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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  3 transmissions, and 3 fuel pumps - 2001 GMC Jimmy
  By Kat - September 17 - 2:00 am

  Hi I bought it used. Now have 191,000 and if you throw enough money at something it will keep running, This is the only vehicle I have ever had to have towed 7 times and I have been driving over 40 years. AAA is a must if you drive one of these. The body still looks great. Now there is something major going on with the front end. Afraid to take it to the mechanic. This is the third transmission, one radiator, fuel pump has been replaced 3 times. The starter, brakes and rotors several times. The 4 wheel drive and a/c works perfectly have not had to do anything with either too bad the whole car wasnt like these components.

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  Air Bag Problem - Beware - 2007 GMC Envoy
  By Justin - September 17 - 2:00 am

  My 2007 Envoy Denali has had numerous computer/sensor issues. Reads tire pressure and gas incorrectly. Recently the air bags deployed without cause. The interior has $3,000.00 in damages caused from the driver and passenger side airbags deploying. The air bag deployment also resulted in my girlfriend being sent to the ER. There is absolutely no damage to the exterior. Poor manufacturing - beware!

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  6 month progress report - 2010 GMC Acadia
  By Kevin - September 17 - 2:00 am

  Love the interior and exterior design. Plenty of room for 6 adults on long road trips. Can fit 8 people on moderate length trips. Smooth ride w/very good handling on twisty roads. Lots of creature comforts. Very quiet interior. Needed easy access 3rd row with room for adults, so no Q7, MDX, X5, Highlander, CX9, XC90, Touareg, Tribeca, RX350 Came down to the Acadia and Pilot Honda Pilots handling was less precise, had more body roll, and much more road noise. Access to third row was more difficult in the Pilot as tested by my 70+ yr old dad. Mileage, Best: 21.5 mpg(hilly highway driving) Worst:16 mpg (mostly city) 7k miles, only issue has been with cord to get the middle seat to lie flat.

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  Grandpa & neema enjoying gmc Acadia slt2 - 2011 GMC Acadia
  By Big Ben/Nebraska - September 17 - 2:00 am

  After deciding we wanted to have a vehicle with more people/cargo room, we traded in our 2008 Impala LTZ and ordered our new 2011 GMC Acadia SLT2. Although we have only driven it for 3 weeks now and have 1000 miles on it, we can see it is everything we wanted/needed in our "new wheels". Ride is fantastic, gas mileage is close to the window sticker suggested mpg highway and city. Has volumes of cargo space with rear seats reclined (although we still havent gotten the knack for dropping the center bucket seats completely down). Enjoy the heads-up display and navigation system. Rear backup camera a must! We have always owned GM products and so far this Acadia meets & beats our expectations.

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  Terrific Terrain - 2011 GMC Terrain
  By Julie D - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Had it two weeks so far and loving it. It rides great, looks fantastic, is very fun to drive. Has lots of features--especially love the bluetooth! The ride is quiet and feels very sporty. Easy to park and turns "on a dime".

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  Love It - 2006 GMC Envoy
  By Ross - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I cant understand all the complaints about the Envoy. Must be other brand dealers trying to kill sales. I have had this one over 2 years and presently have 113,000 miles on it with no issues at all. Bought it used with 46000 on it and will buy another if I can find one. The only mistake GM made was going from this to the Arcadia. Mine has the 4.2 4wd, will go anywhere and pull anything I want to.

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  32 Hwy. EPA is a big lie. - 2010 GMC Terrain
  By Ron Bowman - September 14 - 2:00 am

  The number one reason for buying the 4 cyl. Terrain was the 32 MPG Hwy. advertised. This could not be more wrong. We recently drove over 2400 miles which most was interstate highway and averaged only about 25 MPG. We are senior citizens and this was mostly on cruise control at less that the listed highway speed. We are very disgusted with this poor hwy. mileage and will certainly not recommend this vehicle to friends and family.We could have bought another Town and Country which is a 6 cyl. and we averaged over 25 MPG on the last one we owned prior to the Terrain.

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  Best SUV ever! - 2009 GMC Acadia
  By GMC Acadia - September 13 - 2:00 am

  For the price, this is the best value SUV product on the market today. I simply love to drive my Acadia. The exterior design is very attractive. The interior is awesome and has the right space for the kids, entertained with the DVD in the back, plus the extra 3rd bench seats for friends. On long trips we just fold down the 3rd bench for a spacious luggage area. Even then, we can store luggage on the roof rack. Great SUV, great ride and great design. Congrats to GMC.

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  Would not buy another - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By JimCalgary - September 12 - 2:00 am

  We have had the vehicle since new. The transmission hunts excessively when the car is going up hills. The dashboard rattles. A trim piece fell off a seat. A number of power steering components were replaced. Vehicle makes clicking noises from front end. In slushy weather the Service Stabilitrack light sometimes comes on dealer reprogrammed the software but the light still sometimes comes on. You have to come in under the fenders to change the headlight bulb! I had to have a shop replace it, cost me over $100. Odd tire size, few choices for replacement in OEM size. Nice ride and roomy inside, but I find the vehicle uninspiring and I cant think of a reason to buy another.

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  Access - 2010 GMC Acadia
  By Access - September 11 - 2:00 am

  Experience has not been good. Gas mileage is low. About 5-7 mpg less than bragged about. Dealer said that it is within range. Other brands have not lied as much as GM has. I drive for mileage, all it does is get worse. Access for one who runs around with disabled veterans plates is terrible. I would not recommend the Acadia to anyone who is disabled. God help us if this is considered to be a good product.