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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  badd gmc - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By Shawn - September 15 - 6:30 pm

  too many recalls not safe no power .. Stalls and I complained to gmc and they just said didnt do much at all

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  Not what GMC promises - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By Dave A - September 9 - 9:07 pm

  Talk about false advertising, the actual gas mileage is no where near the EPA. At 60k miles, the timing chain needed replaced, a loud rattling noise continued and the on board diagnostic light keeps turning off and on. Recently the car started to lose oil - 3 quarts - about 3,000 miles after the last oil change. Also, the car has been hesitating and then stalling while in drive, very dangerous! One of the mechanics told us the timing chain was a constant problem...why no recall? Also, there have been 3 recalls in the past 4 years. This is the 4th GMC vehicle weve owned and it will definitely be the last. We should have quit buying GMC after the first one....!

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  Very Noisy Engine - Rattling Sound on Start Up - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By Frank Gibbs - August 17 - 6:59 pm

  Stay away from the 4 cylinder. I have a 2011 Terrain with the 4 cylinder engine and i know that it is just a matter of time before the engine goes. It rattles on crank up, sounds like metal scraping against metal. Transmission jumps on occasion and the gas mileage is very much exaggerated by GM. It does not get neat the mileage that they state in their bulletin on the Terrain. I would not recommend this vehicle to a friend.

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  Do not buy this car! - 2009 GMC Acadia
  By Scott M. Combs - August 17 - 12:50 pm

  Lots of electronic and mechanical issues. Many trips to the dealer. Rack and pinion went out $2200, 3 fuel injectors $1800, struts $400, lots of electrical sensors and mystery check engine issues. Would not buy another GMC!

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  Not a Country Car - 2010 GMC Terrain
  By Doug T. - July 18 - 10:22 am

  We had driven Ford Explorers for many years and thought we would give the Terrain a try partly due to its touted fuel mileage. As we live on a ranch and drive under different road conditions depending on the time of the year, we purchased the AWD. It was a bad decision. The mileage advertised at the time was 32 mpg and we were lucky to get 25 mpg under the best of conditions. The transmission was so high geared that we had to manually put it in low and ride the brakes on steep grades. The overall workmanship interior/exterior was poor, with plastics being major components throughout. The worst was the ground clearance, which was ridiculous for a so-called SUV. We encountered several damages by driving road good paved roads, when something would be thrown up from the tires and doing damage. The final straw was my wife hitting a jack rabbit at 50 mph, causing enough damage that the vehicle had to be towed and repair costs were $1,800.00. Owning it less than two years and with less than 45,000 miles on it, we traded it in for another make. I would recommend that you not buy this vehicle unless you live in town, dont care about gas mileage and just want to say you drive a SUV.

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  Never expected this from General Motors - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By chris2314 - April 1 - 8:47 pm

  I purchased my 2008 Acadia brand new and was very pleased, until the transmission went out, the roof started leaking, head lights malfunctioned, etc. The vehicle is not worth the price you pay, and GM WILL NOT stick behind their product. Every attempt was made to void any warranty work on my transmission, and the process is still continuing today. Rebuilt transmission has been in for 16 months and is failing again. No assistance from GM. I am being told it is my fault the transmission is going out. I have been a proud GM owner as long as I have had cars, but the service and support from GM has changed that. I will never own another GM product.

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  Most unreliable vehicle ive ever owned - 2010 GMC Terrain
  By tpregnar - February 20 - 12:07 pm

  My first car cost $17,000 less than my terrain and was 100% more reliable. Lots of warranty work was done on the engine before the engine needed to be rebuilt. After it was rebuilt the gas mileage plummeted. then the transmission blew just out of warranty. Would have been nice to be able to check the transmission fluid without crawling under the car, but there is no dipstick. Absolute waste of money and the last gm product I will own.

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  Not worth buying - 2010 GMC Terrain
  By bxgirl - November 6 - 9:03 am

  Purchased my Terrain soon as it hit dealerships during its release. Ive never visited a dealership so many times and have had so many problems with a vehicle. Since having this vehicle Ive had problems with the vehicle shutting off in the middle of intersections due to the senor oxygen (engine control) needing to be replaced to due cold starting the vehicle, the rear control arm bushings, the stabilizer shaft, the exhaust manifold all of which needed to be replaced. Now, GM was trying to hit me over the head and charge me for the timing chain which they try putting on me for not changing the oil. Luckily I saved all my receipts and they had to eat the $847 bill.

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  Will not buy American again - 2012 GMC Terrain
  By jclablanc - July 25 - 1:28 pm

  So I again trusted the american Manufacture to my demise. I have owned Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Toyota, Nissan and BMW. The only vehicles I have not had problems with are the freaking Japanese vehicles, which really pisses me off. Why can we the American people not make a solid vehicle that can be reliable. Every American Vehicle I have owned did not last 30k miles without some type of issue. My latest Toyota has 112k miles with no issues to date owned for 8 years now. This piece of trash, unreliable Terrain I have had for 11 months been in for 3 Engine Lights. Its gets no where near the gas mileage stated, 23mpg on free way stated 31 ha!

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  Ready to trade in... - 2011 GMC Acadia
  By artistamy1 - April 8 - 7:48 pm

  We purchased the 2011 Denali brand-new, kept it well and were rewarded with poor quality. The first year was fine--the lack of technology was a nuisance, but the car fit my very tall family, so I was willing to overlook that. But simple things like the non-qwerty keypad in the CD-based nav system really wore on me. GM stayed solvent by skimping on technology, and its painfully apparent in this model year. Our 06 BMW 3-series has better technology. Now at 36k, its falling apart all over!