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Christopher Jackson | 9/7/2007 | GMC
Take a look at GMC's newest full-size pickup. The 'Professional Grade' brand has gone all out and redone the 2007 Sierra from the ground up.
What do you mean, you didn't notice?
Despite GMC's assurances that the styling of the all-new 2007 Sierra full-size pickup has been beefed up, this truck doesn't strike us as being burly or fashionable. The Sierra gives off the distinct impression that it hasn't got time to be stylish or pose, because it's got work to do. The new Sierra is a no-nonsense truck in the classic sense.
The pickup game has gotten complex in the past few years. Full-size trucks have become as comfortable and luxurious as cars (sometimes more so), and the average truck has had to adopt some very un-trucklike traits in order to keep up, from soft-touch interior materials to satellite radio and navigation systems. With all of that, it's a surprise how much the new GMC Sierra reminds us of past GMC pickups.
It's in the DNA, not in the styling. There's nothing retro about the design of the new Sierrra. GMC's new pickups feature unique sheet metal; the fenders and hood panels aren't shared with the Chevy Silverado pickup, nor with the Yukon SUV, as they have been in the past. Restyled at the same time as its Chevrolet cousin, the GMC is distinguished from the Silverado relative by a full-width grille and round foglights. The fender flares are also softer, and more rounded than the blocky Chevrolet's linebacker shoulders. The box, available in three lengths, is about three inches taller than before. Out back, the Sierra gets unique taillamps and a burly-looking tailgate.
The more modern design hasn't been implemented just for the sake of fashion, either. The Sierra's tighter front end gaps improve aerodynamics and cooling capability, by directing air right where the engineers want it to go without any leaks. The door panels wrap under the rockers, to eliminate a potential rusting point and to save the pants legs of anyone who uses the Sierra in muddy conditions.
The interior is a whole new game, materials-wise; the new Sierra may be a truck, but that doesn't have to mean that it's put together like a workbench. The new Yukon SUV contributes its dashboard architecture and design, with tight panel gaps and high build quality. GMC also offers glove-friendly switchgear on some models. Extended-cab Sierras get a door that swings open 170 degrees for easy ingress. A standard 40-20-40 split bench seat offers flexible seating and a large console, and is comfortable enough for all-day work. To step up the luxury, the Sierra can be had with a navigation system, OnStar, XM satellite radio, remote start, ultrasonic backup assist and leather. Crew cab Sierras feature an available rear-seat DVD player.
The heart of the pickup truck is of course its power plant. The Sierra's available 315 horsepower 5.3 liter V8 manages 20 mpg on the freeway. The 5.3 and other V8 engines in the Sierra come with Active Fuel Management, which reduces fuel usage on the freeway, and are available in E85-capable format to take advantage of renewable ethanol fuel. Of course, it wouldn't be a proper pickup truck without a veritable smorgasbord of engine choices; GMC offers the Sierra with a 4.3 liter V6, as well as 4.8 and 6.0 liter V8 engines. The 367-horse 6.0 gets variable valve timing as well. The high-luxury Sierra Denali is now a separate model, and gets its own 400-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine. A familiar and sturdy four-speed automatic transmission is shifted from the column, just like long-time pickup buyers are used to. While technically a light-duty half-ton pickup truck, the Sierra will to up to 10,500 pounds, and can haul over a ton.
How does it drive? Like a truck, but in a good way. On the road, the new Sierra is quiet and refined, just like the full-size Yukon SUV with which it shares some underpinnings. The rear end is well-behaved, even without a load in the back.
Handling is predictable and confident without being sports-car stiff. The frame has been widened to give the Sierra a bigger stance and a wider, more stable track. It's also boxed, for added stiffness. Coil-over shock suspension architecture is used up front, and GMC offers five different suspension tuning options to suit the needs of a variety of truck users. Your Sierra can be outfitted for street use, street performance, or heavy-duty towing. Our test truck featured the SLE towing suspension, but still provided a comfortable around-town ride and enough compliance to navigate rough, washboarded roads. Rack and pinion steering is precise, though the four-wheel drive suffers from some driveline binding in tight turns. StabiliTrak stability control is standard on crew cabs and available on extended-cab Sierras, and includes a rollover protection algorithm. Standard side-curtain airbags are also a part of the safety suite.
It may be stylistically conservative, but the 2007 GMC Sierra nonetheless represents a significant improvement in the breed. Trucks have gotten more fashion-conscious in recent years, but the Sierra is one for the traditional truck guys, the ones who've got too much work to do to be concerned about whether their rims match their Timberlands. An extended-cab, four-wheel drive Sierra starts at $29,600. Our test truck added a whole bunch of equipment: a remote starter, sport wheels, dual-zone climate control, XM satellite radio, the towing package, an off-road package including skid plates, leather trim, the flex-fuel 5.3 liter V8, side airbags and an in-bed cargo management system, and came in at a still-respectable $35,635.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2007 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Extended Cab.
Length: 230.2 in.
Width: 79.9 in.
Height: 73.7 in.
Wheelbase: 143.5 in.
Curb weight: 5265 lb.
Towing capacity:
Payload: 2013 lb.
Base price: $29,600
Price as tested: $35,635
Engine: 5.3 liter V8
Drivetrain: four-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
Horsepower: 315 @ 5200
Torque: 338 @ 4400
Fuel capacity: 26.0 gal.
Est. mileage: 16/20
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