Our Opinion - 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Review The GMC Sierra 1500 uses parts from its mechanical twin, the Chevy Silverado, to compete in the more expensive end of the full-size truck market. The full-size truck market is one of the three most popular car markets in the United States. It helps you that it can be set up in so many different ways. The Sierra 1500 can come with single-door two doors or a four-door crew cab. Its beds can be 5.8 to 8.2 feet long. Optional engines include a turbocharged four-cylinder with 310 horsepower, a turbo diesel with 460 lb-ft of torque, a 5.3-liter V-8 with 355 horsepower, and a 6.2-liter V-8 with 420 horsepower and as much torque as an oil burner. The Sierra 1500 has a maximum towing capacity of 13,200 pounds, the third highest of any half-ton pickup. You can pull the 747 if you want to. Even though the optional 13.4-inch touchscreen is excellent, the rest of Sierra’s interior could be better made and made of suitable materials than the top-level Ram 1500. What's New? For 2023, GMC is adding the AT4X AEV Edition, which includes parts from American Expedition Vehicles and makes the Sierra 1500 better off-road. This car is made to be used off-road. It has steel front and rear bumpers with recovery points and a winch in the show. Steel skid plates are added to the bottom of the front end, steering parts, transfer case, gas tank, and rear differential to protect them from damage. The AT4X AEV Edition has gloss-black 18-inch AEV Salta wheels and 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires as standard equipment. The AT4X AEV Edition is a package that can be added to the off-road version of the AT4X trim, which was added in 2022. Pros and Cons Pros: A lot of different powertrains With Super Cruise, you don’t need to use your hands to drive. Denali Ultimate is the most luxurious thing you can get. Cons: It becomes too expensive to afford It is not possible to purchase electric or hybrid autos. Engine, Transmission, and Performance You can choose from two different transmissions, engines and the Sierra. Standard is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 310 horsepower and 420 pound-feet torque. It comes with an automatic transmission with eight speeds. There are two engine options: a 5.3-liter V-8 with 355 horsepower and a 6.2-liter V-8 with 420 horsepower. A six-cylinder diesel engine provides 460 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission connects all three machines. On our test course, it took 5.4 seconds for a fully-loaded Denali Ultimate with a 6.2-liter V-8 to go from 0 to 60 mph. You can also get the Sierra 1500 with 22-inch wheels and adaptive dampers. Even though the Sierra isn’t as good off-road as the Ford F-150 Raptor, it does have two models that are made for that. The authoritarian AT4 model has a 2.0-inch suspension lift and other valuable features. The AT4X and Silverado ZR2 only have a few things in common, like front and rear differentials that lock electronically, extra skid plates, and tough off-road tires on 18-inch black wheels. The AT4X AEV package has even more severe off-road gear, like a steel front bumper with a winch, AEV 18-inch wheels, and steel rock sliders. Even though Sierra’s ride is rougher than the Ram 1500, it drives very well, with quick steering and a little body roll. Safety Many features help the driver come standard on the half-ton Sierra. It also has useful off-road features, such as Terrain Mode, which lets you drive with just one pedal at low speeds. The GMC can be equipped with a multi camera system that enables the driver to see through the trailer when towing it. The Denali could get GM’s hands-free driving system Super Cruise, which works on a network of roads across the country and can even be used with a trailer attached. If you let go of the car, it will only change lanes when it wants to. Among the essential safety features are the following: Automatic emergency braking and a warning of a possible front-end collision are standard. As well as the usual lane-departure sign, it has a system that helps you stay in your lane. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert come as standard features. Internal and External Cargo Capacity The Sierra was made with the driver in mind regarding the inside. All of the controls are easy to use, and the materials’ quality improves as the trim level increases. Starting with the SLE, all models come with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. When you spend a lot of money on the higher-end models, you get even better features like a heads-up display and a steering column that you can adjust with a button. With its many leather-covered surfaces and open-pore wood trim, the Denali Ultimate is where things get fancy. The front seats can also be reclined and massaged in 16 different ways by a motor. The cubby storage inside is more than enough for storing a wide range of small items. GMC’s storage options could be more innovative, but the Sierra 1500 can be ordered with a clever tailgate that can be set up differently. There is also a carbon fiber-reinforced cargo bed, which is said to be lighter and stronger than steel and is the only one of its kind. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG Different ways to set up the Sierra 1500’s powertrain affect how well it uses gas. If you care about how much gas you use, choose the optional diesel engine, which gets up to 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. On the other hand, most Sierra models will have the same 6.2-liter V-8 engine that comes standard with all Denali models. It can get up to 15 mpg city and 20 highway when all-wheel drive is used. On the road, the Sierra 1500 Denali got 18 mpg in our real-world test. Infotainment and Connectivity Most Sierra 1500 models have a 13.4-inch touchscreen that controls the truck’s entertainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are built-in on this bigger screen and work wirelessly. It also comes with software from Google, which gives users access to an app store, maps, and a voice assistant. There is also a Bose music system with 12 speakers, wireless phone charging, and more power outlets. Towing and Payload Capacity When set up right, the half-ton GMC truck can pull up to 13,200 pounds and carry up to 2,240 pounds of cargo. Price and How to Choose The Sierra Elevation is our top pick for a vehicle since it falls in the middle of the available price points and has a great overall appearance. Depending on what you want, you’ll also have to choose between a few different cab layouts and bed lengths. If you need it, you can pay extra for all-wheel drive.
