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GMC Sierra pictured in Torrance
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It's big, bold, brash and just what you need to lump all that trash in the yard, basement or attic to the place they put it to better use.
Better use is what GMC had in mind for the rework of its 2007 GMC Sierra, a veritable monster that goes straight up against the larger Ford, Ram and Chevy trucks in its over-sized bracket (which probably sounds familiar to NCAA fans).
Best thing about the looks of it - nuts, bolts and carrying capacity aside - is the rigid, flat, square, whatever you will call it, front fascia. You could probably strap on a good-sized pool table on the front of it and still not cover up that monster grille, while forming a perfectly concentric rectangle. Possibly. It's definitely a distinct visual experience from those protuberant Rams or horizontal-grille sister-model Silverados.
So the design works but, like many of these monsters, it is pretty impractical for everyday use, apart from if you're a laborer or in the construction business or whatever. Drivers who will use it as a common-or-garden runabout may wish to consider the whopping Denali variant with all the luxurious dibbings you could require, one of three bodystyles and an almost never-ending combination of powertrains, bodystyles and interiors available.
Using notoriously unreliable journo-math, I managed to calculate 240 versions available, and to think I thought that 230 was just too few.
I'd recommend the test variant I drove about for a week, the 1500 SLE crew-cab, or four-door, in which I ferried around the wife's five-months pregnant sister and her hubby around greater LA, up to Malibu and around Santa Monica and down to Crystal Cove behind the Orange Curtain.
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Standing tall among bigger beasts
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Handy for negotiating inclines
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I missed out the building site tour, though you only have to drive through the port area every so often to realize how nice it is to be so high up among the seriously heavy machinery that fills the rutted and broken asphalt.
Which the Sierra of course handled wonderfully, as it did 45-degree inclines, broken loam and deep sand courtesy of those massive 17-inch rims and its independent coil-over suspension at the front and 2-stage multi-leaf springs at the back.
It didn't pack the major pulling power of its sister 3500 and wasn't so responsive in low-down maneuvering but if you want more than the test model's 4.8 liter V8, step up to the 2500 or 3500, same goes for carrying capacity in the back, with a choice of long, short or medium cargo area at 69.2 inches, 78.7 inches and 97.6 inches respectively.
The 1500'll tow just upwards of 10,000 pounds with a carrying capacity or payload weight of 2,160 pounds; the 2500 gives you about 15,800 on tow and upwards of 3,500 payload; the big beast 3500 gives you about 16,500 of towing ability, and a payload of 5,300 pounds. The Denali is not recommended for heavy duty stuff but will still tow over 6,000 pounds, with a payload of 1,600 pounds.
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Coil-sprung rear suspension
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In its natural environment. Note 17-inch rims.
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Also noted and remarked on was the cabin's quality, comfort and sheer size. Great options often unfound in trucks include power locks and windows, keyless entry, leather encased steering wheel, power and heated mirrors, dual-zone comfort heating and cooling, leather seat trim, a real cool power back slide window, and a great-sounding 6-CD changer with optional XM radio.
It almost competes with the truly upscale Lincoln LT, which is seriously near the Denali territory with a price tag to match. The 2007 Sierra shares its all-new platform with its sister Yukon we rated so highly in a scoot up to San Francisco a few months back.
So I had to keep reminding said pregnant sister-in-law about the pretty steep step down from the cabin to the tarmac but safety wise she was in good hands: you just ain't gonna come off second best in one of these and, if you hit something stationary that's much bigger and indeed immobile you've got all manner of front, side and passenger airbags to keep you snug. It's also got daylight running lights and comes with a year of GM's OnStar mobile security service.
All the dibbings added up to a total of $38,160 plus taxes, which is a whole lotta truck for your buck, and it comes with GM's 100,000-mile warranty, one of the best out there. Now get moving.
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Rigid and square fascia
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Upscale ergonomics
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Spacious leather interior
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