2025 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD

Pros

• Different engine choices for pulling and towing. 
• The longer cabin has more space for your legs in the back.
• There is a lot of space in the bed and a lot of tie-down points inside the bed.
• Both the display and its appearance are pleasing to the eye.

Cons

• It lasts longer than its main rivals.
• It might cost a lot to raise the trim levels.
• The big roof beams and wide hood make it hard to see.

How do you drive a 1500 Sierra? Our test vehicle had a crew cab, four-wheel drive, and a 6.2-liter V8 engine that could have been added. It was amazing that it only took 6.2 seconds for the full-size truck to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour on our test track. It’s easy and quick to change gears with the 10-speed transmission. Even though the maximum stopping power is amazing, most drivers may have trouble coming to a smooth stop because the brake pedal doesn’t feel like it’s there.

The Sierra does not handle as well as we would like. It leans strongly and feels heavy all around as you drive around curves. The steering wheel doesn’t feel any different. A full-size car can go off-road to a moderate degree. There is also a Traction Select system that lets you increase the wheelspin and smooth the initial throttle reaction when the traction is low.

How does it feel to ride in the Sierra 1500? The Sierra’s front seats aren’t as fancy as those in the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500, but they’re still very comfy and great for long trips. The ride is smooth on the highway, and the car does a good job of absorbing small bumps. But the truck might get bumpy on roads with lots of dips and bumps.

The temperature system can easily heat or cool the house, but it can be hard to use because many of the buttons are small. GM is the only company that makes heated split front seats, and we really like how the seatback and cushion can be set to different temperatures. The engine noise is quiet until you press down on the gas pedal. After that, it gets a little annoying but not unbearable.

How is the inside? There is a lot of space in the front for your head, shoulders, and legs. The back seat of the Sierra crew cab is also very roomy. That far back, three adult full sizes could fit shoulder to shoulder without any trouble. The steering wheel and driver’s seat can be adjusted in many ways so people of all heights can find a comfortable driving position.

We like how the Sierra’s new internal controls are set up. It’s fun to press, click, or spin knobs, switches, and other buttons that are easy to find. You can give the touchscreen directions, and it starts up quickly. That being said, it can be hard to see out of full-size cars, and the Sierra’s design needs to be revised. Shorter drivers may need help seeing over the truck’s hood, and the big side walls may also make it hard for them to see. It’s great that there is a good surround-view camera setup out there.

What’s wrong with the tech? Tech is a strong skill in the Sierra. A 13.4-inch touchscreen that is easy to find has a lot of features that don’t get in the way of the user, and the high-resolution screen answers quickly to touches or swipes. The maps are easy to read, and the navigation system finds addresses and interesting places fast. Google’s speech recognition technology can also understand normal speech and follow voice commands. With just your mouth, you can change stations, change the temperature, and do other things.

Our test truck had Wi-Fi so that smartphones with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay could be used. The big screen made CarPlay look great. Your phone has a storage room, and some models come with a wireless charger. A number of exterior cams can help the driver, which comes in handy when parking this huge truck. There are also helpful buzzers in the seat bottom as part of the back cross-traffic warning system.

Adaptive speed control works well most of the time, especially in big cars. However, when we were moving in stop-and-go traffic, our test truck would sometimes brake quickly and harshly. General Motors’ Super Cruise technology helps you drive without using your hands, but it’s only offered on the top-of-the-line Denali Ultimate model. Ford’s BlueCruise technology, on the other hand, is available on many F-150 model levels.

How do you store things and tow things? The GMC’s bed is big, has lots of tie-downs, and has handy bed steps. The MultiPro trunk is also one of a kind and can open in six different ways. The highest grades of the Sierra come with brake controllers, memory sets for different trailer configurations, and trailer camera views that make it easier to hitch up. The highest two ratings aren’t the best in their class, but they’re still pretty good.

The big center bench takes up a lot of room between the seats, but it’s big enough to hold your small things. There are also many places to put your drinks. The wide back seat in the crew cab should make it easy to fit almost any child safety seat.

How much fuel does it use? The EPA says that a Sierra with the big V8 engine and 4WD will get 17 mpg on the highway and in the city. While this is good, the Toyota Tundra and F-150’s hybrid powertrains get better gas mileage. The EPA’s predictions came true when our test truck got an average of 17.6 mpg on our mixed-drive route.

Does the Sierra 1500 have a lot of value? The price is its biggest problem, especially when you look at the higher trim levels. The inside is well put together, and the materials feel much better than in previous years. The MultiPro trunk can be folded and split, but other than that, few truck-specific features make the big price jump worth it. A different kind of truck can carry more and cost less.

GMC’s three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and its five-year/60,000-mile powertrain guarantee are the best warranties in its class. This is the only time during the first year that planned maintenance, like rotating the tires and changing the oil, is free. Ram and Ford can’t match.

These days, a car needs to do a lot more than the minimum necessary. Comfort and style while driving are important things to think about. When it comes to looks, towing and carrying capacity, and general performance, the Sierra is great. However, rivals can do many of those tasks better and more often for less money.

Public information from GMC about the 2025 Sierra has yet to be released as of this writing. We’ll change our grade if anything changes, but based on last year’s Sierra, the SLE trim is the best deal. Still, it has some of the most important features, like heated seats, carpets, cruise control, and the useful MultiPro tailgate, without the astronomical prices of higher models.

Styles of the GMC Sierra 1500

There are eight different trim options for the Sierra 1500: Pro, SLE, Elevation, SLT, AT4, AT4X, Denali, and Denali Ultimate. The three types of cabs are crew cab, standard cab, and double cab, which is like a crew cab but has smaller back doors and less room for passengers in the back. Not all combinations can be used with every trim. The bed lengths are different based on how the cab is set up.