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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  BUY THE BEST RIDE AROUND - 2004 GMC Yukon XL
  By althea - August 28 - 10:00 am

  THE VEHICLE PERFORMS VERY WELL, AND HANDLES EXCELLENT. YOU FEEL SAFE ON THE ROAD.

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  Terrain - 2010 GMC Terrain
  By terrain - August 28 - 5:16 am

  Purchased my Terrain very end of Jan. Currently have 1400 miles. I do feel that transmission shifting that others have spoken about. Took some getting use too. It definately wont win any awards for being fast to accelerate from a dead stop. The ride is wonderful coming from a Honda Element, its like heaven. Nice smooth ride, quiet cabin. No problems thus far. Havent had a chance to test it out in the snow. I hope its as good as the Element was.

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  Lemon in Disguise - 2001 GMC Safari
  By Vince - August 27 - 8:38 am

  On the outside, the Safari/Astro appear to be nice vehicles. I had the following problems despite having the vehicle serviced regularly at my dealer: Rear heater broke. Replaced Dutch Door weatherstripping & carpet because of leaks/mold. Replaced power lock actuators. Faulty AC vacuum diaphram. Replaced rear AC, rear heater & rear wiper switches because they were no longer backlit. Mass air flow sensor. Transmission died at 60K in the middle of a US highway. Serpentine belt. GM did the right thing by discontinuing the Astro/Safari because they were lemons in disguise.

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  Truck - 1998 GMC Sonoma
  By rentaman9 - August 27 - 8:09 am

  The truck runs and looks good. I have enjoyed having it. It is good on gas. And it has done well for me.

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  "The Money Pit" - 2003 GMC Yukon XL
  By Appendix - August 27 - 2:00 am

  Problems with electrical from the beginning. "Stabili-trac" light kept coming on. Had to replace electronics for this problem. Had it towed twice, due to the "Low Power", ended up having to replace the whole Throttle System ($250.00). Aspirator just went out, another electrical problem...they want another $157.32 for that. Rearview Mirror electronics just went, they want another $529.28 just to order the replacement mirror! Seems to be a "money pit", or I ended up with the "Lemon"!!

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  Like my Yuke - 1996 GMC Yukon
  By DickMurphy - August 27 - 1:22 am

  Purchased it from 2nd owner, young woman, was local dealer offlease truck. 87K. Logged over 46K since. Mild off-road use, super comfortable on long trips. Decent gas mileage considering its size, power, and era it was made (gas was cheap). I like the "old" platform better than the new one. This is one of the last of the simple truck models, good old reliable 350. It doesnt tick, knock, burns a little oil but that is normal for a GM 350 this old. Always keep the maintenance up. Only mechanical issue was worn out fuel sending unit, cost $370 to replace w/new one. Door hinge pins. Great truck, can put lots of people or stuff in it, go anywere in any type of wthr.

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  So far, so great - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By robin - August 26 - 1:40 pm

  The title says it: So far, so great! We have loved the Acadia so far, and I really hope it stays that way! After buying Japanese for the past eight years, we braved the "American Front" once again! My only real concern is that there are multiple blind spots, so I am a little paranoid when backing up, and when changing lanes. You get used to checking a lot. We have loved the comfort, and always receive ooohs and ahhhs when people ride in the Acadia. Handles great, especially for the size, and you feel very safe inside, even in inclement weather. Good job!

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  Lousy suv - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By duped - August 26 - 10:00 am

  Having driven this car for 20k miles,Im getting rid of it. It is very uncomfortable, has poorly designed interior features, handles slugglishlyt and is lousy in deep snow and offroad. Many things have broken, fallen off, or were installed incorrectly. Quality is poor for the hefty price. Never again!

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  Love my red Canyon - 2006 GMC Canyon
  By Jim - August 24 - 12:33 pm

  Excellent vehicle. Had 3 S-10s before. The 2.8 liter 4-cyl is 50% more powerful than my previous one. Its a stronger, nicer, quieter truck. Excellent fuel usage, mid to high 20s. With rebates, paid less than my old 1999.

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  End of Season Terrain - 2017 GMC Terrain
  By Lou D - August 22 - 9:26 am

  The extremely aggressive rebatesthat applied to this 2017 model totalled almost $6000, lowering the purchase price significantly, about 20% off sticker. While not an option listed above, this was a 6-cyl SLT. After a test drive, the 4-cyl just didnt have the power needed for this truck. With that, though, comes less than stellar mileage, about 18 MPG. The other complaint is that the center console controls are a bit of a stretch, and the nav system could be simpler to operate. Besides those things, the truck has power, room (especially head room), good cargo space, and a generally sweet interior. Its a great ride, and were very happy with the deal received.