsepower you want. Gas mileage is the only downside, I average 14 with heavy city driving. I previously owned a 2004 Avalanche with the 5.3 V8 and I averaged 16.7, and I wish that my Yukon averaged that, because I was happy with 17. I recently replaced my O2 sensors (rear), as they were going bad, and improved my gas mileage by 2 MPG. I think I am going to get a K&N high-flow air filter. I had it on my truck, and I improved my gas mileage by about 1.5-2 MPG. I also noticed a little bit of a performance increase. Summary: Great car, just wish it got better gas mileage.

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  Love my GMC Sierra Denali - 2002 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Cliff - April 17 - 4:06 am

  Best truck that I have owned to date. 6.0l engine is awesome. Towing my 6000lb boat is a breeze. Like the heated seats on these cold winter days. Very comfortable driving vehicle. Can easyly rack up 500 miles daily. Thats when you wish you had dual gas tanks. Cant complain about gas mileage because of AWD and large engine. A fact that I dont like: The driver O/S mirror is heated but passenger side is not. Kind of strange for $40,000+ truck. All wheel steering is great. The few extra miilimeters of rear axle width seems to improve stability. Recently got 18 mpg with a tail wind.

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  Crew cab 4X4 - 2005 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Wesley Willits - April 17 - 2:16 am

  I love the truck, but I have had it in the shop many times within the first couple months of owning it. I had to replace the radio, because it kept shutting off. I had to replace the shift cable, because the transmition was slipping. There have also been problems with the front passenger shock, dash, and bed squeeking. Along with wind noise from the front windshield. I have also noticed less fuel economy than my previous 5.3 from 17mpg to 15mpg, and a loss in low-mid range power (not towing).

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  Great Truck - 2002 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Craig12 - April 17 - 2:00 am

  excellent truck no problems looks and handles great

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  I would buy another one! - 2000 GMC Sierra 1500
  By FF2Skip - April 15 - 10:00 am

  I have never regretted one payment made. Great looks. Although I have the 4.8L, she moves. I added Flow- Master duals, Hypertech Power Programmer, and Ultra rims w/ T/A Radials. Even with a heavy foot, I got 19 mpg on average. 2 complaints- 1) Its sometimes hard to get the cabin temperature right when using the heater(it heats up quickly, though), and 2) parking the beast in crowded parking lots. I have two children and they never complained about not having enough space in the back to fight with each other. The 4 doors are great if a car is not parked next to you. Since Im only 58", adult passengers in the back have enough room, too.

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  Overall a great truck - 2008 GMC Sierra 1500
  By EddieH - April 14 - 11:16 pm

  Overall I love this truck. I LOVE the styling, and its very comfortable to drive. There are a few nitpicking things though, I hate the hesitation when you give it gas suddenly. I am told this is due to GM using "torque management" in their PCM tune. Ford and Dodge do not this. This is probably the only real disappointment. The others are small things like when you hit the recirculation button on the AC, then turn the AC on, it defaults back to outside air, you have to hit the recirculation button again. Drives me nuts. The mileage is about what you would expect from a truck this size and engine size. Overall, I love the truck..the quality is very good.

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  I love my Acadia - 2009 GMC Acadia
  By Lisa - April 14 - 10:16 am

  We have been Toyota owners for most of our life, because of reliability. One day I was driving and I saw this car that really caught my eye, it was the best looking car I had seen in a long time. So I followed it, it was a gmc Acadia. I researched a lot of cars on the Internet, and I always kept coming back to the Acadia. My husband loved it also. And we have loved it for the whole 2 months weve had it. It has a really comfortable ride. I fell very safe in it, it has 12 airbags, and 5-star safety rating. My 13 year old son loves it. 2 months is not long but I pray that we will have it for many years and it will be as reliable as all the toyotas we had in our lifetime. We hope America has done it!

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  Very Fun Few Problems - 2000 GMC Jimmy
  By acam1 - April 13 - 9:33 pm

  I bought this vehicle in Sept. 2008, and now it is Apr. 2009. It has, so far, been an amazing vehicle. Yes, its had a few problems, but it was just normal wear-and-tear (rusty differential cover, O2 sensors, old block heater line). Overall, this vehicle is good, but not for its city driving. On average, I received about 9 - 12 mpg city, 13 - 16 highway, which is about what the much larger Tahoe/Yukon gets now. Offroad, it is extremely fun. I do prefer the much larger SUVs though, and that was my biggest regret in buying the Jimmy, although this so-called "mid-size" SUV (it is pretty long, actually) has proven to be extremely substantial and capable. Just take care of it and it runs fine!

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  Disappointed - 2005 GMC Envoy
  By RCNG - April 13 - 4:54 pm

  I have always wanted an SUV and when I test drove this one I loved it. Reviewed everything inside and out and was impressed with the vehicle and the price. I had minor problems that got replaced in the first year or two - seal around the doors, light switch inside, seal around license place frame all covered under warranty and with purchasing a new vehicle you have to work out the bugs. Anyways in my 5th year of owning it the idle pulley went out and now the bearings in the water pump which is very disappointing. After reading other reviews what else is going to go wrong. My next vehicle will definitely not be a GMC.