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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  Mileage is a Joke! - 2012 GMC Acadia
  By jftripp - July 24 - 7:31 pm

  This vehicle was sold with EPA estimate of 17 city and 22 highway. We have about 10,000 miles on the vehicle, and are averaging around 14 or 15 city (have never gotten close to 17), and have yet to get over 19 MPG on the highway. Dont believe the EPA estimates on this vehicle! In addition, on the highway, its under-powered. If you have cruise set at 75, it will slow down to around 70 before it downshifts. This results in a constant "leap frog" with other vehicles on the highway. Looks decent, but other than that, I regret this purchase.

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  First GMC - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By bhallett21 - July 20 - 11:17 am

  Ive only had my Terrain for 2 weeks but so far it has exceeded my expectations. Gas mileage has been between 24-25 mpg combined driving with eco on, fine with me for the size of the vehicle. I bought a 4 cyl because let’s face it you dont really need all the power of a V-6 unless you tow things. The inside of the Terrain is excellent, I "upgraded" to the SLE2 because I wanted some of the features. Its drives like a dream, I just got out of a lease on a Nissan Altima Coupe and the suspension on the Terrain absorbs bumps much better. Its no sports car but I didnt expect it to be. Anyway I think it fits its job and place in the market perfectly.

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  Bad Engines stay away - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By hurley325 - July 19 - 5:37 pm

  I have a 2007 acadia with 66,900 miles and I had to replace waterpump at 50,000 miles and now the engine light has come on. I took it to the dealer and they said that the engine will need to be removed do to a bad camshaft. It seems to be a big issue with the 3.6 engine just google camshaft-timing chain problems.

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  trans &gas milage - 2010 GMC Acadia
  By ralph59 - July 17 - 9:19 am

  i only get 13mpg around town,not like gmc says 21mpg on highway. with towing package and running empty the transmission down shift as soon as you take your foot the gas peddle.

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  Mixed Emotions - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By notadummy - July 14 - 3:57 pm

  I bought my 07 Acadia in 2008 with 12,000 miles. It wasnt long before I had to replace the water pump (covered under warranty). And then the sunroof started leaking. It has been in the shop 8 times for the sunroof and now the headliner is damaged and I am having electrical issues, which I attribute to water damage. The backup sensor light is staying on (which they said was normal!), my rear brake light assembly is fogged up internally and doing the "fast blink", my front blinker on the mirror is malfunctioning, and my AC quit working. I was told the AC was unrelated, and its the evaporator core, and its $1700 to fix. I love my vehicle, but not the problems! I am torn about trading!

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  2006 GMC Envoy - 2006 GMC Envoy
  By aplymate - July 6 - 6:18 pm

  I purchased my 2006 Envoy used from Carmax when it had 32,000 miles on it. At the time we bought it, it was making a whining noise from the motor, which the salesman assured us was normal. It was not normal. Left me broke down on the side of the road when the idler pulley broke and tore up the sepenteine belt. Fuel gauge no longer works and check engine light stays on. More recently my drivers side door squeks badly and one of the shocks on my back hatch blew out. I wanted to get a brand new Acadia but not sure I want to purchase another GMC. They do not even have any recalls for any of the problems. Do not buy..

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  love our terrain - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By tombeaversr - June 29 - 10:02 pm

  We bought our terrain in Feb. 2011 and now have over 6700 miles on it. avg. mpg is 24.8 to 29.5 local and 29 to 33.2 hwy. The seats are good butnot as comfortable as the 1999 buick lesable that we had but the terrain does handle much better. The 4 cyl is not a dog if you wind it up but you can definitly tell that the old girl weighs a lot. In stop and go traffic it is real easy to get mpg down to 22. With cruise set at 65-70 on reasonably flat ground we get 29.8-33.2. have not got use to unlock button being in middle of dash. No problems yet. Buick lasted 233,000 miles. Hope this GMC does too.

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  slush factor & interior faux pas - 2011 GMC Acadia
  By mundocovar - June 28 - 3:25 pm

  amidst looking for a good crossover for my size 6-5... while i am an avid fast driver, we need the room to lug around at least 4 big people without having to get a mini van or a suburban monster. we test drove the car but the title of crossover is not there. the car feels like a small truck. handling is slushy and feels a bit delayed. the room inside has with great features. but the quality of the finish turned us off. the sun roof(s) were covered with a flimsy slide cloth that did not close well and that would be torn off at the first fight between my children, sunroof hardware was exposed were tie rods would lead to finger stubbing cleanup .unlike the toyota HIGHLANDER clean desig

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  Very Disappointed - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By lexreviewer - June 27 - 12:06 pm

  We have owned our 2007 Acadia for just over a year and it has been very disappointing. The first 2 months we owned it...it lived in the shop. Leaks from the moon roof. Then it was the suspension. Then it was the battery. Then the last straw was the transmission completely going. NOT GOOD. We traded it....took a loss and got out of it as soon as we could.

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  Gas Mileage Is Terrible - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By mjhow - June 26 - 8:02 pm

  We looked at Hondas, Mazdas and Toyotas. We finally chose the GMC Terrain based upon its size, design and most importantly it 22/32 gas mileage. I live in the South Carolina low country which is quite flat. I took the GMC on two trips to Florida on flat 4 lane easy roads. One to Tampa and one to Jacksonville from Hilton Head Island. Gas mileage to and from Tampa averaged 22-23 miles per gallon, not 32 miles per gallon. While on one trip I made various tests to determine that it is virtually impossible to get 32 miles per gallon. The closest you get is driving under 60 miles an hour on an easy Interstate with no A/C. City mileage is equally as terrible. Do not buy this for gas mileage.