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The Pony Car Turns 602024 GMC Sierra 1500 Review
The 2024 GMC Sierra is ready for any task, but is it the right truck for you? We look at towing capacity, interior quality, and more in our review.
What’s New for the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500?
The Sierra is now in its fourth generation and comes in eight trim levels with four available engines and the choice of rear or four-wheel drive. This pickup can be everything from a workhorse fleet vehicle to a hardcore off-roader and everything in between.
The 2024 GMC Sierra enters the year with a couple of new wheel designs and an upgraded turbo diesel that now makes more power and comes standard on the AT4X.
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 – gmc.com | Shop 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 on Carsforsale.com
Carsforsale.com Score
8.5/10
Powertrain
Score
8.75/10
Interior
Score
8.75/10
Technology
Score
8.5/10
Value
Score
8/10
The Breakdown
Great engines
Excellent capability
Top-notch tech
Expensive
High but narrow utility
Too big for many places
Great for those who need a fancy truck
2024 Sierra 1500 Specs
- 310 horsepower from base engine
- 348 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 8 available trims
- 13.4-inch infotainment screen
- 5-star crash test rating
- 3-year powertrain warranty
- Towing capacity of 13,200 lbs
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Powertrain 8.75/10
GMC has long offered a very competent lineup of engines in the Sierra and it only gets better for 2024. Three of the four available carry over unchanged. They include the turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder with 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, and a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.
What’s new for 2024 is that GMC offers its 3.0-liter turbodiesel in the AT4 as its standard engine and this year it makes 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque. That’s a significant upgrade over the 2023 edition reviewed here. Not only does it have more power but it’s better suited for sipping fuel when far from fuel stations.
Each of the four engines provide a specialized focus and all feel good from behind the wheel. The four-cylinder is punchier than most would expect, responsive and can quickly make one forget about how few pistons it has compared to most full-size trucks. It gets up to 20 mpg combined and uses an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The 5.3-liter V8 is dutiful and powerful but might still be the weak spot in the lineup. It’s not as efficient as the four-cylinder, getting just 18 mpg combined, and it’s not as powerful as the 6.2-liter V8. The 5.3 comes with an eight-speed automatic when fitted with RWD and a 10-speed when paired with 4WD.
That larger V8 is very similar to the same ones Chevrolet has used for its sports cars in the past and it’s easy to feel that from the driver’s seat. It’s eager and willing to propel this truck forward with athleticism not often seen in this segment. It sees a dip of just one mpg to 17 combined when compared to the 5.3-liter but clearly offers a lot more engagement.
Finally, the diesel is just downright capable. It’s not as quick to respond from throttle prodding but hold the pedal down for a few moments and the turbocharger comes online and delivers gobs of torque. In addition, it gets up to 26 mpg combined which makes it the clear winner for those who want to tow or simply want the best fuel economy possible in their Sierra. When properly equipped, the Sierra can tow up to 13,200 pounds or haul 2,240 pounds of payload.
All of that being said, it’s important to note that this is a very large truck and using it in urban cityscapes and tight parking lots feels uncomfortable. In heavy traffic it’s overmatched by smaller, quicker, and more nimble vehicles. On the highway at speed though it feels incredibly comfortable. Offroad it’s unquestionably one of the most capable stock trucks in this segment.
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Interior 8.75/10
The Sierra is generally a very nice truck to spend time in. The Pro trim level feels cheap due to its heavy incorporation of vinyl and plastic but it’s likely not something most customers will even consider. The SLE trim which is the very next one in the lineup feels far better thanks to more luxury items like cloth upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a 13.4-inch infotainment system.
The center control stack looks so much more advanced than it did only a few years ago and it really puts GMC back into the pack when it comes to interior design. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is standard across all versions but the Pro trim and it serves to jazz up the cabin just that much more. Top trims get fancy features that make the experience better.
The AT4X for example comes with off-road-specific DSSV dampers. The Denali has an adaptive suspension that allows it to adjust many times per second for the best ride quality. And the Denali Ultimate comes with a sunroof, massaging front seats, and open-pore wood trim.
No Sierra really comes with any clever storage space but that doesn’t mean that we’re unhappy with it. A small space beneath the rear seats makes a good location for storing stuff that you don’t want to see by prying eyes. The bed features multiple tie downs, and the clever tailgate is highly configurable.
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Technology Features 8.5/10
The Sierra might be most improved over the last generation in the technology department. Yes, the interior itself is better but so much of that is due to improved tech. The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 13.4-inch infotainment system are both good examples of this. Each is configurable, bright, easy to use, and quick to respond. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard too.
The Sierra is also available with a heads-up display, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a wireless charging pad, and several charging ports. A bed-view camera makes keeping an eye on gear or cargo easy. The AT4X also comes with under-body off-road cameras that help to navigate challenging terrain without a spotter.
In terms of safety equipment, the Sierra comes with quite a lot of technology. Every trim gets lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, and automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control is also available as is GM’s Supercruise. The Sierra hasn’t won any awards with the IIHS but it has a five-star crash-test rating.
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Trims & Pricing
Pro – $38,345
The base Sierra is really meant as a work truck above all else. It comes with a four-cylinder engine, 17-inch steel wheels, LED headlights, chrome bumpers, heated exterior mirrors, vinyl floor coverings, cloth or vinyl upholstery, two USB ports, a 7-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, forward collision mitigation, lane-keep assist, and OnStar.
SLE – $49,745
The SLE adds 17-inch alloy wheels, LED bed lighting, a trailer hitch receiver, a MultiPro tailgate, remote start, cruise control, keyless entry, carpeted flooring, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a full-color digital gauge cluster, a 13.4-inch infotainment system, two more USB ports, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and satellite radio.
Elevation – $51,445
This trim includes 20-inch wheels, LED fog lights, cloth upholstery, and increased towing capacity. 4WD models also get a single-speed transfer case.
SLT – $56,795
This is the first trim that comes standard with the 5.3-liter V8. It also has 18-inch wheels, heated power-folding mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, leather upholstery, driver’s seat memory settings, and a power-adjustable front passenger seat.
AT4 – $68,095
This off-road-focused trim comes standard with a diesel engine, four-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, all-terrain tires, a two-inch suspension lift with monotube shocks, recovery hooks, skid plates, and adjustable traction control.
Denali – $68,595
This luxurious trim includes an adaptive suspension, an integrated trailer brake controller, a bed-view camera, a Bose sound system, a spray-in bedliner, side steps, 20-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, a wireless charging pad, power-retractable side steps, and three years of Onstar.
AT4X – $81,195
The most extreme Sierra gets off-road specific dampers, locking differentials, a sunroof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a bed-view camera, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and a virtual rearview mirror.
Denali Ultimate – $84,990
The ultimate Sierra includes 22-inch wheels, a carbon-fiber composite bed, a sunroof, a 12-speaker sound system, and a heads-up display.
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Overall Value 8/10
It’s hard to call the Sierra a good value since the use case for this truck is incredibly narrow. Very few owners will actually push this truck to its real limits and everyone else would be better off buying something more suited to their actual use case. Those who will leverage the strengths of pickup will love it though. It’s very comfortable, feels good to drive at speed, and is tough to beat off-road.
CarsForSale.com Overall Score 8.5/10
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 – gmc.com | Shop 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 on Carsforsale.com
GMC offers one of the most complete luxury pickups on the market. The Ford F-150 doesn’t really have any trims that match the high end of the Sierra lineup. Ram does with its new Tungsten trim but it’s just as expensive and not so much better that it’s a clear and away winner. We’d love to see GMC make the Sierra more affordable but isn’t that true of just about every car?
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 FAQ
Can the Sierra 1500 tow a camper?
Absolutely so long as the camper weighs less than 13,201 pounds and the Sierra is properly equipped.
Can you put a plow on a Sierra 1500?
Yes, the GMC Sierra can be equipped with a plow.
How much does a GMC Sierra weigh?
The GMC Sierra weighs approximately 5,680 pounds depending on features and options.
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