General Motors Company (GMC) is among the big three American auto manufacturers. The brand is popular and renowned for its lineup of SUVs and pickup trucks. Among its pickup truck lineup, GMC Sierra is quite popular for its exterior appearance, luxurious interior and powerful and efficient performance. GMC Sierra’s history dates back to 1987 when it was launched on a shared platform.
Sierra’s first generation was a part of the C/K platform shared by Chevy and GMC as both are part of the General Motors group of brands. When Sierra’s first generation debuted, the Chevrolet C/K designed on the same platform was in its third generation.
Let’s go through the complete history of GMC Sierra and find out how it evolved over the years.
Journey of GMC Sierra
An interesting fact about GMC trucks is that Sierra is the top-selling model. Sierra is a Spanish word meaning mountain range. Speaking of that, the performance and off-roading capabilities of GMC Sierra complement its nameplate.
Although the GMC Sierra’s history started in 1987, the pickup truck had a separate platform from the second generation onwards. Let’s rewind the journey of the GMC Sierra and find out how it gained popularity in the used American car models in the UAE.
First Generation GMC Sierra (1987-1999)
GMC introduced the Sierra nameplate in the third generation of Chevrolet C/K. Besides, Sierra was the name given to large-size pickup trucks with more features than the Chevy C/K model.
From 1999 onwards, the modern GMC Sierra was launched and it went on to become a popular pickup truck.
Second Generation GMC Sierra (1999-2007)
1999 marked the beginning of the modern GMC Sierra era. Built on the GM800 platform, the second generation featured the following three types of cabs:
- Two-door regular cab
- Four-door extended cab
- Front-hinged four-door crew cab
Besides, the cargo beds were available in three different lengths: 69.2-inch short box, 78.7-inch standard box and 97.6-inch long box. GMC Sierra offered the following engine options:
- 4.3-litre V6 engine
- 4.8-litre V8 engine
- 5.3-litre V8 engine
In 2001, an upscale version known as Sierra C3 was introduced in the GMC Sierra’s history. It featured a 6.0-litre Vortec 6,000 V8 engine producing 325 hp.
In 2002, it was known as the Sierra Denali which continued to be the top trim for all the GMC Sierra generations to come. 2004 saw the addition of a crew cab to the standard Sierra model and the horsepower of the 5.3-litre increasing to 285 hp.
Third Generation GMC Sierra (2007-2013)
Built on the GMT900 platform, the third generation of Sierra received several design changes on the exterior and interior. It continued to offer the same three options for the cabs as the second generation.
The windshield was raked at a 57° angle providing a more aerodynamic shape. That said, it improved the fuel efficiency of the pickup truck. Besides, this GMC Sierra generation came with two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options.
The engine lineup included the standard 4.3-litre V6 engine producing 195 hp. Alongside, the following V8 engines were available:
- 4.8-litre engine producing 302 hp
- 5.3-litre engine generating 315 hp and the same flex-fuel engine produced 326 hp
- The Denali version featured a 6.2-litre engine generating 403 hp
All engines were mated with the 4-speed automatic transmission. Moreover, it was the first time in the history of the GMC Sierra that a hybrid vehicle model was introduced. The hybrid version featured a 6.0-litre V8 engine producing 333 hp. Besides, the hybrid engine was paired with the 6-speed automatic transmission.
In the 2010 mid-cycle refresher, the 5.3-litre engine was paired with the 6-speed automatic transmission. Besides, the GMC Sierra featured a touch-screen navigation panel in the 2012 upgrade.
Fourth Generation GMC Sierra (2014-2018)
The fourth generation of the GMC Sierra marked 110 years of GMC history. This generation featured more powerful engines and a sporty exterior. The engine lineup included the following:
- 4.3L V6 EcoTec3 producing 290 hp
- 5.3L V8 EcoTec3 generating 360 hp
- 6.2L V8 boasting 420 HP
The 6.2-litre engine was available on Sierra Denali and it was paired with the 8-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, other engine options were paired with 6-speed automatic transmission. Besides, the rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options were available for the buyers.
This generation in the history of GMC Sierra came with following cab and truck bed options:
- Crew cab with short or standard box
- Double cab with standard box
- Regular cab with standard or long box
Besides, the engine block was made up of Aluminium to reduce the weight and increase fuel efficiency. Alongside, the GMC Sierra included modern safety and infotainment features. The GMC Sierra models in this generation included a forward collision alert and lane departure warning system to improve safety.
Other than that, the pickup truck featured a set of active and passive safety features. Moreover, the 2014 GMC Sierra models came with front-hinged rear doors to make entry and exit easier in closed parking spaces.
In 2016, this GMC Sierra generation received a facelift. It featured a new grille design, headlight type and shape, and a refreshed front fascia. Besides, the infotainment system was upgraded and it featured Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Fifth Generation GMC Sierra (2019- Present)
The latest generation rolled out in 2019. It featured the following engine lineup:
- 4.3-litre V6 engine paired with six-speed automatic transmission boasting 285 hp
- 2.7-litre litre turbocharged engine mated with 8-speed automatic transmission producing 310 hp
Besides, the following V8 engines are available:
- 5.3-litre V8 engine paired with 8-speed automatic transmission producing 355 hp
- 6.2-litre V8 engine generating 420 hp is mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission
The all-new GMC Sierra 1500 includes the basic SLE and the AT4 trim levels. Besides, it features Denali Ultimate trim level for the first time in GMC Sierra history. A luxurious interior is paired with modern infotainment features. Other than that, the newer GMC Sierra models boast a powerful appearance and provide compelling off-road performance.
This wraps the complete GMC Sierra history that is one of the top-selling pickup trucks by this auto brand. If you are a fan of GMC pickup trucks, you can find this top pickup in the listings of used GMC Sierra in the UAE.
Besides, you can find other performance SUVs, pickup trucks and sedans in the plethora of used cars for sale in the UAE.
Keep reading the UAE’s leading cars blog to learn more about the history and facts of popular auto brands and their vehicle models.
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