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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  Its a classic.. - 2000 GMC Sierra Classic 2500
  By msteele-forducks - March 18 - 10:00 am

  I bought this truck to keep,it already had a ton of miles on it.It had the 5.7 powerplant which was nice(I got a backup starter for 39.99)Parts for the truck are very inexpensive to say the least.Im now pushing 180,000 miles on it and it does everything I want it to do.Ive made a few modifications to the engine and Im getting 14cty,18Hwy.I hope to get 500,000 miles out of this thing.By the way the tranny is still original and the engine doesnt use a drop of oil as of today.The room is fantastic when hittin the marsh with my friends for a day of wingshooting.I like to be able to work on something if it needs it and I can do that with this truck.

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  Awesome Denali - 2004 GMC Yukon XL
  By mg1 - March 18 - 10:00 am

  Best SUV Ive ever owned!

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  Dont need a Diesel ! - 2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD
  By usapatrick - March 16 - 7:51 pm

  We shopped Ford and GMC. Bought the GMC because of build quality. Smokes the Ford in body gaps, paint, noise, warranty. Did the math on a diesel, no way for $8000. You dont see daylight for 500,000 miles. Pull a 24 enclosed with a car with the cruise control on in trailer tow mode. Absolutely love this truck. My local dealer found it for me. The paint is incredible, the interior is extremely quiet and comfortable with the leather bucket seats. The 40,000 mile warranty over the Ford has an untold value that could mean thousands. Installed headers & exhaust, K&N, Bosch Iridium plugs & Tayler 10.4 wires etc. No effect on warranty! Didnt even look at the Chevy as we own a10 GMC. Both Z71s.

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  LOVE our terrain - 2010 GMC Terrain
  By Matthew - March 16 - 10:33 am

  We have owned our Terrain for about 4 months nowe and LOVE it. The only thing I can say I dont like is I wish it had a better turning radius. Thats it! We got a loaded slt v6. It has good pick up and handles great on the highway. Its comfortable and fun to drive. I just dropve from Atlanta to Phoenix and love the technology. LOVE onstar. Love the weather downloads and traffic info that is avail thru xm radio. It helped alot with all the snow. You feel safe in it and it has plenty of room if you dont like huge suvs. We have friends who bought toyotas and for what they paid for a strip down rav we got loaded! Our Gmc will go just as long. Thank you GMC we are gm owners for life!!!!!

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  A High Miler with High Praise - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By Don K - March 14 - 5:36 pm

  I am a high-miler business traveler and typically trade about every two years at 100,000 miles. Have lots of experience with minivans through SUVs. Thought about another Jeep G. Cherokee, but gas mileage is a problem there. The MDXs were good vehicles although dont pretend they are problem free (transmissions at 50,000+ miles). The Acadia fits my needs very well. In comparison to many vehicles on the road today there is a lot of vehicle here for the money. My late father-in-law was a career engineer for GM, but this is the first new GM vehicle Ive purchased in my life (age 54). The Acadia is impressive to drive, beautiful to look at, and clips along at 70 MPH at about 1800-1850 RPM.

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  Excellent Buy - 2007 GMC Sierra 1500
  By docknow - March 14 - 12:33 am

  My last truck was a 1997 F-150 4wd extended cab and it was the best riding truck that I have ridden in including Chev and GMC and it had 187,000 with NO problems. I purchased thw 2007 1500 Sierra in April 2008 and I could not have made a better decision. This crew cab rides and handles like a sports car, it has the Z71 package which is too firm in some situations but excellent in others. I have recommended this truck to many of my friends who are Ford and Dodge lovers, three have swithed and are very happy.

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  Acadia car is deathtrap RUN from it!!! - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By Dawn - March 11 - 1:26 pm

  2007 Acadia AWD is Junk Run from it. The car broke down after 20 minutes owning it. SPent more time in the garage then with me. Then started to shut off while I am making turns on the highway for no reason. Got a replacement car which we paid more for and this car is doing the same thing. We are lucky no one got killed yet and GMC will not refund our money and they know this car is a death trap and I have 3 children endangering their lives by driving this crap.Unbelievable!! They put the new updates on it now the car is worse Keeps hesitating like its going to shut off then you get whiplash when you put the gas on. Some kind of hesitation.

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  This Truck Is A Winner - 2009 GMC Sierra 1500
  By Clinton - March 7 - 9:20 am

  I traded a 1997 Sierra with 215,000 miles for an 2009 Sierra 4WD Z-71 crew cab after a search of every make out there. I should have went straight to the GMC dealer as I have not been disappointed. This truck rides/handles like a car, gets great mileage (avg 17.1 in mixed driving) and is loaded for comfort. I have had two issues addressed by dealer, rubbing noise on drivers door and rattle in drivers seat belt system. Both fixed on first visit. This is not the least expensive truck out there, but the looks, fit, finish and quality makes it a winner.

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  VERY dissatisfied - 2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid
  By rbuc - March 4 - 8:56 am

  I bought this truck with a promise of 21 mpg (city and hway). In real life, the best case scenario was 13.8 mpg in town and 16.8 mpg hwy. I drove with a feather touch, and watched the economy meter regularly. On the hwy, I only used Cruise control for maximum gas mileage. With all my attempts, these are the best numbers I could do. I was so upset (and embarrassed when asked by friends what my mileage was on my new Yukon hybrid), that I sold it at a huge loss. Better to get it off my back now than later. Itll be worthless in a year, if they even still make it by then. Interior is all molded plastic... Terrible.

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  GMC Sierra - 2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD
  By myoder - March 1 - 5:03 am

  Best pickup I have ever owned, plenty of power and is very comfortable