That’s one mean-lookin’ pickup.
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
I’m not going to fake like I wanted a complete 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 to maneuver 1 cubic yard of mulch, however issues simply labored out that manner. Over the course of per week of sunshine backyard work, I came upon that there is a complete lot to understand on this pickup. It’s not good, however GMC’s new Sierra remains to be fairly compelling.
LikeBlessed powertrainDecent economySolid shopper tech
Don’t LikeLoud, meandering off-road tiresAlready-aged inside design
AT4 package deal brings the seems to be If the usual Sierra 1500 is already overkill for transferring a pair hundred kilos of processed tree bark, my tester’s AT4 trim undoubtedly ramps up the surplus. Meant to provide the Sierra a bit extra off-road cred, it jacks the physique to the sky with a 2-inch carry, supported by Rancho monotube shocks, skid plates, a locking rear differential, chunky Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires, pink tow hooks, a spray-on bedliner and AT4 badges all around the dang place. It makes an impression, too; I do not normally get compliments from strangers when driving pickups, however this one earned a number of constructive feedback within the Target parking zone. It undoubtedly makes the truck look extra badass, however the AT4 trim is an expensive proposition. In my tester’s format (crew cab, quick field), a base Sierra 1500 4WD will set a purchaser again about $40,000, however the AT4 is the trim just under the top-tier Denali, so the worth rises to about $54,000.
It’s a bit previous, and the button format is a bit dense, however the Sierra’s cabin stays usable and, in my tester’s trim, loads comfy.
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
The inside leaves me wanting extra, although. GM bought raked over the coals, and rightfully so, when the brand new Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra debuted. For as new because the exteriors have been on the time, the interiors obtained little in the way in which of aesthetic updates. With the exception of some basic rearrangements, the Sierra 1500’s innards are practically the identical as earlier than. The heart of the dashboard is sort of this scorching mess of switches that can take some getting used to. While the display screen within the gauge cluster did develop a bit, the bodily gauges nonetheless use the identical fonts and designs from over a decade in the past. I perceive that pickup patrons could also be extra hesitant about change than, say, a Hyundai Elantra proprietor, however nonetheless. Things look a bit extra dire if you see what Ford has in retailer for the 2021 F-150, too. That’s to not say the inside does not have loads of redeeming qualities, although. My AT4 tester has some severely comfy leather-based seats, and the dashboard is properly trimmed with the delicate stuff, too. Dual-zone local weather management is customary, as are 10-way energy entrance seats with heating and air flow, in addition to a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. It’s not Denali-cushy, however it’s fairly darn shut. There’s additionally more room than you may shake a stick at, with the second row feeling positively voluminous. If you could cram a bunch of junk again there, the rear seats fold up and out of the way in which with ease.
Mulch grasp There aren’t too many alternatives to actually dig into the Sierra 1500’s uncooked functionality right here in metro Detroit — I do not personal a ship, nor a contracting enterprise, nor horses — so I used to be comfortable to haul a few cubic yard of mulch again from the backyard heart. Since I’m not precisely Ron Swanson, probably the most useful gizmo I’ve for transferring mulch from truck to backyard is an aluminum snow shovel, which picks up the stuff with out leaving a lot as a single scrape in the usual spray-on bedliner. I used to be anxious that I’d created one hell of a multitude, however I discovered I used to be in a position to get the mattress again to mostly-clean standing with only a broom and a leaf blower. A fast journey to the native automobile wash and its high-pressure hoses introduced the mattress again to glowing.
Generally, it is fairly simple to really feel the distinction between an empty truck and one which’s bought a large quantity of stuff in tow (or within the mattress), however the Sierra 1500 AT4 affords stunning quantities of cushion always. Unladen vehicles can often be a multitude on the highway, bouncing over growth joints and customarily being fast to unsettle, however I’m loads comfy it doesn’t matter what I’m as much as within the Sierra. The steering is on the sunshine aspect, however pedal modulation is ace. The solely actual annoyance comes by means of the 275/65R18 Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires, which make tons of noise and infrequently trigger the truck to wander at decrease speeds round city. Sure, they full the look, however at what value?
Available on all however the base trims is a brand new 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six. Producing 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, it is sufficient for a tow score of 9,100 kilos and a payload score of 1,830 kilos. That’s a bit decrease than the competitors’s diesel choices, however as Roadshow’s Emme Hall identified in her first drive, GM discovered that almost all of its clients seeking to tow five-digit hundreds would simply purchase a heavy-duty truck as a substitute. Combined with a 10-speed computerized transmission, the Sierra 1500’s new diesel engine is surprisingly sedate. The typical lug-lug-lug idle is not there, nor does its clamor attain a fever pitch. This straight-six is mostly quiet and able to lay down monster quantities of torque when needed, that means the truck truly feels fairly darn fast when it is unladen and I have to slam-a-jam the throttle. It’s simply as nice with a mattress filled with shredded tree detritus. The 10-speed does a reasonably good job of choosing the right gear and easily making its manner there, a pleasant change of tempo from what I skilled with its downshifts when mated to a gasoline V8. Since GM assumes 10,000-plus-pound towing aficionados will transfer towards Sierra 2500s and up, the automaker selected to give attention to efficienty with the Sierra 1500 diesel. The EPA charges this four-wheel-drive pickup at 22 miles per gallon metropolis and 26 mpg freeway, numbers that I’m able to match, and I discover myself often squeezing out a few additional mpg within the latter state of affairs. Aiming for effectivity was the good transfer right here, since GM is aware of true tow aficionados will go for Sierra 2500s and up.
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
Darned good tech No matter what you are after, whether or not it is creature comforts, security or functionality, there is a tech package deal that’ll enhance the Sierra 1500’s credentials. The $2,125 Technology Package provides a higher-definition backup digicam, a bed-view digicam, a head-up show, a digital rearview mirror and a bigger display screen within the gauge cluster. On the protection entrance, a $1,095 package deal provides computerized emergency braking, adaptive cruise management, lane-keeping help and a haptic suggestions seat cushion — a surprisingly reasonably priced grouping, given the nickel-and-diming GM likes to do with security methods in a few of its mass-market automobiles. As with its different new automobiles, GM’s infotainment continues to impress right here. The Sierra 1500 AT4 comes customary with an 8-inch touchscreen operating the automaker’s newest software program, which is responsive and straightforward on the eyes, to not point out loaded with fripperies like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. A pair of USB ports (one USB-A, one USB-C) is customary in every row. If you wish to ramp up the cabin tech additional, a $3,355 AT4 Premium Package provides embedded navigation, an influence sliding rear window, a wi-fi machine charger, blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors. Tech is not normally the purpose of a truck, however props to GMC (and GM on the whole) for lastly bringing its vehicles into parity with the remainder of its automobiles. Considering the embiggening of screens in vehicles these days, the show within the Sierra feels positively tiny.
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
How I’d spec it My tester is dear, with the AT4 beginning at $53,400 and rising to an out-the-door value of $63,565 together with vacation spot after the diesel engine and some choices packages are added. Since I’d choose fewer off-roady bits, I’d begin with the decrease SLT trim however retain the graceful diesel I6. I’d drop $7,160 on an enormous SLT Premium Plus package deal that hundreds the factor up with all of the driver-assistance tech and nearly all of the choices present in my AT4 tester. That brings me as much as $61,650 together with vacation spot, which might save me a few grand in contrast with the truck I’m reviewing. Down to brass tacks Do I even want to say the competitors on this section? It’s not prefer it’s modified in… many years. If you need one thing rather less luxurious however usually the identical because the Sierra, go for the oddly styled Chevy Silverado. If you wish to maintain out for a hybrid, the 2021 Ford F-150 will scratch that itch, and its complement of shopper tech seems to be arduous to high. The Ram 1500 stays our darling, although, with top-tier aesthetics, on-road consolation and functionality. There are some also-rans, too, just like the Nissan Titan and the Toyota Tundra, however they’re arduous to suggest over the section stalwarts and their huge expertise on this area. The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 has added a robust instrument to its arsenal: With a smooth-operating, hard-pulling straight-six diesel engine underneath the hood, the Sierra’s functionality grows with out making sacrifices in every day drivability, and boosts effectivity a bit within the course of.