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 Fun Car! - 2007 GMC Yukon XL
  By lulu - September 22 - 11:03 am

  Purchased this car on 01/02/07 to replace our 2001 Suburban LT 4x4. Demo with 1000 miles on it. Immediately drove from SF Bay area to Lake Tahoe for a weeks vacation. Remote start was unbelievable. Start the car from the house, 10 minutes later, the car is warmed up, heat on full, heated seats on, etc. Such a pleasure! Kids love the DVD with wireless headsets, mom can listen to her music, too! Handles the mountain altitude extremely well - the 6-speed automatic really shifts smoothly on the steep inclines. Much better than the Burb. Poor FM reception and distance. Great XM radio, but we need road conditions, etc.

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  Excellent Quality / Reliability! - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By David K. - September 21 - 2:00 am

  30000 trouble free miles. Excellent build quality and functional design. This has been a great all-around vehicle. Averaged 18.5 miles per gallon.

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  what more could you ask for - 2000 GMC Yukon Denali
  By bob s - September 19 - 10:00 am

  rides like a dream, 100% reliable, a true snow king, awesome bose sound. brakes are undersized for weight of vehicle. i bought a new one .

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  My baby - 2004 GMC Envoy
  By smarti - September 19 - 10:00 am

  Four Words I love my SUV!

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  Good, but not the best - 2003 GMC Envoy
  By Mr Ed - September 19 - 2:00 am

  Overall we are happy with purchase. However, it has been back to the leaker twice for warranty repair. One repair was for the high-pressure A/C switch inoperative and the other incident was for the engine fan clutch stating engaged all the time{ sounded like a jet engine under the hood}.

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  Envoy Rocks! - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By adadude - September 18 - 8:06 pm

  This vehicle is wider and taller than the prior model year, and the interior is as comfortable as you could ever expect in an SUV. The performance is fantastic, given the inline 6s output above even the V8s offered in this class. Turning radius is astonishingly small. The inline six allows this as the engine takes less room than a "V" configuration. I recommend the Envoy. The SLT model has every luxury appointment you could ask for, shy of an LCD screen navigation system.

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  GM got this right! - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By Sanman14 - September 18 - 6:50 pm

  The Acadia has more than lived up to my expectations. Handling is terrific, and the 6-speed performs better than anticipated with the software fix GM has applied. A fun, functional, and very comfortable vehicle. Turns a lot of heads!

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  Great - 2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD
  By greg - September 17 - 8:56 am

  I have had several of the old classic 2500 4WDs and this one is by far the best truck I have ever owned. The styling is so much nicer than Chevy. Only one little problem with the transmission so far. All my previous GMCs spent a lot of time in the shop for warranty work, but not this one! Build quality seems so much better now.

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  2003 GMC Sonoma ZR2 - 2003 GMC Sonoma
  By Josh_ - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Great ride for an off-road spec truck. The truck is available with 31" tires, yet handles great in town or on the highway. Lots of features and accessories are available from GMC and the aftermarket. 250ft/lbs of torque means you can pull just about anything.

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  Great Small Package - 1995 GMC Sonoma
  By bobtommich - September 13 - 2:00 am

  Great gas mileage. Roomy interior. Love the 2 tone color of black and blue. Interior has everything in the right places. Ive got 123k and have no leaks. Wish it had a CD player and a back sliding window. Signs of head gasket leak but ok now, cause using high mileage oil. Had to replace mirrors on drivers side 3 times and passanger twice due to vibration. Also replaced back window because of rain water leakage after warranty. Thumbs up to Gmc service. They even replaced the mirrors after warranty. Signs of rust at the lower side below extended cab window on both the passanger and drivers side. Very easy to work on. Had to replace the starter once.