2023 GMC Sierra 1500

Full-size trucks a the three top-selling vehicles in the USA today. Naturally, every Tom Dick and Harry wants a piece of the action, and the 2023 Sierra 1500 is GMC's attempt at luring in buyers. The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 still feels fresh thanks to a 2022 facelift and interior reshuffle and now comes in hardcore AT4X EAV form, which aims at cornering off-road enthusiasts on their way to buy a Ford F-150 Raptor. Under the hood, you'll find a wide range of engines, including the evergreen 6.2-liter V8 mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The interior is more resolved than ever, and the tech levels are impressive. GMC continues to refine the Sierra 1500, and at this point, it looks like a worthy contender to other big names such as the Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500. In this GMC Sierra 1500 review, we take a look at what makes one of the USA's favorite trucks so good and where it can improve.

With so many can and trim options to choose from, the price list for the GMC Sierra 1500 is as long as your arm. Right at the bottom of the range, the 2WD Regular Cab in Pro trim will set you back $37,100, excluding tax, registration, and a destination fee of $1,895. Going for the AWD version will push up the Sierra 1500's price to $41,700. The Double Cab 2WD Pro with the standard box clocks in at a base price of $40,400. The popular Crew Cab short box combo starts with an MSRP of $42,800 for the Pro trim in 2WD guise and steadily climbs to $52,600 for the 2.7-liter SLE 2WD, $54,500 for the 5.3-liter Elevation 2WD, $66,700 for the 6.2-liter V8 AT4 4WD, and $81,700 for the 6.2-liter V8 AT4X 4WD. The most expensive of the lot is the Denali Ultimate 6.2 V8 4WD, which starts at $82,100. It can inch close to $90,000 when fully loaded.

The first thing to remember when getting behind the wheel of the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 is that this is a traditional body-on-frame truck, which means it feels a bit old-school. While reasonably comfortable, it simply doesn't have the smooth ride and class-leading car-like on-road refinement of the coil-sprung Ram 1500. On the open road, the Sierra 1500 requires constant minor adjustments to track true, but the well-damped suspension and lack of road noise make up for this inconvenience. Through the twisty bits, we were left impressed at how flat this large truck managed to remain, even when pushing through the corners. Brakes are sharp and responsive, but one should always be wary of the fact that this big lumbering machine needs quite a distance to come to a halt. The Sierra 1500 is easy to drive in the city, and the steering is light enough to navigate city streets easily. Off-road, the Sierra 1500 feels composed, especially in its off-road-focused trim, which soaks up rough surfaces well enough and eats gravel roads for breakfast.

The full-size truck market is one of the most competitive around, and in order to steal sales from industry giants like the Ford F-150, your product needs to be top-notch. The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 has all the ingredients necessary to take the fight to Ford, and thanks to the addition of the new hardcore AT4X AEV, this truck is more capable than ever when it comes to venturing into the great outdoors. The exterior of the Sierra 1500 is handsome, and that attractive styling flows to the interior, which offers a quiet and refined experience, if not quite the class-leading materials of the Ram. The built quality and comfort are very good, as is the tech on offer. Under the hood, the Sierra 1500 can't really do wrong, now that the limp base V6 is gone. Every engine offers proper punch - even the base 2.7 four-cylinder, and there's always the option of a 420-hp V8. On and off the road, the Sierra 1500 proves that it has what it takes, and its towing capacity is up there with the best, even if its cheaper Silverado sibling beats it on this score. This truck can take the fight to any of its competitors with confidence but it's still not quite an F-150 or Ram beater.

The GMC Sierra 1500 is a great platform and is offered with a ton of cab and load bed options, so it isn't easy to promote a single model or trim. This decision will boil down to your specific needs. The single cab truck offers the basics and comes in at the most affordable price, while a midrange crew cab short bed should make for a well-balanced family truck. We'd suggest going for the AT4 off-road truck if you've got a bit more of an adventurous soul. For those looking for a premium experience, the Denali or Denali Ultimate are the best choices. For a truck that beats even the AT4 for off-road ability and rivals the Denali trims for luxury, the ATX4 might be the ultimate Sierra for some, but it is expensive.