FEATURES | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
among the best large pickup trucks for available features
Consumer Guide
premium trim package adds leather trim, power front bucket seat adjusters
Automobile
Standard amenities include automatic climate control, steering wheel audio controls
Cars.com
It's one of the mainstays of the General Motors pickup-truck lineup, and as such, the 2011 GMC Sierra comes in a dizzying array of bed styles, cabs, powertrains, trims, and features. It can be trimmed out and gussied up to the extreme, from its back-to-basics work truck form into a truly luxurious vehicle.
The actual trim levels include the Work, and include everything from SL, SLE1, SLE2, and SLT, all the way up to the ritzy, plush Denali trucks. On that base Work edition, the equipment's kept to a minimum: standard features include the minimum of an AM/FM radio (with an option to delete it); hand-cranked windows; vinyl seats; and manual door locks.
Start ticking the options boxes, and the Sierra turns into a $50,000 leather-lined play truck with nearly every feature you'd find in a Cadillac luxury sedan. The Sierra can be outfitted with DVD navigation; real-time traffic; Bluetooth connectivity; a power sunroof and a power rear window; 22-inch wheels; a factory-installed bedliner; and leather upholstery. GMC also adds on an All-Terrain package with tow hooks, skid plates, and rescue fittings for drivers ready to exercise its off-road talents. Most versions come with a USB port for hooking up your audio player.
With the Hybrid model, many of the luxury features become standard equipment. Its pricetag starts in the high $30,000 range, and can blow through $50,000 when the pricier version is optioned up. The Hybrid gets standard automatic climate control, Bluetooth and steering-wheel audio controls; the navigation system comes with the Premium version, along with Bose audio, a hard bed cover, and leather.
Conclusion
Denali and Hybrid versions get quite plush, but for the most part, the GMC Sierra stays true to its blue-collar roots with plenty of value.
