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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  Beast of an SUV - 1999 GMC Jimmy
  By Klesel - June 30 - 9:50 pm

  Ive had my Jimmy for quite a while now and Im extremely pleased. Im a 17 year old kid, and I can honestly say Ive put my SUV through things that no vehicle should live through. Off roading, highway speeding, mudding, drag races, you name it, Ive beat on this truck for over a year and nothing has gone out yet! Very safe and reliable. Only problem is horrible gas mileage!

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  Ready to sell - 2007 GMC Envoy
  By adam - June 30 - 8:49 am

  This is my second Envoy, my first was a 2002. It had massive engine problems at 2000 miles and after I totaled it from hitting a deer, I got a new one. I primarily got it for the high comfort great looks. It has little problems that make it spend days at the shop. It has also lost most of its value over the 5 months Ive owned it. I would not buy another but I would rather buy an American car rather than some Honda or Toyota.

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  My little GMC work truck - 2011 GMC Sierra 1500
  By krausee - June 28 - 1:40 am

  I love my little work truck, short bed, 4.3 engine. Why? Because I paid 15,900 for it minus a 750 dollar USAA rebate. Its my third new GMC/Chevy in 10 years and I expect it to be as reliable as the previous trucks.

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  The kids love it - 1996 GMC Savana
  By Liz - June 27 - 12:49 am

  I seem to have similar experiences to those reviews already written. Brakes need replacing a lot, drivers side window works 75% of the time, scraped up running boards while learning my boundaries and they dont do well in airport parking garages! But, my 6 kids Love this van! So much so that with 158,000 miles, we just purchased a new one! We are excited about spending 10+ more years with this one.

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  knock knock - 2001 GMC Sierra 1500
  By whoa there - June 26 - 10:00 am

  this truck is running very welland i likethe powerand ride. the brakes are weak ,no feel to them . you have to stomp on pedal. i am discovering a knock on start up and when idling.i willtaketo dealersoon to check. haveowned truck 1 yr. and enjoyed driving immensely.

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  6 years later and i still love it - 2001 GMC Yukon
  By brian - June 25 - 12:03 am

  I love the interior with its attention to detail. The exterior just commands attention and it has plenty of power. I pull a 6200 lb. camper with ease. In 136,437 miles I’ve had two problems. One with the drive line ($500) and the other with the air conditioner ($900). And the Bose system is one of the best factory sound systems that I have ever heard.

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  Nice vehicle - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By JAY - June 24 - 7:57 pm

  It has been a reliable and especially comfortable vehicle for me. You could not ask for more options with the SLT package.

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  Offroading Monster - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By schwiggy55 - June 24 - 3:15 pm

  This Jimmy took every beating i threw at it and it still runs like a champ. It handles great in the mountain and good enough on the snow. The only problem is the gas milage. But this is one of the most reliable cars ive ever had.

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  The Big Terrain is a great family vehicle - 2017 GMC Acadia
  By John L - June 24 - 8:51 am

  We traded our 2013 Acadia Denali AWD for the 2017 comparably equipped. The first thing you notice is the cargo area is (somewhat meaningfully) smaller and the exterior looks a lot like the old Envoy (we viewed it as a downgrade vs the previous mode Acadias). From the exterior it looks like a super sized Terrain but is much roomier inside. While the cargo space was a hangup they did a great job preserving very comfortable passenger space in the first and second rows. The 3rd row is now 2 seats and tight but it was tight before and nobody would try to seat 3 people of any size back there anyway. There is a huge difference in the feel of driving this. It now handles like a crossover and not a truck. I think the transmission is smoother, it all feels much lighter and its still very comfortable on highway. The infotainment system is a revolution from the previous (and awful) GMC system. Apple CarPlay is intuitive, reliable and simple. Great interface, especially for navigation. Safety features are also a plus. The backup sensors vibrate the drivers seat if youre getting too close going either forward or backward and the forward parking camera is a good addition to the rear camera and cross-traffic sensors. There is also a red indicator on the windshield and seat vibration if someone brakes in front of you (or 2 cars in front) while at speed which is effective but subtle. While we miss the cargo room, lets be honest: at least in suburbia this vehicle is a kid-hauler and not a large cargo transport and you wont miss the extra cargo space 95% of the time. We do miss the heads up display (HUD) that was eliminated in the 2017. All in all weve been very happy with the redesign and love this car.

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  Great SUV - 2007 GMC Yukon
  By DaveB - June 22 - 10:42 pm

  Traded 2003 Expedition for Denali after driving new Expedition, BMW X-5, Acura and Mazda SUVs’. Denali is smooth and by far the most powerful. It is very comfortable on long trips and is easy to drive. I also have a Mercedes S430 and I prefer driving the Denali on long trips. Positives include styling, new interior, comfort of seats, power, and ease of handling. Negatives are lack of fold flat third row seat, folding covers for cup holders and the little storage compartment on center console make the openings smaller than on Tahoe, and they fold the wrong way-making you lift cups over the door. Minor stuff though compared to the great feeling I get when driving this truck. 3500 miles and happy