2011 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Crew Cab SLT 4x4
I employed the GMC Sierra to tow my 19-foot Glastron boat, a burden of only 4000 pounds. That was a rather piddling load for this well muscled machine and it barely knew a load was in tow. What amazed me most is how quiet, smooth riding, and generally enjoyable this dual-rear-tired pickup has become. The Duramax turbo diesel is quiet, smoke free, and impressively strong especially from rest. It is supremely well matched to the Allison automatic transmission. Anyone who seriously needs this much capacity will be well served by this mega truck.
- Don Sherman,Technical Editor
How fitting to have this truck around Halloween because this thing's a monster. The 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 HD has amazing capability; for proof, just look at the numbers. This turbocharged Duramax diesel engine produces 765 lb-ft of stump-pulling torque, and it's available at just 1600 rpm.
The crew cab interior is spacious enough for four or five adults, and the leather-trimmed seats offer good comfort over long distances. The dual rear wheels make navigating urban areas a challenge, but people who buy a truck like this will likely rarely worry about that issue. Speaking of navigation, this truck wasn't equipped with the $2250 option. And with a rig this big, I'd prefer to have the rearview camera system to make trailer hookup a snap. For a $55,930 truck, a $450 backup camera system is a drop in the bucket, and a worthwhile option.
- Mike Ofiara,Road Test Coordinator
After a week of driving mostly sporty Automobile of the Year and All-Star candidates on rural roads, it was quite a switch to find myself negotiating downtown Ann Arbor in this giant dualie pickup. As Mike pointed out, though, the city is not the habitat for a truck like this. This is the kind of vehicle that excels at towing big trailers full of things like horses, cars, and hay bales or hauling bedfuls of construction equipment and mountains of firewood. In my rural farm town (where the streets are pretty wide), the Sierra felt right at home, but the only thing I hauled was a medium-size pumpkin. What a disgrace!
This truck is more capable than what 99.9% of private owners need, but for those select target customers, this $56K one-ton truck is surely fantastic, with its heated seats, satellite radio, very spacious cabin, huge bed, and, of course, near limitless towing capability. And when you need a truck like that, you probably don't worry about fuel mileage very much. Over fifty commuting miles, with the truck empty, I achieved an indicated 13.3 mpg on diesel.
