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:

• 

  Needs a Lot More Refinement - 2007 GMC Yukon
  By Kevin H - December 26 - 4:13 pm

  This is my 4th new GMC truck in as many years. GMC has some work left to do on this one, with some areas that greatly need improving. The entire drivetrain needs refinement. The engine has decent power, but the transmission is horrible. Compared to the Allison in my last diesel, this 6 speed GM made transmission is junk. It is not happy in any gear but reverse, and is confused the rest of the time. It is geared too tall. Same with the fly-by-wire throttle. It is as unpredictable as the one in the ill famed Audi 5000S. The cheap plastic on the interior is horrible. It is the same poor quality stuff they put in all low end GMs. Very bad for a $55k SUV. Never again.

• 

  The Haul Myster - 2002 GMC Sierra 3500
  By Walking horse - December 26 - 10:00 am

  We upgraded to a heaveier tow vechile. We have a horse ranch and haul 12,000 to 15,000# trailers. If you want a SERIOUS tow vehicle, this is it. Neither Ford nor Dodge can touch it. It is also eztremely quite, but due to the towing capacity a little hard riding. Build quality is great, especially considering this is a TRUCK

• 

  2500HD crew cab, SB with 8.1 v-8 - 2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD
  By happy GMC owner - December 25 - 1:50 am

  Nice truck overall. Really gets the job done. Best tow vehicle Ive ever owned. 8.1 V8 has plenty of torque. Gets better mileage than 454s Ive owned previously.

• 

  Credit where its due - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By John Chang - December 19 - 10:00 am

  First off, Edmunds has an axe to grind against GM, and I cant fathom their poor review of this vehicle. This is a superb vehicle, and compares well against the truck-based and cross-over midsize SUVs. It looks sharp outside, drives strongly and smoothly and securely, and has a great looking interior. I have put on 11,000 miles in less than 5 months, and I have no reliability problems with this vehicle.

• 

  2002 GMC Envoy SLT - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By mike h. - December 18 - 1:13 pm

  This is a big, nice riding, nice handling, very comfortable vehicle. The leather seats are plush, and the climiate control features are easy to use and nice. My wife loves the heated seats in the winter. You sit up high and can see very well out of all windows in this truck. Problems, well it has the famous GMC Envoy piston slap...tick, tick, tick..when you start it up. Espeically annoying noise in the winter when the noise is louder. Also make sure you own a gas station before buying an Envoy. 12- 14 mpg/city if you are lucky.

• 

  Looks can be deceiving! - 2002 GMC Envoy
  By Cordova Dave - December 17 - 8:03 pm

  On-Star stopped working, at night lights would dim to less than 30% if AC, radio, windows were used. Cracked oil pan lost 6 quarts of oil, nice addition to drive way! Transmission made lots of noise but went nowhere. The lights are fixed, the transmission works better, and On-Star works. 4 months later, engine seal is badly leaking. I have no faith in my dealership and GMC as a company. I think they employ the Cro-Magnon man to build their SUVs.

• 

  Dont get the Nav - 2008 GMC Envoy
  By Dont get the NAV - December 17 - 10:21 am

  Spent the extra money on a NAV system only to find out that to use the nav system a dvd has to be in your cd player anytime that you are using it. In other words FM or XM only while navigating. I have used many different portable navigation devices that are so much more user friendly than this one. It is all that I can do to figure this thing out, my wife gave up after several very frusterating attempts. Save the money and buy a garmin! Also cup holders are a joke in this thing.The money I saved still outweighs these setbacks. GM blew away competitors prices! If I had to do over again I would buy the same vehicle without the nav,We would miss the touch screen FM/XM that comes with the nav.

• 

  Almost perfect - 2003 GMC Sierra 1500
  By jamesgang - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I have allways been a GM man, and this truck doesnt disapoint. The heated leather captains seats with two person memory are very comfortable. The steering wheel controls for the Bose stereo are great. Some interior wind noise though, and the suspention is very jumpy on the concrete highways. It is in the shop as I write this having the tranny pulled to find out why it started shifting hard from first to second gear at 15900 miles.

• 

  2000 denali - 2000 GMC Yukon Denali
  By allen mayer - December 15 - 10:00 am

  braking requires care due to the size and weight of the vechicle.

• 

  Hard Downshift - 2009 GMC Sierra 1500
  By E.Garcia - December 11 - 5:33 am

  I purchased by GMC in November, from the very beginning I noticed an uncomfortable ride. I called the dealership, they advice me to bring it in. I complained about the hard downshift and they took a test drive and said that they couldnt replicate the problem. But they did find that the tires were out of balance. It was dissappointing to find out that a new vehicle was not inspected properly from the factory for this. But the hard downshift still remains.