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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  kind of bitter - 1996 GMC Sonoma
  By Jdog - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Is a 5-speed manual. The transmission went out, was impossible to find a used replacement. A new one will cost me 2500.00 not including labor.

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  Family buggy - 2000 GMC Safari
  By d little - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Good gas miliage compaired to ford windstar. a lot more room. Can tow a trailer with it even though the ford had the 3.8 liter v6 prior to this we had a Contour that got about fourteen miles to the gallon so twenty seems great.

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  Wow, What A Truck!! - 1994 GMC Sonoma
  By NesBilt.com - September 19 - 2:00 am

  Just bought it and LOVE it! I have the V6 and there is plenty of power! Its going to be fun upgrading this bad boy!

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  We LOVE this SUV - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By Hardhwak - September 19 - 2:00 am

  We LOVE this SUV. We have had it over a year and have had no significant problems with it. Yes, a few little minor issues arose, but those were taken care of quickly and easily by our dealer. If it were stoled or destroyed tomorrow, we would get another one just like it.

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  Great SUV...If you like large SUVs - 2005 GMC Yukon XL
  By rte07 - September 18 - 11:06 am

  I bought my Denali when it had 92,000 on it. It now has about 102,000 on it and I have had it for about 5 months. I havent had to do anything to it except a fuel pump and have some interior plastic touched up. No complaints here!! The only downside is 13.4 mpg, but what do you expect when you have a SUV of this size. All in all I think it is a great truck and it can do everything i want it to do, I can take me and 6 people around, pull boats and trailers, go on long trips and not even feel like it was very long. Im very happy with my Denali!

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  Watch the Tires - 2001 GMC Yukon XL
  By JimG - September 17 - 10:00 am

  An excellent vehicle! Good ride, good comfort, good secure feeling. The problem is the choice of Firestone tires as the standard for this vehicle. After 15,000 miles, they are "cupped" on the inside front even though the dealership took care of the rotation along with other recommended services. In the cabin, the tires sound like a monster truck at 50 mph. The dealship answer - normal wear for these tires on a GM vehicle. Their advice - replace the Firestones with Michelins - at my cost! At least Ford/Firestone paid for the replacement on an Explorer.

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  Its a winner! - 2003 GMC Envoy
  By miltonw - September 17 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE my new Envoy... I got a super deal on it too! $4,500 off from dealer, plus $2,000 rebate, plus $1,750 off from my GM Master card rebate (taken off sales price right at the dealer)! I test drove the Kia, Mazda, Ford(s) and Nissan (xterra) before I bought and the Envoy won hands down. Just the right size too.

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  Ryans Review - 1994 GMC Yukon
  By Ryans Yukon - September 17 - 2:00 am

  I have had this SUV for over 2 years now, and i have never had a truck that was so much fun. I have had her off- raod, and she swam right through a pond, it was great. I know have over 190,000 miles on the origainal engine and transmission, and she still runs and drives like a champ.

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  no more Jimmy - 1999 GMC Jimmy
  By no more Jimmy - September 17 - 2:00 am

  A new water pump, heater core flushed twice, replaced heater core, replaced radiator, replaced wheel barring casing and $2300 later I have had enough of the Jimmy. I like the look of the vehicle but the repair bills are killing me. This started happening at 50,000 miles. I had the vehicle serviced as recommended, flushed and changed everything. Just a very poor coolant system. Time for another vehicle.

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  2002 Envoy - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By jdp - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Excellent towing vehicle. 4.2L inline 6 engine puts out much more horsepower than its predecessor - the 4.3L V6