In early 1990s, the wave of pickup trucks took the nation by storm. The craze never really left us and people still, are in awe of these small, medium, and large, personal, multipurpose vehicles. GMC trucks and specifically Sierra often gets lost somewhere in the crowd of Dodge, Chevy, Ram, and Ford, but, the loyalists know the true potential of this underrated model. No, they are not just rebranded Chevy trucks! They have consistently been the most dependable and versatile trucks, since their birth.
Twins on many fronts and slightly better on some, one of the classic American pickup trucks, the Sierra totally commands an equal cognition, with respect to the Silverado. Anything less is a bias. Despite being here since 1988, it never got the recognition it deserves. Honestly, if it were not good, would it survive for so many decades?
We shall share a few thoughts here as to why we think the GMC Sierra is highly underrated. Here is to hoping it gets the mainstream attention soon, that it very well deserves.
Reliable
Since 1990, the Vehicle Dependability Study has been the golden benchmark to judge the reliability of a vehicle, and Sierra has been passing the tests with flying colors each year. Sierra 2500HD and 1500 have been locking one of the top five positions consistently, for many years. According to Repairpal and J D Power VDS, the reliability rating of the 1500 is a 3.5, which ranks it on the third number, out of the 17 other full-size pickups. The number of repair issues that are severe is very low and the annual repair cost on average $727, which is lower than most of the other full-size trucks (which are usually at, or, around $936).
Its engine is laced with variable valve timing, which makes it possible to churn steady power and acceleration. It also helps in optimizing the efficiency on those times, when less power is required. The newer models are equipped with direct injection technology, which ensures responsiveness, quick starts, low transmissions, and noiseless rides. While a standard Sierra 1500 model comes with a 5.3 Ecotec 3 V8 engine, standard F 150 comes with a 3-liter V6 engine. The next gen 2020 Sierra 1500 is upgradable to a powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine with 8-speed transmissions. Drivers can even upgrade to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Sierra trucks are embedded with Driver Control technologies like StabiliTrack, Hill Decent Control, Driver Shift Control, and automatic emergency braking. Teen Driver technology is another great feature. The 1500 Denali trim boasts of more than 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft torque. More trims are available and can be customized as per the needs.
Performance
GMC Sierra enables much better towing and hauling than the Chevy, or, other competitors, but, still gets overshadowed by Silverado and Dodge. It is available with an array of powerful engines and innovative tech features. The new gen models can tow well above 1200 pounds easily. They are much roomier and fancier than its competitors. On top of all this, a Sierra offers a smooth and quiet ride. It comes with the options of both RWD and AWD. A range of standard and optional engines provide power between 277 hp to 420 hp. The best thing is the 2020 GMC Sierra heavy-duty trucks have been priced lower than the 2019 model. And yet, there is more space on the inside and lots of engine options.
According to USNews, Sierra 1500 ranks number 4th with a rating of 7.9 in the full-size pickup trucks category.
It looks tough and rugged from exteriors, and cozy on the inside. Silverado is sleeker, while Sierra looks boxy and more stylish in an American way. The infotainment system and the UI are more user-friendly. The truck bed is huge, for the heavy-duty drivers. The newer model has a six function multipro tailgate, which is great for loading and unloading the bed. While awesome for large items, it does not ignore smaller moveable, either. There is a center console large enough to fit a laptop and such; and storage bins under the rear seats, for small goods.
Sierra is a premium truck. It is definitely more luxurious than the Chevy or Ford trucks. While Silverado shares some features with the former for sure, but, unlike it, Sierra is a professional truck, laced with premium quality materials. In an attempt to compete with Sierra on the luxury front, GM is considering an ultra-luxury trim Silverado. Would you pay $100,000 for a pickup? For now, it is widely noticed that a Sierra ride is more comfortable and quieter than Silverado's. Anyone who needs a professional pick up and doesn’t want to lose on comfort either would love Sierra.