2025 GMC Sierra 1500

In the full-size truck market, the 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 is near the top of the list when it comes to capability. It’s also one of the standouts when it comes to luxury. While it’s true that at its core, this truck is mechanically the same as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the GMC Sierra 1500 has a unique style. The Sierra also has trim levels that are more upscale than its sibling’s, such as the Denali Ultimate. Impressive payload, towing numbers, and a spacious crew cab make this GMC an excellent truck for many people.

The all-electric Sierra EV truck is reviewed separately.

There are minor updates for the 2025 Sierra 1500. A trailer brake controller now comes standard on SLE and higher trim levels. Cruise control is standard on the Pro. The AT4 now comes with 20-inch machined alloy wheels with Carbon Grey metallic accents.

We recommend looking at the popular Crew Cab Elevation powered by the 5.3-liter V8. It offers the best combination of value, capability, and features for the money.

Before buying a new Sierra 1500 truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The strongest resale values of the class belong to the Toyota Tundra; the Sierra 1500’s values are a little above midpack.

The Sierra 1500 comes with four engine choices, with a turbo 4-cylinder as the base engine. The base engine is a solid choice, with 310 horsepower and more torque than the 5.3-liter V8. It also provides impressive payload capacity (see Payload and Towing below).

Having said that, a 5.3-liter V8 under the hood of a GMC truck has been a perfect match for decades, and both are the best they have ever been. This engine puts out 355 hp and is the most popular in the Sierra 1500. For those that want more power, there’s a 420-hp 6.2-liter V8, which is only available with 4-wheel drive (4WD).

When it comes to diesel power in 1/2-ton trucks, only the GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offer the option. The Sierra’s available Duramax turbodiesel 6-cylinder is an excellent choice. It pairs impressive-for-a-truck fuel efficiency with more towing capacity than either V8. Its 495 lb-ft of torque makes acceleration incredibly smooth and power delivery undeniably forceful.

The Sierra 1500 is a comfortable truck on long drives, with a ride that’s compliant without feeling floaty. For an even more upscale, posh experience, the Denali is available with an adaptive suspension that adjusts shock absorption and body control.

If your adventures take you off pavement, there are two trim levels from which to choose. The AT4 and even more off-road-ready AT4X are great choices for mud and dirt, and they both come standard with the turbodiesel engine.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size trucks, including the GMC Sierra 1500.

Payload and Towing

One of the biggest reasons the 5.3-liter V8 is such a popular choice is its versatility. Even though it has less torque than the 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder (383 lb-ft, as opposed to 430 lb-ft), it is rated for the highest payload of 2,240 pounds and can also tow an impressive 11,200 pounds. For those who don’t need to tow as much but want maximum payload capacity, the 2.7-liter can handle the same amount of payload.

For maximum towing capacity in the Sierra 1500, look for the turbodiesel engine with 495 lb-ft of torque. With this engine and rear-wheel drive (RWD), the Sierra can tow 13,200 pounds. The 6.2-liter V8, available only with 4-wheel drive, can tow nearly as much — 13,000 pounds – or the same as the 4-wheel-drive diesel.

These figures are close enough to the Chevy Silverado 1500 to make either a great choice. The Ford F-150, however, can carry a payload of 2,445 pounds or tow up to 13,500 pounds.

Fuel Economy

With the 2.7 turbo engine, fuel economy is 19 combined mpg with rear-wheel drive, 18 combined mpg with 4-wheel drive.

The 5.3-liter V8 fuel economy is 18 combined mpg with rear-wheel drive or 17 combined with 4-wheel drive.

The 6.2-liter V8, which requires premium gasoline and 4-wheel drive, gets 16 combined mpg, compared to 15 mpg in the AT4X.

The 3.0-liter turbodiesel manages 26 combined mpg with rear-wheel drive or 24 combined with 4-wheel drive. The AT4X is slightly thirstier, at 319 combined mpg.

These fuel economy figures are similar to the competition. GM is the only manufacturer that offers diesel in 1/2-ton trucks in the United States; the Ford F-150 and Tundra are available with a hybrid drivetrain, while the Ram 1500 Ramcharger is a plug-in hybrid.

The GMC Sierra is more upscale than its Chevrolet sibling. Beyond the value-focused truck for work duty, the Sierra’s interior goes from pleasant to lavish. Up at the Denali end, the materials are plush and the cabins are hushed. The Denali Ultimate is the crown jewel of the line, with two-tone embossed leather, and leather accents on the door panels.

The Double Cab has 35.2 inches of rear-seat legroom, which goes up to a spacious 43.4 inches in the Crew Cab. That’s among the best in the class.

You can choose from Regular, Double, or Crew cabs, and bed lengths are long (98 inches), standard (80 inches), or short (70 inches). The Sierra 1500’s styling is rugged and angular, but chrome and accent lighting make it look upscale and modern. Each trim level has unique elements, too. The AT4X rides taller because of its specialized, lifted suspension and off-road tires. The Denali and Denali Ultimate have more ornate grilles than the lower trims.

For 2025, the AT4X gets a new wheel design as standard.

AT4X
In addition to the 2-inch lift from the AT4, opting for the AT4X adds front and rear locking differentials, plus Multimatic DSSV shocks. Not only does this suspension setup offer better performance off-road, but ride quality is better than you would expect.

GMC Pro Safety
This standard suite of safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, as well as lane-keeping assistance.

MultiPro tailgate
This innovative tailgate can act as a bed step, bed extender, or workbench. It’s an option that’s worth having.

13.4-inch infotainment touchscreen
This easy-to-read, user-friendly horizontal display is standard on every trim level except the Pro. It controls wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus access to Google built-in.

Carbon-fiber bed
The Sierra 1500’s CarbonPro carbon-fiber bed can carry up to 63.9 cubic feet of cargo and is resistant to dents, scratches, and rust.

Super Cruise
Available in the Denali and Denali Ultimate models, Super Cruise is a hands-free driving system that works on over 400,000 miles of specific roads in North America.

The TurboMax 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine makes 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. It is backed by an 8-speed automatic transmission. The most popular engine is the 5.3-liter V8, with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Above that, the 6.2-liter V8 has 420 hp and 460 lb-ft.

The 3.0-liter 6-cylinder turbodiesel engine produces 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, the most torque of the entire lineup. The V8s and the diesel are backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. All engines are available with a default rear-wheel-drive setup or optional 4-wheel drive, except the 6.2-liter, which is 4-wheel drive only.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

GMC’s new-vehicle warranty is three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, with roadside assistance included. The powertrain warranty for the base 2.7-liter engine is five years or 100,000 miles, the same as the turbodiesel. The first scheduled service is free, regardless of engine. These warranties are comparable to those of other full-size trucks.

Safety Ratings

As a Crew Cab model, the GMC Sierra 1500 gave an adequate performance in crash tests carried out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with scores of Good in the main categories, except for a Marginal in the front passenger-side small overlap impact. The GMC Sierra also earned a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).