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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  Great truck, bad mileage :) - 2007 GMC Yukon
  By dn - December 18 - 7:17 pm

  I bought one of the first 2007 Yukons when they became available in 2006, and over the last 18 months Ive put 28,000 miles on it. Its a marvelous vehicle to drive. Its fun, powerful and easy to steer, and the tight turning radius is extremely helpful in crowded parking lots. The XM radio is better than I thought it would be, and the power-assisted lift gate is actually very useful, addictive almost. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone that can afford to fuel it. In stop and go city driving, youre looking at 10 or 11 mpg (on a good day). For extended highway driving, it is entirely possible to get 18-22 mpg, but the average will be 17-18 mpg

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  2002 GMC Envoy SLT - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By mike h. - December 18 - 1:13 pm

  This is a big, nice riding, nice handling, very comfortable vehicle. The leather seats are plush, and the climiate control features are easy to use and nice. My wife loves the heated seats in the winter. You sit up high and can see very well out of all windows in this truck. Problems, well it has the famous GMC Envoy piston slap...tick, tick, tick..when you start it up. Espeically annoying noise in the winter when the noise is louder. Also make sure you own a gas station before buying an Envoy. 12- 14 mpg/city if you are lucky.

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  Looks can be deceiving! - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By Cordova Dave - December 17 - 8:03 pm

  On-Star stopped working, at night lights would dim to less than 30% if AC, radio, windows were used. Cracked oil pan lost 6 quarts of oil, nice addition to drive way! Transmission made lots of noise but went nowhere. The lights are fixed, the transmission works better, and On-Star works. 4 months later, engine seal is badly leaking. I have no faith in my dealership and GMC as a company. I think they employ the Cro-Magnon man to build their SUVs.

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  6 years $6k in repairs - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By goingforeign - December 17 - 12:04 pm

  This vehicle was excellent over the first 100k miles. After which, Ive had to replace the transfer case at a total cost of $1500. The airbag system failed due to a faulty modulator & master control switch and is $1400 to replace. Im now at 205,000 miles and have to get the rear differential rebuilt for a cool $1700, along with a failed control module adding another $700. All of this combined with several other trim and mechanical failures have me up in arms. I might as well have a car payment with as much as this is costing in repairs. I drive the heck out of this vehicle, but have the fluids checked/replaced on a monthly basis along with other scheduled/required maintenance. This stinks.

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  Dont get the Nav - 2008 GMC Envoy
  By Dont get the NAV - December 17 - 10:21 am

  Spent the extra money on a NAV system only to find out that to use the nav system a dvd has to be in your cd player anytime that you are using it. In other words FM or XM only while navigating. I have used many different portable navigation devices that are so much more user friendly than this one. It is all that I can do to figure this thing out, my wife gave up after several very frusterating attempts. Save the money and buy a garmin! Also cup holders are a joke in this thing.The money I saved still outweighs these setbacks. GM blew away competitors prices! If I had to do over again I would buy the same vehicle without the nav,We would miss the touch screen FM/XM that comes with the nav.

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  Almost perfect - 2003 GMC Sierra 1500
  By jamesgang - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I have allways been a GM man, and this truck doesnt disapoint. The heated leather captains seats with two person memory are very comfortable. The steering wheel controls for the Bose stereo are great. Some interior wind noise though, and the suspention is very jumpy on the concrete highways. It is in the shop as I write this having the tranny pulled to find out why it started shifting hard from first to second gear at 15900 miles.

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  Extremely disappointed. Worthless at 52k miles - 2009 GMC Sierra 1500
  By 2ndstpirate - December 16 - 1:16 am

  Had to get motor replaced at 52k miles. Starting at 35k the lifters starting ticking. Dealership has worked on it an average of 2 days each month for the past year and finally had to replace the motor. It left me stranded and had to be towed twice in the past 8 weeks. Interior - "fake leather" seats started cracking at 3 years old. Dash cracked at 40K miles. Door panels rattle and dash does as well. Replaced two sets of power door locks. They are not worth 2 cent Horn went into a high pitch about 1 year into owning it. It sounds like a little foreign car. 4x4 is weak. I often drive on sand and it cannot run in 4 high without overheating for more than 10 minutes at speeds of 20mph

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  Very Satisfied - 2007 GMC Sierra 1500
  By fiftyfour - December 15 - 8:10 pm

  I have always loved full sized American trucks, but leery to buy because of reliablity issues. I finally bought last Feb. and have not regretted it! My Sierra SLE 4 X 4 ext. cab is everything I dreamed it would be. A blast to drive, no problems. Well built and designed. The lift and 35" tires didnt help ride quality, but sure look good. The truck continues to turn heads. It isnt a speed demon, but the engine is strong and the transmission smooth. I chose the basic, no frills interior. I love it. Seems very durable. Even the cheap stereo sounds great. Had one rattle, which the dealer fixed, also "rollover sensor" light came on. Also fixed. This is my dream truck and wouldnt trade it for the world

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  Dons 2500 HD - 2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD
  By Don - December 15 - 7:00 pm

  I had an 04 2500 HD and liked it enough that I traded it for an 06 equipped the same. The employee discount was the reason for the switch. It does have a stiff ride, but then, it is a HD instead of a softer pulling 1500. I can pull my 3,000 lb steel horse trailer with 2 horses with an average weight of 1,000 lbs each, and I do not know it is behind the truck. No matter what type of terrain or road condition, as long as it isnt ice covered. We havnt had snow or ice so I havnt had a chance to put it to the real test as yet, other than pulling the horse trailer.

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  poor truck - 2006 GMC Canyon
  By Rev - December 15 - 11:16 am

  Must be the cheapest designed, and poorly built truck...EVER! I wish I had looked more closely. I will go back to a foreign model. Its too bad. The U.S. better get its quality control up. Its horrible. Everything about this truck...just spells CHEAP at your expense!!!! They must be laughing all the way.