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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  7 times in the shop first year - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By kathy75 - May 16 - 6:25 pm

  I thought I was exchanging a 9 year Murano that was needing its 5 transmission (which was still under warranty and was no longer reliable as something I could depend on, wrong! This 2011 terrain has been in the shop 7 times for a total of the same 3 problems. 4 times for cutting off and cutting out on me, the lift gate made loud noises when it got hot and finally after 5 times in the shop in which they told me unless it makes the notice when it is in here you will just have wait until breaks, well it did and came down on my head. The air stopped working last summer twice while it was in the high 90s you could turn it back on after about 20 minutes and it would work again.

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  Constant Problems - 2010 GMC Acadia
  By gbread - March 26 - 9:53 am

  Unfortunately, one week after purchasing my GMC Acadia SLTII, one of the tires blew out and had to be replaced. It has gotten no better. This car gets the worse gas mileage of any vehicle I have ever owned. It gets less than 14 mpg, and is costing me an arm and a leg. The transmission constantly slips, and it has been in the shop for a broken water pump, non-cooling air conditioner and problems with the DVD player. The dealer has been very helpful upon each instance, however, I am sure they are getting tired of having to get me rental cars regularly since the car, still under warranty, is in the shop all of the time. I cant wait to get rid of this car, and will never buy GMC again.

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  Bad gas mileage - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By elvis711 - March 5 - 2:04 pm

  Just like everyone else- 22-25 MPG. Also, it does a hard shift all the time, and often when pressing on the gas, it hesitates, as though it had to think if it was the brake or the gas , it makes you very angry when driving. Terrible experience. One good thing is the storage. Too bad we cannot afford to road trip with the crap mileage.

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  ONCE A DREAM CAR, NOW A NIGHTMARE!!! - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By asheywashey - February 23 - 11:01 am

  I always wanted this car and finally bought it and now absolutely hate it!!! The service air bag light stays on and there was a recall and still not fixed:( we got a DVD player installed and it will only play 2 movies due to the wiring, it has stalled on us because it was on a tilt and it had about a 1/4 tank gas and so it wouldnt start, plus it already needed a computer upgrade, the same time the back hatch sensor was broken so we couldnt open the hatch, the plastic falls off of the doors, the back seat, even on the outside of the roof its slipping off. We baby this car and it still has tons of issues. It doesnt get up and go when pushing on the gas, and if you go fast it shakes everything.

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  Gas Mileage - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By bwall2 - January 28 - 5:13 pm

  This is my 3rd posting about the horrible gas mileage of this vehicle. I would love a class action suit for performance....I bought it for the 32 mpg expecting to receive at least 27-28 mpg. How disgusting! I like driving my Camry Hybrid - 38-41 mpg - and 76,000 miles on it. No more GM products for me!

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  GMC Acadia Junkmobile - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By bubb007 - October 31 - 2:36 pm

  Struts replaced X2 , tranny X2, brakes and rotors replaced X2, rear seat adjustment is horrible, original tires garbage. GMC engineers trying to figure out why airbag/seatbelt lights stay on all the time...cant assure me that the airbags will work correctly. Worst vehicle ever owned...in fact, Ive had $100 cars when I was a kid that were better quality and more dependable that this pile of scrap metal. Have 5 months left on my "Stupid Buy" and am certainly returning this vehicle (since GMC wont do anything to buy me out. They spent more money on transmission and struts that they would have to buy me out! Wouldnt buy another even if offered for the $100...like my cars of 30 years ago!

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  Transmission and power steering - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By kimba71 - August 23 - 7:10 pm

  I have a 2007 Acadia with 70,000 miles on it. I am having major transmission problems. It slips all the time. Some times it will not go into gear. It is very dangerous when exiting onto a highway. In addition, there is a cover that apparently does not cover the power steering fluid/belt? they did not fully explain this well. The issue is when it really rains, the car does not steer. So I have ended up in a median and some other odd places. Luckily no one has been hurt... yet. I get endles repairs on this car. I see others are having the same issues. [violative content deleted]

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  Criminal MPG Advertising!!!! - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By fathero3 - August 5 - 5:00 pm

  I have never written a review before but feel obligated to warn others of my mistake. I bought my 2011 GMC Terrain in Dec 2010. As of August 2011, I have put close to 20K miles on my vehicle...mostly all highway mileage due to outside sales. After extensive research on this vehicle, and others in its class, I went with the Terrain for the advertised highway MPG. I read all of the reviews that explicitly pointed out that the mileage fell short. I assumed that if it fell short of the 32 MPG around 26-28 MPG, thats still great. I have done everything possible to only get 22-23 MPG at best...at that is in the "ECO" mode. Ive developed OCD watching instantaneous fuel economy. Terrible!

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  Extremely Concerned Customer - 2010 GMC Acadia
  By jaeh1984 - July 28 - 12:59 pm

  I purchased my 2010 Acadia in August of 2009. It has 30,000 miles on it. It has never been wrecked. It is currently sitting in the shop for transmission repairs. I would appreciate it if someone could contact me about my car. I am beyond upset about my "new" car needing such serious repairs.

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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.