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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  Piece O Junk - 1995 GMC Jimmy
  By NotSoLucky - January 14 - 11:15 am

  The guy who sold me this junk knew what he was doing Its nothing but money money and problems they are good about posting the problems but wont respond to anything and wont put out a penny for all the mess they created what ever happened to good american cars? Will never buy again. Dont even give a second look just run the other way.

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  Excellent concept, exceedingly poor execution. - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By cmf - December 28 - 8:42 pm

  Bought car to suit family of 5 as better alternative to a minivan. Excellent seating arrangement for 7 adults or multiple carseats Unreliable from first weeks off lot. Car DIED while driving many times in 2 years until GM finally dug deeper and ended up completely rebuilding the engine! Traction control fails to control wheel spin, which GM considers normal. Balded front tires and never felt safe on wet roads. Transmission lags at speed that GM considers normal, making car feel unsafe during passing. This car was serviced by GM for no less than 20 days during our 2 1/2 year ownership. Interior has lots of plastic and lacks durability. Most expensive unsafe, unreliable car ever owned

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  Look elsewhere - 2008 GMC Acadia
  By joe d - December 25 - 2:04 am

  A total piece of JUNK.Get on the hwy,step on the gas,no response.Transmission stinks.Back up warning system,rapid beeping when one inch from object.Not enough time for warning,might as well run over object.Warning light too high,cant see them.All buttons in dashboard area,too small, too many and too confusing.Radio hard too figure out how to use.Windshield wipers a dial,hard to find and operate.Foreign cars have a lever,for wiper,to operate,push up,push down,easy to find easy to use.Worst feature,engine response terrible.DO NOT BUY THIS CAR.

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  A pickup called SUV! - 2007 GMC Yukon XL
  By omar khalifeh - December 5 - 1:03 am

  Bought this Yukon XL 4WD 2007 model back in June 2008 from the dealer in Amman / Jordan. It has a 16 inch standard rims with narrow 245/75 wheels. Unfortunately, this SUV is the worst feel car that I ever drove. You feel uncomfortable in the 1st row, extremely in the 2nd, and worst in the 3rd. It feels like riding an open pickup truck and not at all like an SUV. The suspension is poor, rigid, and when you ride over a bump, the whole SUV shakes like a one rigid piece. Overall, a very bad experience that I will never repeat.

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  recalls & rattles - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By rainman - November 18 - 10:19 am

  V ehicle started out with issues and they havent stopped. Latest was stering column needed to be replaced since may fall out (bad welds). Now there are rattles in the front end which no one can find to this point what is causing them. Good looking car bad fuel mileage

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  Dont do it! Bad truck - 2014 GMC Sierra 1500
  By qzationsa - November 14 - 2:50 pm

  I have written a few reviews now and somehow they keep getting taken down. This truck is by far the worst truck I have ever owned. The transmission hunts for gears and bangs and clangs. GM said thats normal. The seat has broken 4 times and has been replaced, still broken. Headlights are a joke and a safety issue when it is wet out. Nothing in the truck works right. GPS cannot find addresses, and that ride, awful. When I hit a bump I get a ping in the rear end. Again, according to GM normal. If you like to drive you dont want this truck. I love looking at this truck but I cannot stand driving it. Its awful, its slow and those gears are some of the worst I have ever experienced.

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  Wish I bought the Tundra - 2001 GMC Sierra 1500
  By numbskull - November 14 - 8:50 am

  At 900 mi It was in the shop for clunk/bang/vibration in the drive train. . after several annoying/time consuming attempts. GM bulletin (drive line clunk)#99-04- 02-002A. Not to be confused with the engine clunk/piston slap bul. This truck acts and sounds like the 1996 I sold prior. with 150,000 hard miles. Im finding out that there are many bulletins and dissatisfied customers with several of the 00/01/02 model yrs. It now has 10000 mi and Im sorry I ever bought it!!!

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  Lots of Trouble - 1998 GMC Jimmy
  By PetCBut - November 2 - 1:18 pm

  Engine overheated ALOT!. Blew head gaskets, then connecting rod bearings. AC went out last year. Suspension was a nightmare until the dealer re- torqued the whole thing. Fuel pump went and now continually threatens by whining. Blend control valve in heater cost $250 in LABOR to change out when the weak gear cracked!! After $3000 this one is junk!

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  Too many problems for $40,000+ - 2002 GMC Yukon XL
  By DriverDave - October 23 - 6:36 am

  This car was fine the first year and a half but then the problems started. The digital dash lights that let you know if the car is in drive etc went out at a cost of up to $1000. My husband has not had it repaired yet-he says hell go without at that price. Then the car would not start when there was less than a 1/4 tank of gas-new fuel pump for $600. Now the newest problem is the lights; they are totally going off when you go to bright and will not go back on. I drove home with no lights last night in the dark when it happened to me. Another bad point is the front seats reclining only 1/4 of the way back to a less than comfortable postion. The brakes are much improved over our 99.

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  Acadia Transmission Failure - 2007 GMC Acadia
  By GBS123 - October 7 - 12:01 pm

  I purchased one of the earliest Acadias (April 2007)--the top of the line version with all the features--AWD, etc. Truck was great for about 8 months, and then I had one of the software updates applied, and it changed something about the transmission in a significant way. I could tell immediately upon picking up the vehicle. Car cant find right gear to be in, sluggish up the slightest hills, poor gas mileage (13mpg max), poor acceleration, wheezing. Well, 2 weeks and 3 days ago, at 37,800 miles-- THE END. Tranmission crapped out with my whole family in the car. Guess what? No Acadia transmissions available at all because GMs suppliers have cut back production. Who knows how long Ill wait?