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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  Great SUV - 2004 GMC Envoy
  By Bill and Fran - April 2 - 2:00 am

  This is the most comfortable SUV I have ever driven. It handles smoothly on the highway with plenty of power when needed.

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  Great Truck/Car/SUV ?? - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By Gouldani - April 1 - 10:30 am

  Had this SUV for about a month now and already put on 2000 KM. The fuel mileage is about what I expected getting about 25 mpg hwy and 17 mpg city, not too bad. Love the way this vehicle handles and is able to carry lots of stuff.

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  Good truck with a TERRIBLE transmission - 2016 GMC Canyon
  By Brian - March 31 - 8:47 pm

  First of all, I really do love this truck. I have had it over a year now, and could see myself in it for years. It is very comfortable, handles like an SUV, and the interior is great. I had one small issue with the infotainment not booting one time, but it was quickly resolved by turning the truck off and back on. So now on the bad news. THIS IS THE WORST TRANSMISSION EVER! They have programmed the shift points to make it more fuel-efficient (which its really not). MPGs are great, but not at the expense of driver comfort and safety. The thing just will not downshift when it needs to. So the scenario would be like this.. Youre cruising along at 45 mph and its rolling in 5th gear. You come to a slight incline and give a it a bit more gas to stay at 45. A normal transmission would drop to 4th gear as soon as it started to struggle. well NOT this one. It tries to stay in 5th gear until you can literally feel the torque converter giving up. The only way to get it to downshift is to quickly press the gas pedal to ask for more power. But THEN, does it downshift to 4th? No, it drops 2 gears so now youre revving high in 3rd gear for no reason. GMC could easily fix the shift points with a new ECU flash, but for some reason just continue to ignore us.

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  transmission dead after 44k miles - 2008 GMC Sierra 1500
  By jms20 - March 31 - 1:38 pm

  I bought this truck new and it has been generally fine. Unfortunately the transmission self-destructed 1 month out of the 5 year warranty. I do mostly city driving and rarely tow. The dealer tried to repair it but apparently it was so bad they gave up and put in a rebuilt one. Very disappointed given Ive only driven it 40k miles. The dealer was able to get some of it covered by GMC at least but I felt like they should have covered it all since the problem started before the 5yr end date.

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  shady - 1999 GMC Envoy
  By esclade - March 31 - 2:00 am

  this vehicle looks good but expensive to maintain. if your headlight goes out you go to the store and buy a new one for about $12 i on the other hand have to go to a dealership and spend $2,000. thats for one. ive probably thrown $9000 into it since ive had it and i bought it off lease with only 22000 miles on it. there is some good features to the truck that you dont find on many. but theres no power drivers seat.

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  Near Perfect - 2003 GMC Yukon
  By walters - March 31 - 2:00 am

  Besides being an incredible gas guzzler, this is an awesome vehicle, (short bus).Do not buy for "primary vehicle" or cuz "Ill look cool in a Denali" vehicle. Cuz for one,a Denali is ONLY efficient and sufficient to own as a primary vehicle when your second car is a 14 seater stretch Hummer limo, and no, you probably dont look as cool as you think you do rollin in your Denali cuz most of the people that even realize that it is a Denali and not a Tahoe, are to busy thinking about how cool THEY are rollin in a Denali. Most people that can appreciate how sweet,cool and expensive a Denali is have one themselves.

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  Great Truck - 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD
  By Bud H - March 27 - 11:56 pm

  This my first 3/4 ton truck. Now have 9000 miles on the clock. I have owned about ten 1/2 ton trucks over the last 40 years. I have owned mostly Ford trucks. GMC has really done well with this truck. It is the 6.0 gasser. I haul a travel trailer and perform routine around the house hauling. The powertrain and load performance difference between the GMC 1500 5.3 and 2500HD is huge. I get better gas mileage pulling a trailer with this truck vs. my 2008 GM 1500 5.3 gasser. I have been getting 17mpg on the highway without a load. 11 mpg pulling a 7000lb trailer on the highway. I believe the GM HD trucks are the way to go with either 6.0 gasser or the Duramax / Allison combination.

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  SERVICE 4WD LIGHT ON FOR FOURTH TIME! - 2003 GMC Envoy
  By clovermg - March 27 - 2:00 am

  My 03 Envoys SERVICE 4WD light came on the 1st time at 574 MILES, 2nd time at 4242 MILES, 3rd time at 6490 MILES & 4th time at 9387 MILES. Its had 3 IGNITION SWITCHES in 1 WEEK & Ive only had it 9 mos. I contacted GM about this & was told about a repurchase then told no but never told why. The area rep doesnt have to give a reason why, he doesnt have to call me when Ive asked for him to & they wont give me his info. I told GM this was "UNEXCEPTABLE" and asked to speak with a supervisor & the supervisor HUNG UP ON ME! GM NEEDS TO GET THE ENVOYS ACT TOGETHER! I will NEVER buy GM again! Im on to NY state lemon law now. WISH ME LUCK!

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  2011 gmc 5.3l flex fuel - 2011 GMC Sierra 1500
  By outdrmn - March 26 - 5:44 pm

  I bought this truck 2 years ago with 7,000 miles. It now has 51,000 miles. Been a very comfortable truck, but when it comes to what you need a truck with a v8 for it doesnt work. I run mobile 1 synthetic oil and change every 5,000 miles. Yet when towing a vintage camper (2,600lbs) and a 4x4 4 wheeler in the bed the truck wont pull a hill at 45 without overheating with no more than 2,500 miles on oil change. Also a 3 year old truck I have had to reinstall the door bumper guards since they fell off at 37,000 miles, comfortable truck but the the GMC brand I knew growing up, Id gladly take my 09 silverado back

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  bad choice - 2003 GMC Yukon
  By pbdrive - March 26 - 2:00 am

  for the money, this is the worst investment you can make. the interior design is the same in the $30K yukon as the $52K denali, and looks and feels cheap. the denali is bulky, sways significantly with bumps, and the steering is so loose there is not the slightest feel of agility with this vehicle. further, i have had multitude of problems with the headlights not coming on, as well as problems with reduced engine power and stabilitrack. the navigation is cumbersome, and confusing and is not touchscreen (even the nav on the honda accord is touchscreen!)