It is a good time to be a diesel pickup fan. There are extra diesel-powered full-size Truck choices than ever earlier than, the most recent of which is the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. This highly effective, environment friendly engine is only one of a bunch of updates GMC is giving its bread-and-butter pickup truck this yr.

Let’s begin with the diesel engine. It is the identical three.Zero-liter inline-six you may discover within the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado, placing out 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. With this engine beneath the hood, the Gmc Sierra can tow a most of 9,100 kilos or haul 1,830 kilos of payload. Curiously, these specs are decrease than a Chevy Silverado with the identical engine. What’s extra, the diesel-powered variations of the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 can each out-tow the GM twins, in a position to pull 11,400 and 12,560 kilos, respectively.

Have diesel, will tow.

GMC

Hold it mild

When requested why the tow ranking is so low, GMC says its analysis exhibits that when prospects wish to tow greater than 10,000 kilos, they often transfer as much as a heavy-duty truck, so the corporate centered on gas financial system as a substitute. GMC says the Sierra diesel will get 30 miles per gallon on the freeway, matching the Ford F-150 Energy Stroke’s EPA numbers. Ram hasn’t launched gas financial system numbers for the 1500 EcoDiesel but, however we’re anticipating figures across the 30 mpg mark for this truck, as nicely.

Towing an Eight,000 pound, 24-foot trailer up and down a 6% grade at an elevation of 6,000 ft — not a simple activity — the diesel performs like a champ. Acceleration is greater than ample, each when pulling out into visitors from a standstill and whereas climbing the comparatively steep hill. The Sierra’s 10-speed computerized transmission does its factor within the background and steps down shortly when a downshift is required. The built-in exhaust brake makes stopping simple, too, saving brake power on the steep downhill part of my drive.

Like its heavy-duty counterpart, the Sierra 1500 will get six cameras — eight when you go for the accent cameras — giving drivers no fewer than 15 views across the truck and trailer. The blind-spot monitoring system does not cowl the size of the trailer, however once you’ve received all these views, who actually wants it? The perfect little bit of tech is GM’s super-cool clear trailer characteristic, which stitches collectively the view from the rear accent digital camera with the tailgate-mounted digital camera. It is nice to have the ability to see what’s behind me and makes towing a lot much less of a chore.

As on the Sierra HD, the light-duty 1500 options trailering apps each within the automobile and on your cellphone. Check the lights, examine trailer tire pressures and temperatures, and get a pre-departure guidelines, multi functional place.

All different trailer tech can go residence. GMC wins with the clear trailer view.

GMC

GMC presents the diesel engine in just a few Sierra 1500 trims, considered one of which is the off-road-focused AT4. This mannequin will get a 2-inch suspension carry over the usual Sierra, in addition to just a few goodies like skid plates and specifically tuned Rancho shocks. Low-end torque, an digital rear differential locker and meaty Goodyear Wrangler tires assist it scamper up a tower of rocks pretty simply, and the truck exhibits it has a modicum of flex within the chassis. Nonetheless, the tires aren’t fairly aggressive sufficient when the dust will get moist. If mud is your factor, you must undoubtedly improve.

Then there’s the superb carbon-fiber mattress. Dubbed CarbonPro, it is a part of the mattress itself, not a mattress liner. Not solely does this save 60 kilos, however GMC let me whack it with a baseball bat as a lot as I wished to check its energy; I finally bent the bat. The CarbonPro mattress has two further tie-downs within the entrance in addition to wheel chocks carved in on your bike or motorbike. Three tie-downs in every nook spherical out the performance of this super-functional mattress.

Tech upgrades

My largest downside with the 2019 Sierra
was the shortage of adaptive cruise management, so fortunately, it has been added for 2020. There are just a few tech bonuses that you’re going to discover nowhere however the Sierra, nevertheless. I really like the rear digital camera mirror that exhibits a large angle of what is behind me from the tailgate. And a brand new multi-color head up show exhibits navigation instructions and the like whereas the Eight-inch infotainment display screen focuses on trailer views.

In fact, let’s not neglect the superior, six-way MultiPro tailgate. It really works like a standard tailgate, a step, a workspace, a load cease and it even has a drop-down part so I can load up the mattress simpler. Heck, it is even received a Kicker audio system. No different tailgate within the pickup truck class is that this practical.

One other 2020 mannequin yr replace is the enlargement of the Elevation trim to the Crew Cab physique type. Beforehand solely accessible as a Double Cab, that is the trim to get if you wish to go away all of the horrible GMC chrome behind. That includes a black grille, mirrors and 20-inch wheels, it simply seems to be extra aggressive than different trims, and is unquestionably the model of the Sierra I would most eagerly drive residence.

The one bummer in regards to the Sierra is its inside. It is completely serviceable, however that is about it. The Ram 1500 is way more luxurious, with a much bigger serving to of obtainable infotainment expertise. Heck, even the Ford F-150, the bastion of fundamental, has a nicer inside. Even the Sierra Denali — which isn’t a cheap truck — feels ho-hum and outdated inside.

The ultimate say

The bottom 2020 GMC Sierra begins at $29,600, plus $1,595 for vacation spot. Most folk will improve to a minimum of a midlevel SLE, which begins at $37,800. The off-road AT4 is available in at $51,000 and the fancy-pants Denali is available in at $54,700.

The 2019 GMC Sierra was a wonderfully good truck that lacked some tech and inside refinement. The 2020 mannequin provides environment friendly diesel energy and ups the tech recreation, however the cabin nonetheless leaves rather a lot to be desired. Nonetheless, with its distinctive tailgate choice and myriad fashions to select from, the 2020 Sierra is healthier poised to compete for full-size pickup consumers’ cash.