Introduction

GMC Sierra – 2007 First Drive: The whispers started probably two years ago. You remember: GMC is hurting...there’s no need for it...someone should introduce GMC to Olds... Ahhh. Nothing says professional grade like rumors about your demise. Then again, nothing says “I told you so” like a good run of new vehicles, which is exactly what happened. The new Sierra full-size pickup aims to continue the run, and it offers a big advantage over its mechanical twin, the Chevrolet Silverado: A model with a six-speed automatic transmission and a whopping 400 horsepower. Ouch. Now that’s a professional grade smack upside the chops if we’ve ever felt one.

Origins

According to GMC: The First 100 Years, and GM, General Motors purchased GMC in 1909, and they didn’t get around to swallowing up Chevrolet until around 1916. Given seniority, it’s fair to say that the Silverado is junior to the Sierra. Add to that questionable logic the fact that GMC has the one thing Chevrolet doesn’t: a Denali trim, a 6.2-liter V8 and a – gasp – six-speed automatic. Other than that, the trucks are identical save for the front ends, and trace their lineage back to GM’s GMT900 line of vehicles, which includes a bunch of SUVs. Hey – it all winds up in the same corporate pie in the end, right?