This year, the Sierra sees few changes and is available in base, SLE, SLT, and Denali trim levels; only a newly standard rearview camera and two additional paint colors set the Sierra apart from 2017.
Sierra are basic to start, but hardly bare-bones. They’re meant mainly for work use, while SLE and SLT trims pile on more creature comforts and luxuries.
Somewhere in the middle lay a few packages, like the off-roady All Terrain, the stylish Elevation, and the value-laden Texas Edition. For those who need more lugging ability, the Sierra nameplate extends to the Sierra 2500 and 3500, which we cover elsewhere.
The Sierra lineup starts with a 4.3-liter V-6 rated at 285 horsepower before climbing to a 5.3-liter V-8 that checks in with 355 hp. Topping the lineup as an option on Sierra SLTs and Denalis is a 6.2-liter V-8 rated at 420 hp.
A mild-hybrid version of the 5.3-liter V-8 called eAssist is also available on Sierra SLTs nationwide (last year, they were only in select markets). A lithium-ion battery provides a little extra scoot but mainly serves to take strain off of the gas engine.
A 6-speed automatic comes standard with the V-6 and the smaller V-8. Optional on the 5.3-liter V-8 and included with the eAssist and the big 6.2 is a high-tech 8-speed automatic.
Although it may not offer the mountain of torque seen in Ford’s 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 or the NASCAR-worthy soundtrack of the Ram’s 5.7-liter V-8, the GM 5.3 strikes a pleasant balance and can run on just four cylinders to save fuel in lighter load situations.
With its separate ladder frame and leaf-sprung rear axle, the Sierra is traditional underneath.
It may lack the flashy aluminum body of the Ford F-150 and the smooth air and coil suspension setups available on the Ram, but there’s something to be said about the Sierra’s Goldilocks nature.
Moreover, a properly outfitted Sierra is rated to tow a formidable 12,500 pounds.
The Sierra’s conservative style outside is echoed inside with a clean, functional, and comfortable interior. Up front, there’s room for three with the standard bench seat, although a pair of individual buckets with a full center console is optional.
Crew cabs provide SUV-like room in the second row with a backrest that’s a little too upright for long-distance comfort.
Extended cab models have enough room for short drives in row two, but if passengers are expected to be the norm in your Sierra, you’ll want a crew cab.
Three bed lengths are on offer: a 6-foot-6 setup that’s standard on all, a full 8-foot box optional on regular cabs, and a smaller 5-foot-8 available on crew cabs.
Styling
The 2018 GMC Sierra boasts a classy, conservative look inside and out.
The 2018 GMC Sierra is an elegant, conservative full-size pickup with nary a wasted line or crease. We’ve rated it at 7 out of 10 points, awarding one each for its clean interior and handsome exterior. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
The broad-shouldered 2018 Sierra may be closely related to the Chevrolet Silverado, but parent company GM has done a nice job differentiating the two. Sierras have a tall, upright grille wrapped in chrome on most models.
A large chrome bumper below provides a classic pickup touch without looking overdone.
All models have standard LED accent lighting, something you won’t find on every version of the Chevy Silverado.
Sierra Denalis go a little further—perhaps too far—with extra chrome and a unique grille treatment that’s just the wrong side of gaudy in our eyes. Given that you can dress up a more humble Sierra with swanky 20- and 22-inch wheels and several appearance packages, the Denali seems awfully expensive for what it is.
One styling touch we like for its functionality is the way GM has integrated steps into each corner of the Sierra’s rear bumper. They provide terrific access to the bed.
Inside, the Sierra’s dash is symmetrical with controls logically arrayed and generally within an easy reach of the driver. The look here is simpler than that you’ll find in the Sierra’s rivals, and it works well.
Base trims look better this year with the addition of a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that replaces a much more basic setup used last year. Sierra Denalis stand apart with their own trim finishes, contrasting French stitching, and wood-like trim scattered about.
2018 GMC Sierra 1500
Performance
The 2018 GMC Sierra rides well and has a lineup of solid, strong engines.
The 2018 GMC Sierra is a low-compromise, comfortable pickup that eschews catchy turbochargers for a lineup of tried-and-true V-6 and V-8 engines. There’s nothing wrong with that conservative approach and we’ve awarded the Sierra a few points accordingly—one for the slick 8-speed automatic on higher trims and another for the strong V-8s. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
Sierras come standard with a 4.3-liter V-6.
With 285 horsepower and a solid 305 pound-feet of torque, it’s hardly a low-end engine and thanks to direct injection and a slick-shifting 6-speed automatic, it’s rated to tow up to 7,600 pounds when properly equipped. For most of us, it’s just fine, and it’s fairly fuel-efficient.
But if you’re likely to haul more than a small trailer with your Sierra, the 5.3-liter V-8 makes a worthwhile upgrade. It’s good for 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque and it can tow up to 11,000 pounds.
A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard with this V-8, but SLT and Denali trims come with a more advanced 8-speed that fires off borderline imperceptible shifts. Optional on SLT and Denalis is a larger 6.2-liter V-8 rated at a stump-tugging 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
Though thirsty, this big V-8 is muscular and easy to modulate. Its maximum towing rating is a hefty 12,500 pounds.
If you’re regularly towing that kind of load, perhaps a heavy-duty pickup is in order—but it’s always nice to know that kind of capability is there in reserve.
2018 GMC Sierra 1500
Sierras boast accurate steering and good highway stability.
They don’t hide their weight—most you’ll find on dealer lots top 5,000 pounds—but they’re fairly nimble in town and sufficiently competent on a winding road.
Denalis have an extra ace up their sleeves: GM’s Magnetic Ride suspension setup.
Like that in the Chevrolet Corvette, Magnetic Ride reacts ultra fast to whatever the road throws at it to either stiffen or loosen the shocks as needed.
It may sound like marketing hype, but the Denali rides far better on its standard 20- and optional 22-inch alloy wheels than it has any right to.
Certain GMC dealers also offer a mild-hybrid that GMC brands eAssist.
It’s based on the 5.3-liter V-8 and it adds a small 0.45 kWh lithium-ion battery pack mated to an electric motor designed to provide a little extra grunt when needed and to allow for gas-free coasting.
The electric motor adds 13 hp and 44 lb-ft, but there’s not much real-world difference in the way it accelerates. Instead, some high-mileage users might eventually see its 2 mpg bonus over a similar 5.3-liter pay off over time.
But for the rest of us, the Sierra eAssist is probably not worth the extra cash.
Original price was: $10,000.00.$7,500.00Current price is: $7,500.00.
