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Overview
The GMC Sierra HD's Hollywood style and hard-working heritage make for a supremely capable pickup. The Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD are cut from the same cloth as the Chevy Silverado HD siblings, sharing a chassis and two powertrain choices. The diesel version cranks out a tremendous 910 lb-ft of torque that allows the 3500HD model to tow a maximum 23,300 pounds, which still trails the strongest Ford and Ram rivals. However, the GM trucks have more civilized road manners. The Sierra HD ratchets up refinement on its renowned Denali trim, which is clad in chrome and packed with a premium interior. Although it's not as high-tech as the Ford Super Duty trucks, the slick GMC works just as hard. An all-new Sierra HD goes on sale in the second half of 2019.
Engines, Ride, and Handling
The Sierra HD's Duramax diesel and Allison transmission are as iconic as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. As the ringleaders of the heavy-duty powertrains from General Motors—including a dependable gasoline V-8—they crank out 445 horsepower and a tremendous 910 lb-ft of torque. Despite the Sierra HD's hefty chassis, it's surprisingly wieldy, subjectively quick, statistically fast, and the most dynamic to drive in its class. The Sierra 2500HD provides a very comfortable ride for a heavy-duty pickup; the sturdier 3500HD has compromises while still providing a complacent ride. The Sierra 2500HD can manage serious shakes and hopping over rough pavement relatively well even when not towing or hauling stuff. Most important, there's surprisingly good steering feel and precision.
Interior and Technology
The Sierra HD has a spacious front seat and its cabin is extremely well designed. However, the top-of-the-line Denali fails to deliver the premium feel we would expect given its premium price, and the crew cab's rear-seat passenger space takes a back seat to the Ford pickups. The GMC has an excellent infotainment system, and buyers will appreciate the touchscreen's intuitive responsiveness and the availability of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi. There are few things large or small that the Sierra HD can't handle in its cargo box or store in its many interior cubbies and bins. Too bad the Sierra HD lacks the latest in driver-assistance technology, which can be found on the Super Duty trucks. While the features it does offer are affordable, the absence of a blind-spot monitor and unremarkable crash-test results from top testing agencies reveal the Sierra HD's greatest weakness.
