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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  Its a love/hate thing with this Jimmy - 1999 GMC Jimmy
  By IowaBreeze - December 5 - 2:58 pm

  In 5 years and 130K miles I have replaced both front hub assemblies, two fuel pumps, heater core, whole AC system, tie rod ends,radiator, alternator, many sets of brake pads, and none of it is cheap!! Also, the seat back handle broke, the lights on the steering wheel and doors failed, the visor mirror lights quit, I have no floor heat, and my 4WD wont engage. $7000+ in repairs over 5 years! It is comfortable to drive and the engine is a runner, but the other components are pure junk. What a disappointment. 19 MPG is not too great at $3.00 per gallon. Never again!

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  Not so impressed - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By Larry Francis - November 10 - 6:36 am

  I find that this vehicle rides ruff and has a lot of road noise. I also find that it has a lot of cheap plastic in the cabin. This is the third GM product I purchased and for the third time I was disappointed, I think Im going to buy a Ford or Toyota next time.

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  Works with engine light on? - 1999 GMC Jimmy
  By astrocastro - November 2 - 11:29 pm

  Bought used with 42K miles on it, got smart and bought used car warranty. The warranty paid for itself with warranty repair at ~60K miles. Every year the check engine light comes on every spring and stays on till autumn and then extinquishes with the cooler temperatures. Found out it was related to some (again) transmission related problem....still works with light on. Like so many others also had to replace front wheel bearings (sealed, designed for zero maintenance?) and replace the cheap seat reclining mechanism passenger side. Of course the electrical stuff in the drivers door is always a problem, but probably due to mechanical (dirt etc.) I hear the motors.

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  Do not buy - 2000 GMC Jimmy
  By Jimmy Hater - October 28 - 6:53 pm

  I have put well over $8000 in repairs to this vehicle. It is a very sharp SUV that was poorly designed. I have replaced ball joints and well bearing hub assemblys multiple times. A small fortune was spent to fix a secondary air induction pump. I would recommend everyone to stay away from purchasing this vehicle. I am not the only one that has these problems, everyone I know with one has the same problems to some extent.

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  Needs some tweeking - 2007 GMC Yukon
  By Anonymous - October 3 - 9:21 pm

  Keep in mind I am new to American cars. I bought this car because I wanted something comfortable with 3 row seating. For some reason I got so taken in by how comfortable it was driving the car that I forgot to even check the other rows, which I normally do when checking a car. I love how comfortable it is, nice, big, and seats 8...well thats what I thought. I guess after looking at the Sequioa and the Armada I thought it was safe to assume that the 3rd row had more than enough room...think again. Maybe the fact that I am 58" doesnt help, but I would expect for there to be room for me in the 3rd row. Overall the car is what it is, but for such a pricy American car I expected more.

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  Worst Vehicle I have ever owned - 2003 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Drivernator - October 2 - 2:00 am

  This is the worst vehicle I have ever owned. It has 8000 miles and is always in the shop. It rattles (has been down 1 dirt road for 3 miles), master brake cylinder went out, new front brakes, passenger p/w doesnt work properly (3X to dealer and still not fixed). The rear axle seals have now started leaking. Will never buy another U.S. built auto.

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  So-So - 2007 GMC Yukon XL
  By Phil - September 13 - 11:30 am

  Replaced a 2001 YukonXL with a 2007 Denali. The quality of both has been great. The 2007 has side-airbags, stabilitrack and higher crash safety. This is not a good tow vehicle, on paper it looks great but the rear suspension is too squirmy - I think it is the air bags that level the load. The steering is ambiguous. A 3/4 ton YukonXL would have been a better choice.

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  Nice Truck / Poor Mileage - 2007 GMC Yukon
  By Zwitter153 - September 11 - 10:19 am

  I had a 2005 Yukon and I loved it. Got great milage and the only issue I had was the information display control were on the steering wheel. On the 2007 they moved the information controls to the dash, but I hate the circular gauge/dash design which is echoed in the head/tail lights.

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  OK vehicle, on the open road. - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By R Jacob - August 27 - 4:20 am

  6-speed transmission is annoying. Constantly shifting in town and in country. Interior dash and door panels are cheaply made. Same material I have in my GM work truck! Interior surface is hard to clean. Exterior is time consuming to dry off after washing it. Many nooks and crannies. Nice to look at, a pain to own. We sold ours!

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  BUYERS BEWARE - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By Marc Ferguson - August 14 - 10:00 am

  The GMC Envoy is great, so we though. Our Envoy is now 11 months old with 11900 miles on it. It is NOT reliable at all. its in the shop for the second time this week for the same problem. It doesnt start, and when it does, the headlight sprayers spray by themselvs, the clock resets and the engine was roaring and the car would NOT accelerate. Decreased Engine power light comes on and we can NOT drive it at all. The electronic mirrors that adjust to your driver settings never work, the door locks have broken several times, and the suspension is pretty bad at times. Overall, the car is VERY unreliable