2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Review

It's all about lighting for the 2016 GMC Sierra. Xenon headlamps and LED running lights are now standard, while LED taillights are available on the SLE trim and above. LED foglights are at least optional on all trims, while LED headlights are available on all but the base Sierra. Each trim level also gets its own variation of the GMC grille. Functionally, the eight-speed automatic transmission is now available with the 5.3-liter V8 on SLT and Denali trim levels, while the IntelliLink touchscreens have been updated for faster performance (including a new midlevel 7-inch screen) and gained Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Remote tailgate locking and wireless phone charging have also been added to the available features list.

A wide range of body styles, a comfortable and quiet cabin, and a lineup of powerful, fuel-efficient engines make the 2015 GMC Sierra a solid pick in the full-size pickup class.

Here are some reasons why you might want to choose a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 over its Chevy Silverado fraternal twin. Perhaps you find its styling more dignified, in which case this year's addition of LED lighting and unique grilles for every trim level is bound to please. Perhaps you live closer to the local GMC-Buick dealership. Perhaps you like the high-luxe style of the Sierra Denali as opposed to the high-lux style of the Silverado High Country. Perhaps your father-in-law owns a Silverado and you'll be damned if you own the same truck as that crusty old coot.

Whatever your reasons may be, the 2016 Sierra 1500's noteworthy changes will likely make your heart grow fonder. Besides the abovementioned styling updates, the eight-speed automatic transmission can now be paired with the 5.3-liter V8 (though only on the SLT and Denali), and the addition of lane keeping assist to the options list should help prevent inadvertent crushings of subcompact hatchbacks on tight rural roads. The IntelliLink touchscreen electronics interface also receives faster responses and the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Any way you shake it, there's nothing but good news here for Sierra loyalists and undecided shoppers alike.

In total, the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 is an even more well-rounded truck than last year, and it definitely merits a spot on your short list. Still, we also recommend checking out its key competitors. The Ford F-150 boasts impressive powertrains, driving manners and overall design, while the Ram 1500 offers the segment's best ride and the unique availability of an efficient and capable diesel engine. For the weekend dirt enthusiast, the Toyota Tundra can be equipped with an optional TRD Pro package, which makes it extremely adept at off-roading. Of course, there's also the me-too Chevrolet Silverado, but then, you know, the father-in-law. Or whatever.

Standard on all but the SLT and Denali trims is a 4.3-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. It comes matched to a six-speed automatic transmission and, as with every Sierra 1500, either rear- or four-wheel drive. Maximum towing capacity, when properly equipped, is fairly generous at 7,600 pounds. EPA fuel economy estimates stand at 20 mpg combined (18 city/24 highway) for rear-wheel drive. With 4WD, they drop to 19 mpg combined (17 city/22 highway).

The 5.3-liter V8, which is standard on the SLT and Denali and optional on other Sierras, makes 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. With this engine, the base and SLE include a six-speed automatic; the SLT and Denali have an eight-speed automatic. Properly equipped, trucks with this engine can tow up to 11,100 pounds. EPA fuel economy estimates are 19 mpg (16 city/23 highway) with the six-speed and curiously worse with the eight-speed at 18 (16 city/22 highway). Opting for four-wheel drive lowers these estimates by 1 mpg combined.

Optional on the SLT and Denali is a 6.2-liter V8 good for 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The eight-speed automatic is standard. Properly equipped, this engine can tow up to 12,000 pounds. Regardless of drivetrain, the EPA estimates it will return 17 mpg combined (15 city/21 highway).

Standard safety features on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, trailer sway control, front and rear side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Standard on all but the base Sierra is a rearview camera, a driver blind-spot mirror and OnStar, which includes services such as automatic crash notification, roadside assistance, remote door unlocking and stolen vehicle assistance. The optional Enhanced Driver Alert package includes front and rear parking sensors, a forward collision warning system, lane departure prevention and a safety alert seat that buzzes the driver's bottom to warn them as needed.

The Sierra 1500 received a top five-star crash rating from the government for overall, front and side protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2016 Sierra 1500 its highest possible rating of Good in its moderate-overlap front-impact crash test, the only test that agency has conducted thus far on this vehicle.

The 2016 GMC Sierra 1500's V6 provides respectable power and refinement. Unless you anticipate a lot of heavy towing and hauling, we suggest test-driving the V6 when you visit the dealer. As you would expect, the 5.3-liter V8 delivers solid thrust with good manners, and it also gets surprisingly good fuel economy. There's still a bit of vibration during hard acceleration, however, and the throttle can seem rather sluggish and unresponsive — no doubt for the sake of saving fuel.

The six-speed automatic provides smooth and timely gear changes in normal driving, but there's too big a gap between the transmission's gear ratios when towing. The addition of the eight-speed automatic on the SLT and Denali trims is therefore welcome, though the Ram 1500 comes standard with an eight-speed in every trim. The 6.2-liter V8 is a different story, as it comes standard with the eight-speed and provides that welcome bit of extra grunt to tackle almost any job (and serve up eye-popping acceleration when unladen).

Overall ride and handling dynamics are commendable, making this truck a fine choice for daily driving. The Sierra 1500 feels robust structurally, and although the Ram 1500 delivers a more refined ride, most Sierra versions are compliant and comfortable over broken pavement. (The stiffer ride on trucks with trailering package can get tiresome.) The Sierra is also very quiet, with road noise snuffed out and only a whisper of wind noise at freeway speeds. Off-road, the Sierra All-Terrain exhibits confidence-inspiring composure while negotiating rutted trails and challenging grades.

Frankly, the GMC Sierra's cabin isn't quite as special to behold as those of the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150. Higher trim levels can certainly be deemed luxurious, but on the whole, this GMC is more function than form. At the same time, anyone familiar with older GMC pickups who climbs inside this latest version will immediately notice the much improved materials and build quality, especially on the lower trims. There's also an abundance of bins and cubbies, and the center console on five-passenger Sierras boasts plenty of USB ports to keep your devices charged and connected. As if that isn't enough, there's now wireless charging for 2016.

The IntelliLink infotainment interface takes care of most navigation, audio and phone functions, and deserves special mention for its clear, intuitive controls. Plus, it gets even better for 2016 as its processing speed has thankfully been sped up and the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto make calling up playlists, podcasts, contacts and certain apps much easier.

Space and comfort are competitive in the Sierra's three cabs. We also appreciate the front-hinged rear doors on the double cab as opposed to the rear-hinged clamshell doors on the F-150. Rear-seat space in the crew cab isn't quite as sprawl-friendly as that offered by Ford or Ram (let alone the Toyota Tundra's limolike CrewMax cab), but families will still find plenty of space back there. Flipping up the rear bench reveals a flat load floor.