GMC Sierra 1500 History
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The GMC Sierra is the companion piece to the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup truck. Both are derived from the same truck/SUV architecture that's brought us the Yukon, Suburban, the heavy-duty pickup trucks from GM, as well as the Cadillac Escalade and the former HUMMER H2. The Sierra's so close to the Silverado, in fact, they share nearly all their body styles and powertrains, with differences down to styling, trim and packages, save for the upscale Denali versions of the Sierra--distinct models with their own look and their own all-wheel-drive system. The Sierra dukes it out with the Silverado in showrooms, though GM sees more competition from the Ford F-150, the Ram 1500, the Toyota Tundra and the Nissan Titan.
The Sierra nameplate first was used in 1999, when General Motors switched the old C/K pickup trucks to a new architecture and a new body style. With slightly rounded sheetmetal, the Sierra presented truck buyers with an alternative to the wildly successful Ford F-150, which had adopted aerodynamic styling in 1997. The Sierra's interior didn't change as much, though, and while it was spacious, it seemed lower-grade than the concurrent Ford interior. With extended-cab and crew-cab versions, short- and long-bed editions, and a choice of V-6 and V-8 powertrains that mated with manual and automatic transmissions, the rear- or four-wheel-drive Sierra offered something for nearly every truck shopper. The luxury Denali edition arrived in 2002, and four-wheel steering became a short-lived option; in 2003, the Sierra got a mild restyling; and in 2005 a mild hybrid edition arrived, with the ability to recapture some energy and charge batteries that powered drivetrain and onboard accessories.
For the 2007 model year, GM began the roll-out of its "GMT900" trucks and SUVs--fully redesigned models with new body styles, new powertrains and new technology. The Sierra 1500 emerged from this renovation with a conservative but tasteful exterior, and a very attractive, very high-quality interior to match its improved drivetrains. Engines ranged from a 4.3-liter V-6 with 195 hp to a 6.2-liter V-8 with 403 hp -- the latter, essentially derived from the Corvette's V-8. Four- and six-speed automatics helped fuel economy rise a bit on most versions, but the real boost came with the introduction of the 2009 Sierra Hybrid, which teamed a V-8 with batteries and motors and a unique two-mode transmission for fuel economy of 21/22 mpg. Safety ratings for the new truck rose dramatically, too, with all versions earning five-star ratings from the NHTSA.
Since 2010, the GMC Sierra has seen only minor changes, yet it's still remained a competitive choice. Among the current crop of full-size trucks, TheCarConnection's picks are the Ram 1500 for its refined ride and cabin, or the Ford F-150 for its EcoBoost turbo models and its infotainment systems. The Sierra rides well and offers the impressive Hybrid edition, though, and shouldn't be dropped from any list.
A major update to the Sierra is due in 2013 or 2014.
