About the GMC Sierra 1500

The GMC Sierra is the mechanical twin brother of the Chevrolet Silverado. Why do both models exist in General Motors’ lineup? Likely due to a branding debacle that gave GM the right to sell pickups at both Chevrolet and GMC dealerships, thus doubling the inventory and, theoretically, sales. Ultimately, both pickups feature the same chassis, cab, bed, interior pieces, and powertrains. However, GMC offers several high-end trims that stand out from GMs other pickups, including the rugged AT4 and luxurious Denali.

Originally introduced in 1967, the “Sierra” branding was initially delegated to a high-end trim level for GMC’s C/K-series pickups, like the Silverado to the Chevrolet C/K pickup line. However, unlike the Silverado, which officially began its first generation with the GMT800 chassis in 1999, the Sierra started life earlier with the GMT400, stretching from 1988-1998. Yes, a Chevrolet-branding version of the Sierra existed during this time; however, the Silverado branding wasn’t applied to the standalone model until an entire generation after the Sierra. 

While competing directly with its Chevrolet sibling as well as Ford and RAM, the GMC Sierra has earned several awards and praise, including JD Power’s Most Dependable Full-Size Pickup Truck.