Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2001

Large Pickup

Winner: GMC Sierra

Last year's winner, the Ford F-Series, took honors with its wide-ranging lineup that included everything from crew cab duallies to supercharged sport trucks. Variety may be the spice of life, but with their incredible new lineup of heavy-duty engines, innovative transmissions, and C3 luxury edition we couldn't help but concede the throne to GMC's Sierra. Leading the charge is an all-new 8.1-liter V8 producing 340 horsepower and 455 ft-lbs. of torque. Those numbers best even the V10s of Ford and Chevy making the Sierra numero uno when it comes to towing and hauling capability. If diesel power is more your style, consider the Sierra's new 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel. With 300hp and 520 ft-lbs. of torque, this engine is king of the torque monsters, easily topping the numbers of Ford's Powerstroke and Dodge's Cummins diesel engines. Heavy-duty Sierras now offer the industry's first five-speed automatic with tow/haul shift optimization modes and a six-speed manual for those who like to do their own shift optimization. Although the new heavy-duty Sierras may garner the majority of the attention, the light-duty lineup also receives an attention getter of their own. Called the C3, this new half-ton truck takes pickups to new heights in luxury and sophistication. With 325 horsepower from a 6.0-liter V8, an industry first all-wheel-drive system, and a leather and wood-lined interior, the C3 provides class-leading towing capacity and all-weather traction in a slickly styled package. Standard light-duty Sierras get a slightly detuned version of the 6.0-liter V8 producing 300 horsepower and 360 ft-lbs. of torque, still enough juice to beat out Ford's and Dodge's V8s. Even GMC's standard 4.8-liter V8 packs 270 horsepower, making the Sierra the most powerful lineup of trucks you can buy across the board. Of course, power alone doesn't account for our love of the Sierra lineup. A tightly controlled ride, great four-wheel disc brakes and surprising fuel economy also contribute to the Sierra's beloved status. Add to that roomy interiors, terrific power seats, and an almost endless array of available options like dual seat heaters and the OnStar communications system, and it's easy to see why we consider the Sierra the truck to beat.