| MSRP | $45,815 |
|---|---|
| Edmunds suggests you pay | $44,795 |
You know those chrome-trimmed, wood-grained pickup trucks that seem to be more and more common these days? The GMC Sierra pioneered all that, especially in its decked-out Denali trim. Even the heavy-duty 2500HD version has been as much about status and comfort as it is about hauling precious cargo. Now the 2020 Sierra 2500HD returns with a new look and features, ready to reclaim its crown among a growing field of opulent trucks.
As usual, the Sierra 2500HD shares dimensions and mechanicals with the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. Both trucks have roomy interiors, extra-wide and capable beds, and handy built-in steps for accessing the tall box. On top of that, the Sierra offers a few extra standard features and higher-quality interior materials. But where the Sierra 2500HD really separates from its Chevy sibling is the optional MultiPro tailgate. Available on all trims, it can open and fold in a number of different configurations to be used as a step, a desk or a helpful tool for hauling.
Sadly, however, the HD does not offer the nearly indestructible carbon-fiber box that the half-ton Sierra 1500 does. And with competitors from Ford and Ram taking luxury to another level in their heavy-duty trucks, it would be nice to see GMC put more design effort into ride comfort and interior quality. But if you're looking for a heavy-duty truck that's well equipped and highly capable, the Sierra 2500 is worth checking out.
Our verdict | |
The Sierra 2500HD is a seriously capable heavy-duty truck. The large cabin fits passengers and cargo without issue. Hauling and towing capacity are strong, just as you'd expect from a truck in this class. The available MultiPro tailgate also makes loading items into the bed easy. But a few things are holding the Sierra back, such as poor ride quality, below-average visibility, and in-cabin tech that doesn't match up with that of segment leaders. | |
How does the Sierra 2500HD drive? | |
The Sierra 2500's optional 6.6-liter diesel V8 is an excellent engine, and the 10-speed automatic it's paired to is top-notch. That V8 and its 910 lb-ft of torque propelled our 8,300-pound test truck from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.3 seconds — one of the quicker times in the 2500-series segment. We're less pleased with the brakes, however. The overly soft and long feel of the brake pedal action can diminish your confidence in the truck's abilities should you need to stop quickly. Steering and handling are unremarkable. The steering is vague but well weighted. And despite its size, the Sierra tracks well through corners. In-town drivability and off-road capability are similarly average for the class. Keep the Sierra 2500 on bigger roads and you'll enjoy it just fine. | |
How comfortable is the Sierra 2500HD? | |
Without any cargo in the bed, the Sierra 2500 has a bouncy ride, especially on the highway where road imperfections are common. The front seats help boost the Sierra's score with comfortable and supportive padding. Lumbar support is excellent, too. On a long road trip over relatively smooth roads, things should be just fine. The Sierra's climate control system works quickly and is operated by easy-to-use control knobs placed conveniently on the dashboard. Road and wind noise is about average for the heavy-duty segment, but there is a pretty notable ruckus from the diesel up front, especially at idle. You'll definitely never forget that you got the diesel V8. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The Sierra 2500 is a big truck with a big interior. Headroom and legroom are abundant in the crew-cab configuration. Getting in and out will take some climbing, but the truck's available side steps help with that. Designwise, the interior of the Silverado 2500HD is essentially the same as the one in the previous-generation truck. The design, layout and switchgear are utterly familiar and a bit underwhelming. But to GMC's credit, it's all easy to use and well labeled. Poor outward visibility drags down the Sierra's score a bit because of the small rearview mirror, big roof pillars and giant hood that's hard to see over. Luckily, the driving position is relatively high and gives a commanding view forward for most drivers. | |
How’s the tech? | |
Our Denali test truck came with the Bose premium sound system and the 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. The audio and picture quality on the system lived up to class standards, but there's no competing with the Ram 2500's massive center screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are standard with the 2500, and our smartphones connected quickly during our test. One weak spot is that the factory voice controls don't understand natural language, and they even have trouble with prescribed commands. Siri and Google Voice will paper over this weakness if you use them, though. We like that a full suite of advanced driver safety aids is standard, but the forward collision warning and blind-spot monitoring systems seemed too oversensitive in our testing. | |
How are the towing and storage? | |
The Sierra 2500 gets top marks in the cargo and utility segment thanks to an overabundance of big in-bed tie-downs, the trick six-position MultiPro tailgate, smartly placed bed sidesteps, robust hauling capability, and plenty of cargo space inside the cabin. The rear seats flip up easily to accommodate larger items, and cupholders abound throughout the cabin. In-cabin small-item storage could be better optimized, but there's still a decent amount. Maximum fifth-wheel gooseneck towing capacity for the GMC is respectable for the class, but the topped-out rating for conventional towing is a few thousand pounds behind key rivals. But the Sierra makes towing easy with standard extendable tow mirrors, a remarkable 15-view towing-camera system, and a tire pressure monitoring system for a trailer's tires. | |
How’s the fuel economy? | |
The EPA doesn't require fuel economy testing for heavy-duty pickups, so the Sierra 2500 doesn't have a published fuel consumption number. That said, our diesel-powered test truck returned respectable numbers during its time with us. On long highway journeys, it averaged around 17-18 mpg, which is good for the segment. | |
Is the Sierra 2500HD a good value? | |
It's built well, and our test truck didn't have any glaring flaws in construction, inside or out. But the Sierra, especially in Denali trim, can get pretty expensive, and it still uses a lot of the Chevrolet Silverado's middle-of-the-road cabin materials. For a truck that can easily crest $80,000, we'd like things to be a bit higher-quality. The ownership experience is about average for the class. The Sierra has an average basic warranty and average powertrain coverage for the class at three years/36,000 miles and five years/60,000 miles, respectively. | |
Wildcard | |
Like many of its rivals, the Sierra 2500's personality comes mostly from its sheer size. Up front, the tall and imposing grille gives it a certain curb appeal. And from inside the cabin, the high driving position makes you feel like you're on top of the world. There's a certain amount of fun to be had in a rig like the Sierra Denali. | |
Like all full-size pickups, the Sierra 2500HD has a long list of available trims, features and packages. The standard Sierra kicks things off, followed by the SLE with a few basic upgrades to the cabin and technology. The SLT takes things to another level more befitting a luxury truck of this price. New for this generation is the off-road-focused AT4. And of course there is the Denali, the envy of every cowpoke.
2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD
2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty
If you're into more modernized trucks, the F-250 Super Duty might be your style. It has an aluminum body, plus the choice of an updated 7.3-liter V8 gasoline engine or a turbodiesel V8, both of which are mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Each offers more power and torque than the Sierra equivalent. There's also a new off-road package called the Tremor that counters the GMC's new AT4 trim.
GMC wants to position the Sierra 2500HD as the luxury truck of choice, but the Ram 2500 makes a better case. It has a smooth eight-speed transmission as standard, an extremely comfortable ride and a massive available 12-inch touchscreen. Even better, the Ram doesn't lose any towing ability with all that fanciness. Its off-road variant, the Power Wagon, remains at the top of the heavy-duty crawlers thanks to front and rear electronic lockers.
Frankly, there isn't much difference between these two. The Sierra and the Silverado use the same underpinnings, powertrains and infotainment system. The biggest changes are the exterior design, the slightly better quality of the materials inside the Sierra, and its available MultiPro tailgate. If none of those things matter much, the Silverado has nearly identical towing and hauling capability at a better price.
The big bruisers of the GMC truck lineup, the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD, have been redesigned for more towing capability and more passenger comfort in a work-ready, full-size heavy-duty pickup. The Sierra HD is available in five trim levels with short and long bed options, dual rear-wheel and single rear-wheel configurations, and either a 6.6-liter gas V8 or a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8 engine.
Heavy-duty work trucks don't have a reputation for being comfortable or cutting-edge, but GMC wants to take the back-breaking part out of manual labor — at least during the time you're in the work vehicle. The 2020 Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD have redesigned interiors with roomy, comfortable seating for five or six passengers, depending on the front seat option, and a long list of safety features that make towing and navigating stress-free.
The previous-generation Sierra HD maxed out towing-wise at less than 24,000 pounds so the new Sierra HD is considerably more than competitive with the upcoming the Ram and Ford F-Series heavy-duty trucks.
Smooth city! We tested the 2500 laden, empty, and hauling both a fifth-wheel and a bumper-mounted trailer and the ride quality was almost unchanged no matter what you threw in or behind the big Sierra. Throttle response was predictable, with minimal lag between the pedal and forward motion. The 6.6-liter Duramax and its accompanying Allison 10-speed transmission are well-matched and surprisingly quiet. Braking is made easier while towing through the use of an exhaust brake on the diesel. Despite the truck's size, maneuverability is good thanks to the large optional tow mirrors, big windows, low door height and multiple camera angles.
Interior design is not General Motors' current strength. Like the related Silverado, the Sierra interior is bland at best and dated at worst. What it lacks in visual appeal, though, it makes up in functionality and comfort. The seats are large and adjustable. The cabin is enormous, yet all necessary controls are within easy reach of the driver. The materials are soft and inoffensive, if not particularly thrilling. The infotainment and safety technology is easy to understand and quick to respond. The multi-color head-up display is a useful tool on the truck, especially when towing, as it allows the driver to make use of the tow cameras on the center screen while watching for navigation instructions without having to toggle between apps.
If a heavy-duty truck isn't practical, what's even its reason for being? In terms of usability, the Sierra HD is every bit the professional it's marketed as being. Despite its massive size — the Sierra HD has both a longer wheelbase and a taller overall height than the outgoing truck — the HD is easy and comfortable to drive without a load, and more impressively, it's easy and comfortable to drive with one. The ProGrade trailering system, which offers up to 15 views of the truck and trailer to aid in driving and parking, is astounding. While we wouldn't quite claim that it makes trailering stress-free, it certainly makes it safer for a beginner and offers extra reassurance for an expert. Camera angles include a side view that moves with the truck to help on curves, a transparent trailer view to see how many angry locals are lined up behind you, and the ability to add an in-trailer view to check on your tie-downs or camper cabinets.
GMC will be offering off-road-capable AT4 models across its range, and the Sierra HD is not an exception. On top of unique exterior and interior trim, the Sierra HD AT4 will be equipped with an off-road suspension, skid plates and a locking rear differential. For driver aids, the AT4 trim includes selectable off-road mode for the traction control system, along with hill descent control and hill start assist. The same cameras that help out with towing will use Surround Vision at low-speed for avoiding obstacles, and the 15-inch head-up display will project an off-road inclinometer as well.
Edmunds saysFor customers with regular towing needs, the GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 HD trucks offer the physical capability plus some unique technology that can make the long haul safer for owner and crew.
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD:
The least-expensive 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD is the 2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4dr Double Cab SB (6.6L 8cyl 6A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $38,200.
Other versions include:
