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:

• 

  Truck - 2009 GMC Sierra 1500
  By josh - September 23 - 4:10 pm

  Since I got the truck there has been constant rattles from the dash.. My rims are peeling. Piston slap. Vibration in steering shaft. More rattles. I like the trucks interior but I think I got a lemon

• 

  Egg shell front - 2004 GMC Envoy
  By commander - August 11 - 2:00 am

  I was very disappointed in the survivability of the front bumper and grill. If you check the grill is held in by two plastic snap-on clips. I accidentaly hit a bird at 60 mph and the grill came apart. Very poor design. No...it was not a frozen chicken! So much for GMC Truck like ruggedness.

• 

  Worst truck I have owned so far. - 2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD
  By zolo1978 - April 20 - 11:11 am

  At 23,000 miles the exhaust fluid warning came on, took it to the dealer and they took 2 days to fixed it. At 43,000 miles something outside the engine malfunction It cost me $18000.00 obviously they told me that that is not cover by the 100,000 mile power train, now at 53,000 miles something with the transmission went bad and the dealership is telling me that it will cost around $800.00 to fix and of course is has nothing to do with the power train so no luck. I will never buy another GMC vehicle in my life. I can put up with the small space inside, because I liked the oversized bed, but not paying $2700.00 with in a 6 month period give me a brake.

• 

  Acadia car is deathtrap RUN from it!!! - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By Dawn - March 11 - 1:26 pm

  2007 Acadia AWD is Junk Run from it. The car broke down after 20 minutes owning it. SPent more time in the garage then with me. Then started to shut off while I am making turns on the highway for no reason. Got a replacement car which we paid more for and this car is doing the same thing. We are lucky no one got killed yet and GMC will not refund our money and they know this car is a death trap and I have 3 children endangering their lives by driving this crap.Unbelievable!! They put the new updates on it now the car is worse Keeps hesitating like its going to shut off then you get whiplash when you put the gas on. Some kind of hesitation.

• 

  VERY dissatisfied - 2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid
  By rbuc - March 4 - 8:56 am

  I bought this truck with a promise of 21 mpg (city and hway). In real life, the best case scenario was 13.8 mpg in town and 16.8 mpg hwy. I drove with a feather touch, and watched the economy meter regularly. On the hwy, I only used Cruise control for maximum gas mileage. With all my attempts, these are the best numbers I could do. I was so upset (and embarrassed when asked by friends what my mileage was on my new Yukon hybrid), that I sold it at a huge loss. Better to get it off my back now than later. Itll be worthless in a year, if they even still make it by then. Interior is all molded plastic... Terrible.