The numbers are in and there was no disputing that we as Americans love our trucks. The fun of a truck is the fact you can have it in a wide variety of builds in order to have the truck that works best for you. A crew cab makes it easy to bring the whole crew to the jobsite, a long bed gives you more space for hauling the materials needed, great towing ensures you can move and haul what you need and in some cases a smaller engine means better efficiency while still having the ability to do some of the work. Trucks are fun and even offer the ability to head out for an adventure when you want to.
When it comes to the ability to tow, haul and accelerate there is no better truck on the market than the GMC Sierra. The Sierra can be decked out in trims that make it feel like a luxury trick, especially when it puts on the Denali features which really add the comfort you and your crew will want to enjoy after a long hard day on the job. Even though this truck shares a platform with the Chevrolet Silverado, there is just something extra special about the Sierra that makes it the perfect truck.
When you look at the GMC Sierra it’s hard to find features you don’t love. This truck has the most powerful V8 gasoline engine in the class along with the ability to tow up to 12,000 pounds which makes it the truck of choice to get things done in a big way. For 2016 this beauty adds some updated styling on the front end and adds an eight-speed automatic transmission on the SLT and Denali trims that have the 5.3-liter engine. You can also enjoy the fact that the Sierra now offers lane keep assistance, power articulating assist steps and two new audio systems.
For most trucks the first thing we think of and talk about is what is under the hood. The GMC Sierra gives you a choice of three engines to choose from. The base engine is a 4.3-liter V6 that allows up to 285 horsepower and 305 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is attached to a six-speed automatic transmission to give you fuel mileage of 18 city/24 hwy mpg for the 2WD and 17 city/22 hwy mpg for the 4WD model. The towing capacity for this power train is 7,200 which are still respectable for towing a trailer full of camping gear.
The second engine in the lineup is a 5.3-liter V8 engine which comes in with 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine and the one larger are both mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission which helps to be the right match for the engine. This powertrain gives you 16 city/23 hwy mpg for the 2WD model and 16 city/22 hwy mpg for the 4WD version while also offering a towing capacity of 11,500 pounds.
At the top of the engine lineup is a 6.2-liter V8 that comes in with 420 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. With the same transmission this powertrain is good for 15 city/21 hwy mpg for the 2WD model and 14 city/20 hwy mpg for the 4WD version and the top towing capacity of 12,000 pounds. Both of the V8 engines us the Active Fuel Management system which cuts the running cylinders in half when all eight are not needed. This makes for a much more efficient operation of the engine to give you the truck you want and the engine you desire while delivering better overall fuel mileage.
A concern for most of us when looking for a great truck that will not only get the job done during the week but also dress up nicely at the end of the week is the price. The Sierra starts out around $28,500 for the base regular cab work truck. Moving up to the double cab version you will find a price that starts out at $32,000 while the Crew Cab will find you starting the pricing at $37,000. By adding options and features to this truck you can quickly head well over $50,000 but many of us love this truck and don’t mind the price climb to have the right work tool for the job.
What do you get on your truck for these prices? The standard features offered include air condition, cruise control, cloth seats and a seven-inch touchscreen audio system with USB inputs. The move up to the SKE trim adds a rearview camera, a six-speaker audio system and 17-inch aluminum wheels. The SLT adds the dual zone climate control, an eight-inch touchscreen, power adjustable pedals and leather upholstery. The Denali trim gives you 20-inch chrome wheels, a navigation system, a Bose audio system and leather clad front bucket seats to give you the most comfort from a standard positon for this truck.
As for options you can add, there are many to choose from on this truck. Other than the 4WD and the larger engines you can add the Driver Alert Package which brings in lane departure warnings, lane keep assistance, IntelliBeam headlights, forward collision alerts and front and rear parking assistance. The All-Terrain Package adds an off road suspension that has Rancho shocks, an underbody shield and 18-inch wheels. On the inside the truck adds heated and cooled front seats, a navigation system, a power sunroof and a rear seat entertainment system as part of the different options available.
You just might be torn when driving the Sierra. As you can easily see this is a highly capable work truck that is built to get the job done, but it’s such a beautiful truck and a nice place to be that you won’t want to get it dirty. Don’t worry, this truck cleans up nicely and will be the right choice when it’s time to get the job done. The Sierra can be your work partner all week long and get ready for a date on the weekend to be the comfortable and luxurious ride you take out at night.
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