The GMC Sierra 1500 has gained its spot as the trusty lightweight pick-up truck. The GMC Sierra 1500 is back in its 2017 iteration and features a mild facelift over the outgoing models. There is no denying that GMC has aced the styling of the Sierra 1500 indeed. It is easily one of the most handsome trucks out there in the market.
Moreover. the balance between the performance and fuel figures of the trucks make the package even more bountiful. Be it looks, fuel efficiency or even performance, the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 seems to have got a hold on all of it. The truck certainly appears to be destined to stay at its spot and sell in decent volume.
The 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab is offered in 2 basic but potent trims. Both of them feature the 5.2L engine and can be bought with front or 4 wheel drive. The base trim is called the Sierra 1500 and sports a price tag of $28.205. The set of standard features include hid headlamps, 3.5-inch monochromatic display amongst other features.
The top end trim is called the Sierra 1500 SLE and can be bought for an MSRP $34,995. The standard set of features include a 4.2 diagonal color display, leather wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise control and remote keyless entry amongst other things.
| Trim |
Sierra 1500 |
Sierra 1500 SLE |
| MSRP |
$28,205 |
$34,995 |
| MSRP (4WD) |
$32,145 |
$38,860 |
| Key Features |
- Headlamps, High-Intensity Discharge (HID), bifunctional with GMC LED signature
- Driver Information Center With 3.5" diagonal monochromatic display. Provides warning messages, odometer, trip odometer, and basic vehicle information
- Steering Column Tilt-Wheel
- Climate Control Single-zone manual air conditioning
- Floor Covering Graphite-colored rubberized vinyl
- Rearview mirror with manual day/night adjustment
|
- Driver Information Center With 4.2" diagonal color display
- Steering Wheel Leather-wrapped with audio and cruise controls
- Color-keyed carpeting with rubberized vinyl floor mats
- Remote Keyless Entry Included with Convenience Package on Sierra trim. Includes remote locking tailgate
|
We Recommend
We recommend picking up the SLE trim since it adds a host of creature comforts that are bound to make life easy for the occupants. Features like cruise control and multifunctional steering wheel are some of the basic things that are expected from a vehicle of the 21st century. Moreover, it is certainly worth the extra money you ’d pay for it.
"The powertrain in the Sierra Denali is nothing short of impressive. With 420 horsepower, 460 lb-ft of torque and an eight-speed transmission, the truck is never short on grunt."-Edmunds
Engine & Transmission
The engine duties on the GMC Sierra 1500 is handled by a 4.3L 6 cylinder motor mated to a 6-speed auto gearbox. The base engine is good for producing 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. The figures are modest, to say the least. But they surely make the truck feel lethargic on open roads.
In comparison with rivals, the GMC Sierra 1500 sits at par with the Chevy Silverado to take the top spot when it comes to both engine capacity and performance.
| Models |
GMC Sierra 1500 regular cab |
Ford-150 XL Regular Cab |
Chevrolet Silverado-1500 LS |
| MSRP |
$28,205 |
$27,110 |
$29,610 |
| Engine |
4.3L 6cyl |
3.5L 6cyl |
4.3L 6cyl |
| Transmission |
6-speed automatic |
6-speed Automatic |
6-speed Automatic |
| Horsepower |
285 hp |
282 hp |
285 hp |
| Torque |
305 lb-ft |
253 lb-ft |
305 lb-ft |
Acceleration
The GMC Sierra 1500 is able to reach 60 mph from a standstill in a modest 5.3 seconds and goes to complete the quarter mile in 13.6 seconds The acceleration is balmy and controlled. The truck takes time to gather momentum but never feels like it's pushing too hard.
In comparison, the GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevy Silverado 1500 both claim the top spot again with identical quarter mile and 0-60 mph timings.
| Models |
GMC Sierra 1500 regular cab |
Ford-150 XL Regular Cab |
Chevrolet Silverado-1500 LS |
| 0-60 MPH |
5.3 |
7.3 |
5.3 |
| Quarter mile |
13.6 |
13.2 |
13.6 |
| Engine |
4.3L |
3.5L |
4.3L |
Ride and Handling
The GMC Sierra 1500 is a big vehicle and it behaves like one too. The truck is at its best when .cruising on a highway a moderate speed, something it do like the back of its hand. It is not made with cornering at crazy speeds in the mind which is the reason why it shouldn't be done in the first place.
The truck does behave erratically over uneven surfaces and the issue is worsened when low profile tires are installed.
Braking
The GMC Sierra 1500 features a set of 13.0-inch brake rotors in the front and a set of 13/6 inch rotors in the rear. Even with its substantial curb weight, the truck is able to stop from 60 mph to a standstill in an impressive 134 feet.
| Model |
GMC Sierra 1500 regular cab |
Ford-150 XL Regular Cab |
Chevrolet Silverado-1500 LS |
| Brake Front (in.) |
13.0 |
13.8 |
13.0 |
| Brake Rear (in.) |
13.6 |
13.7 |
13.6 |
| Curb Weight (lbs.) |
4510 |
4051 |
4510 |
| 60-0 MPH (ft.) |
134 |
119 |
134 |
The lighter Ford F150 XL takes away the cake here with 119 feet while both the Silverado and the Sierra settle for the second spot with similar specs.
Keeping in mind that the GMC Sierra 1500 weighs almost 2 tons, the truck is able to return an impressive 20 MPG combined. The Ford F-150 XL is able to better the Sierra by almost 5 mpg at 25 mpg combined and it also takes away the top spot amongst its rivals;.
| Model |
GMC Sierra 1500 regular cab |
Ford-150 XL Regular Cab |
Chevrolet Silverado-1500 LS |
| MPG (city) |
18 |
18 |
18 |
| MPG (highway) |
24 |
20 |
24 |
| MPG (combined) |
20 |
25 |
20 |
"The Sierra has the basics down with decent ride control, comfortable seats, and low road and wind noise. But the optional 22-inch wheel and tire package does its best to erase most of those gains. The climate control system also failed to keep the cabin cool during a stint in extreme heat."-Edmunds
Seats and Comfort
GMC Sierra 1500 with a regular cab is able to accommodate 3 adults comfortably. The legroom and headroom on the truck is something that will make even the taller guys happy. Overall, it is arguably the most spacious truck amongst its rivals. Both the GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevy Silverado 1500 are the most spacious trucks in the segment.
| Model |
GMC Sierra 1500 regular cab |
Ford-150 XL Regular Cab |
Chevrolet Silverado-1500 LS |
| Passenger capacity |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
42.40/66.73/45.27 |
40.8/66.7/43.9 |
42.40/66.73/45.27 |
Infotainment
The base trim on the GMC Sierra 1500 comes loaded with a 3.2-inch monochromatic display while the top end trim comes with a 5.2-inch color display. The MMI is simple and neat and displays all the required information directly on the click of a button. The overall interface is laggy and does take a while to register user inputs.
Interior Features
Some of the key interior features are
- Vinyl or fabric upholstery
- Multi-function steering wheel
- 4-way adjustable driver seats
Cargo volume
Cargo volume is one of the most important parameters on which a truck is judged on. The GMC Sierra 1500 features a cargo volume of 61.60 cube.feet which is relatively modest with respect to other rivals in the segment.
The Ford 150 features the largest boot in the segment at 65.2 cube feet.
| Model |
GMC Sierra 1500 regular cab |
Ford-150 XL Regular Cab |
Chevrolet Silverado-1500 LS |
| Cargo Volume (ft.3) |
61.60 |
65.2 |
61.60 |
Towing Capacity
Trucks are used to haul loads and the towing capacity is absolutely paramount while one goes looking out for a truck to buy. The GMC Sierra 1500 is able to tow a load of up tp 8900 lbs hooked to its back.
The Ford F150 fares only marginally better at 9100 lbs but it still takes the 1st position amongst its rivals.
| Model |
GMC Sierra 1500 regular cab |
Ford-150 XL Regular Cab |
Chevrolet Silverado-1500 LS |
| Towing Capacity (lbs.) |
8900 |
9100 |
8900 |
"We dub GMC’s latest styling experiment "contemporary macho." Like previous GMC trucks, this full-size pickup features blocky styling highlighted by swollen fender flares and a grille that would do a semi-truck proud. With the bold styling come practical innovations like corner steps built into the rear bumper."-KelleyBlueBook
Dimensions and Weight
At 4510 lbs, the GMC Sierra 1500 is one of the heaviest truck in the segment. The truck is not overly elongated at 205.6 inches while it is the segment's widest truck at 80 inches in width. It is also at the highest distance from the ground in the segment at 73.5 inches. The Ford F150 is the lightest truck in the segment at 4051 lbs. It is also the longest one amongst its rivals at 209.3 inches.
| Model |
GMC Sierra 1500 regular cab |
Ford-150 XL Regular Cab |
Chevrolet Silverado-1500 LS |
| Curb weight (lbs.) |
4510 |
4051 |
4510 |
| Length(in) |
205.6 |
209.3 |
205.6 |
| Width(in) |
80.0 |
79.9 |
80.0 |
| Height(in) |
73.5 |
75.2 |
73.5 |
| Ground clearance (in) |
8.2 |
9.3 |
8.2 |
| Wheelbase (in) |
119.0 |
122 |
119.0 |
Exterior Features
Some of the key exterior features of the GMC Sierra 1500 are
- Heavy duty steel rims
- Large front grille
- HID headlights
The GMC Sierra 1500 has not been tested by any major agencies yet. The set of standard safety features include dual-stage frontal airbags, lane assist, forward collision alert, and tire pressure monitoring system amongst others. There is definitely a lack of active safety features on the Sierra 1500.
- AIR BAGS Dual-stage frontal for driver and front passenger with Passenger Sensing System
- LED DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS
- LANE KEEP ASSIST AND FORWARD COLLISION ALERT Included and only available with Enhanced Driver Alert Package. On SLE, requires Regular Cab mode
- TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM Does not monitor spare tire
NHTSA and IIHS have not rated GMC Sierra yet.
Chevy Silverado 1500 vs GMC Sierra 1500
The Chevy Silverado 1500 is a cousin of the Sierra 1500 truck. They share the same powertrain, chassis and even design elements to an extent. The Silverado, on one hand, features a lot of cosmetic look good exterior components while the GMC Sierra takes a more rugged approach. Hence, this one is totally up to the preference of the customer since they are virtually the similar trucks.
Ford F-150 GMC Sierra 1500
The Ford F-150 just like theSierraIerra 1500 takes a very hands on approach to work. It is fine as a work truck but that's all it is. The exterior is boring while the interior is borderline tacky.The GMC Sierra 1500 features much more comfortable interior which makes it a better truck.
The GMC Sierra is a potent truck with a doubt. The interior is on point while the exterior does leave a lot to be desired but it does what advertises to do and that is work in the field and haul heavy loads without a hiccup. If you're in the market for a work truck, you can't go wrong with the GMC Sierra 1500.
