2019 SIERRA
When it comes to pickup supremacy, the battle for top ranking rages on. And benefiting from this one-upmanship tussle are the buyers — hundreds of thousands per year — who plunk down their hard-earned dollars and in return get the latest in content and performance innovations.
Like the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC’s Sierra has been completely made over from rubber to roof. Outwardly, the body appears similar to the 2018 truck, including a dominating grille that boldly announces to one and all your chosen brand. In fact, though, every body panel has been reshaped and the hood, doors and tailgate are made of aluminum instead of steel. As well, there’s a carbon fiber box for the high-end Denali model.
All told, GMC says up to 360 pounds of body weight have been pared from the pickup, even though all Sierras are slightly larger than before and the four-door crew cab’s distance between the front and rear wheels has been stretched three inches for additional legroom.
Underpinning the Sierra is a redesigned steel frame that’s reportedly stiffer by 10 percent, resulting in a further 88-pound weight reduction. Lighter front and rear suspension components give the Sierra save even more.
Along with a distinctive appearance, the regular-, extended- and crew-cab models are blessed with some exclusive items that aren’t offered for the Silverado. This includes an available Multi-Pro tailgate with a loadstop feature that keeps cargo inside the bed when driving with the tailgate lowered. The tailgate can also be partially dropped down to form a small work table or a step-up to the bed itself.
Also available is a 360-degree rear camera monitor (replacing the traditional rear-view mirror) that provides unobstructed views in back, which is especially handy when hooking up a trailer.
For 2019, the Sierra can be had with one of a half-dozen powerplants, starting with a 4.3-liter V-6 that makes 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. Optional are two versions of the 5.3-liter V-8, including one with Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM).
Its 17 different cylinder-deactivation-mode combinations are constantly working to deliver the best fuel efficiency in all driving and load conditions. Both V-8s puts out 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque.
Also new is a turbocharged 2.7-liter fourcylinder (a first for both the Sierra and Silverado) that’s rated at 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet. A 3.0-liter inline sixcylinder turbo-diesel arrives later in the year, although as of this writing the output and fuel efficiency are not known.
Lastly, the 6.2-liter V-8 returns with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet.
The V-6 and the base 5.3-liter V-8 are matched with six-speed automatic transmissions, while the 5.3 DFM and the turbo four-cylinder get eight-speed automatics. The 6.2-liter V-8 — and likely the turbo-diesel — is mated to a 10-speed automatic. All engine/transmission combos are available with four-wheel-drive, however the crew-cab-only GMC Denali comes standard with 4WD.
Aside from their unique grilles and trim, the premium Denali model comes with a wood-trimmed interior, premium leathercovered seats and an eight-inch touchscreen (other Sierras get the seven-inch version). Also standard is an adaptive-ride-control system that instantly adjusts the suspension stiffness according to surface conditions and driver input.
At close to $60,000, the Denali lists for nearly twice as much as a base Sierra V-6 long-box regular-cab that rings in at $31,100, including destination charges.
New for 2019, the rough-and-tumble $54,700 4x4 Sierra AT4 gets the 5.3-liter
V-8 with DFM (the 6.2 V-8 and the turbodiesel are optional) plus off-road shocks that provide two extra inches of ground clearance. Available off-road rubber is mounted to 20inch wheels (18-inchers are standard).
Although most of the powertrain combinations overlap with the Silverado, there’s enough (and growing) differentiation with the GMC Sierra to make the latter stand apart with its own brand of style, substance and swagger.