GMC Sierra (2014) Expert Review

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GMC Sierra (2014) Expert Review

It's not often there's an all-new pickup. In fact, four years have passed since the arrivals of the 2009 Dodge RAM and 2009 Ford F-Series, the last all-new pickups to have come on the market. It's been even longer since there was an all-new GMC Sierra, which hasn't been redesigned in seven model years. Finally, the wait for a new truck -- and a new Sierra -- is over. We recently took the all-new 2014 GMC Sierra on a drive to see how it matches up to its rival full-size pickups.

expert rating

4/5 rating

video review

pros

Strong V8 engine options
Comfortable, composed ride
Quiet ride

cons

Base V6 is sluggish
Interior material quality trails rivals
Large turning radius
limited cabin storage

full review

1. Exterior

On the outside, the Sierra puts a futuristic twist on its characteristic good looks. It's easy to tell apart from the old model, yet the features that made it distinct -- such as oversized fender flares and a large, muscular grille -- remain. In essence, it looks like a modernized version of the outgoing model, and that's a good thing. It's also easy to tell apart from its mechanical twin, the Chevrolet Silverado, giving GMC fans a more unique look than ever before. A few minor details also enhanced our opinion of the truck's exterior. For example, we like the oversized running boards. They make it easy to climb in the truck, which can be a big problem considering its ever-increasing size. It's hard to fault the EZ Lift Tailgate for ease of use. But most important, we were impressed by the LED bed lights, which go a long way toward making it easy to load the pickup's bed at night or in dim lighting conditions

Our rating: 5
2. Interior

But while the exterior was heavily revised, we were more impressed with the Sierra's retooled interior. One major plus was the center-mounted, 8-inch LCD screen, which is positioned perfectly so you don't have to take your eyes far off the road to use it. The same is true of the LCD screen mounted in the gauge cluster. It's far better than the Sierra's former pixelated display. And we enjoyed the huge sunroof, though wind noise got a little loud. We also loved the Sierra's gadgets. Compared to just a few short years ago, it's hard to believe a truck now has USB ports, navigation, in-vehicle apps and a center-mounted touchscreen. The only gadget we didn't enjoy was the voice control system, which we had trouble using for both navigation and audio functions.

Our rating: 4
3. Practicality

Beyond its powertrain, the Sierra rides and handles better than the old model. That's largely due to the new fully boxed frame, which clearly makes the truck feel more rigid and stable than last year's model. It also helps towing, as do the fully integrated trailer brakes. And we couldn't live without tow/haul mode, which takes the guesswork out of manually operating the automatic transmission when you'd rather be focusing on things such as guiding the pickup safely up a hill.

Our rating: 5
4. Ride and handling

Compared with the previous-generation models, the current frame is much stiffer in all directions. This stiffness contributes to a smoother ride and better handling. It also allowed the engineers to reduce the gap between the truck bed and passenger compartment as well as the gaps between fenders and bumpers, all of which enhances aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.

Our rating: 4
5. Performance

Sierra offers a choice of 4.8-liter, 5.3-liter, and 6.2-liter V8 engines, plus a hybrid gas-electric powertrain. It comes in Regular, Extended, and Crew Cab versions with long, standard and short beds, multiple wheelbases, two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive on the Denali.

Our rating: 3
6. Running costs

Fuel economy ratings, except for Hybrids, run 12-15 mpg City, 18-21 mpg Highway. When using E85 those numbers drop dramatically. The XFE (Xtra Fuel Economy) models with a 5.3-liter V8, 6-speed automatic and axle ratio of 3.08:1 increase EPA ratings from 15/21 to 15/22 mpg City/Highway. Proprietary XFE pieces include aerodynamic upgrades in the form of a soft bed cover and extended front air dam, plus aluminum wheels (including the spare) and lower front suspension arms, locking rear differential, and low rolling resistance tires. A trailering package is standard so XFE models can tow up to 7000 pounds.

Our rating: 2
7. Reliabilty

The front suspension uses a coil-over-shock setup and the rack-and-pinion steering gear is mounted to the engine cross-member frame. The truck also has a rear axle design with shock absorbers mounted outboard and more upright for better dynamic control.

Our rating: 3
8. Safety

Safety features include dual front airbags, head-curtain airbags that automatically inflate when sensors sense a severe impact to provide extra protection in the event of a rollover or secondary collision, driver and front-seat passenger side-impact air bags, anti-lock brakes, StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation technology, and tire-pressure monitoring. The optional Autotrac active transfer case, ultrasonic rear park assist, and OnStar emergency notification can further enhance safety, as can the all-wheel-drive system on the Denali.

Our rating: 5
9. Equipment

Standard equipment on the basic Work Truck ($22,195) includes vinyl seating surfaces, air conditioning, AM/FM radio, cruise control, daytime running lights, tire pressure monitoring system, Smooth Ride suspension, 17-inch wheels, and chrome bumpers. The 4.6-liter V6 engine is standard.

Our rating: 4
The GMC Sierra is an excellent choice among full-size pickups. Those who plan to use their trucks for commuting to work, carrying lots of family members and towing boats, may prefer the SUV-style interior, while those who use their trucks primarily as working tools likely will opt for the more utilitarian-oriented pure pickup design. We like the Sierra SLT Crew Cab for towing car trailers.

Our rating: 5

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