Our review of the Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn made us realize just how easy it is to like a nice, well thought out pickup, so it was with more than a little excitement that we got to have a crack at another one. This time, the machine in question was the all new 2014 GMC Sierra. Our test truck was a 1500 SLT with crew cab, four-wheel-drive, and the towing package. GM claims that a slight majority of GMC owners tow, and this vehicle was clearly made with that in mind, but the rest of the Sierra also has a purposeful layout that compliments the pulling power of its drivetrain, which makes for a satisfying package. One of GMC’s biggest boasts about the Sierra is also the fuel economy. It’s not a traditional selling point on big pickups, but the Sierra beats out both the comparable Ford and Chrysler products, and GMC seems to have tried pretty hard to get it that way, so it’s worth bragging about.
Our test vehicle had the mid-range 5.3 liter V-8, just above the 4.3 liter V-6 (which in itself is a capable unit for basic towing), and features aluminum block and head along with direct injection and Active Fuel Management, which knocks the V-8 over to four-cylinder power for light load driving. This technology and weight saving, including an aluminum hood that saved 17 pounds, contributes to the admirable 22 miles per gallon on the highway. With the towing package, you get 11,500 pounds of towing capacity, while without it you still have an ample 9,600. Though a decent trailer or good-sized boat would be well within the Sierra’s limits, we still couldn’t help but want a little more in the power department, as the weight of this big fat pickup clearly puts all of its 355 horses and 383 lb/ft of torque to work. There’s a fix for that, however, as the Sierra can also be had with a 6.2 liter motor that makes 420 horsepower and 460 lb/ft of torque. That said, the normal 5.3 is a thoroughly capable machine.
