3 - 2014 GMC Sierra (78.0%)
Despite everything we thought the new 2014 GMC Sierra was going to be, it let us down for a number of reasons; but let's not start it off on an entirely negative note.
Inside and Out
The 2014 GMC Sierra is fresh off an overhaul that notably endowed it with the most handsome and powerful mug of the lot -- of the entire category. For this reason alone, we thought the Sierra was going to seriously duke it out with what turned out to be the winner of this comparo. This says loads about the impact the right look can have on the final decision made by buyers of these road kings.
The cabin has a similar impact, visually. The dashboard presents an impressive array of controls with an HMI that is current by today's standards. The multiple gauges remain a favourite for those who love to know what goes on under the bonnet without scrolling through interminable menus. Ergonomics are good, however, some of the buttons are small making them harder to address while wearing gloves, unlike in the Tundra.
The large seats in the GMC Sierra are comfortable, and the rear bench (like every competitor here) can easily accommodate three passengers. Storage is aplenty up front making the Sierra an easy place to move into.
Driving
Another of the 2014 Sierra's strong points is its global refinement. It starts with passenger quarters that stay quiet even when the engine is under heavy load. Here's where it gets strange: We've always been huge fans of GM trucks' engine song and, sadly, it's all but gone for 2014. We assume that this is what GM was going for as we felt fully isolated from the goings-on outside of the truck but we would have liked a little more aural presence from GM's 5.3L V8.
Although plenty powerful on paper, the V8 suffered from laggy throttle response from a 6-speed automatic transmission that took its sweet time to kickdown. Under normal use, the powertrain was an example of smoothness, but sharp accelerations required some serious coaxing from the driver. The combination of reduced noise and lazy throttle made a heavy driving experience. The Sierra drove big, needlessly so.
What further hampered the GMC Sierra's driving enjoyment was a suspension setup oddly adapted for this truck's vocation. Overly firm up front and lacking amplitude control in the rear, the ride in the Sierra was a mix of float-y and choppy. Repeat undulations were poorly controlled by the optional Rancho® shocks (part of the Z71 off-road suspension package). The Sierra's brakes were short on stopping power, a weakness that became more evident when loaded.
A final word
We perhaps expected too much from the 2014 GMC Sierra. We can't be blamed, as the GM twins are huge players in this category. One thing remains true regardless of our findings: GMC fans will find their wants taken care of in the 2014 GMC Sierra.
Despite everything we thought the new 2014 GMC Sierra was going to be, it let us down for a number of reasons; but let's not start it off on an entirely negative note.
Inside and Out
The 2014 GMC Sierra is fresh off an overhaul that notably endowed it with the most handsome and powerful mug of the lot -- of the entire category. For this reason alone, we thought the Sierra was going to seriously duke it out with what turned out to be the winner of this comparo. This says loads about the impact the right look can have on the final decision made by buyers of these road kings.
The cabin has a similar impact, visually. The dashboard presents an impressive array of controls with an HMI that is current by today's standards. The multiple gauges remain a favourite for those who love to know what goes on under the bonnet without scrolling through interminable menus. Ergonomics are good, however, some of the buttons are small making them harder to address while wearing gloves, unlike in the Tundra.
The large seats in the GMC Sierra are comfortable, and the rear bench (like every competitor here) can easily accommodate three passengers. Storage is aplenty up front making the Sierra an easy place to move into.
 |
| The dashboard presents an impressive array of controls with an HMI that is current by today's standards. (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
Driving
Another of the 2014 Sierra's strong points is its global refinement. It starts with passenger quarters that stay quiet even when the engine is under heavy load. Here's where it gets strange: We've always been huge fans of GM trucks' engine song and, sadly, it's all but gone for 2014. We assume that this is what GM was going for as we felt fully isolated from the goings-on outside of the truck but we would have liked a little more aural presence from GM's 5.3L V8.
Although plenty powerful on paper, the V8 suffered from laggy throttle response from a 6-speed automatic transmission that took its sweet time to kickdown. Under normal use, the powertrain was an example of smoothness, but sharp accelerations required some serious coaxing from the driver. The combination of reduced noise and lazy throttle made a heavy driving experience. The Sierra drove big, needlessly so.
What further hampered the GMC Sierra's driving enjoyment was a suspension setup oddly adapted for this truck's vocation. Overly firm up front and lacking amplitude control in the rear, the ride in the Sierra was a mix of float-y and choppy. Repeat undulations were poorly controlled by the optional Rancho® shocks (part of the Z71 off-road suspension package). The Sierra's brakes were short on stopping power, a weakness that became more evident when loaded.
 |
| Under normal use, the powertrain was an example of smoothness, but sharp accelerations required some serious coaxing from the driver. (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
A final word
We perhaps expected too much from the 2014 GMC Sierra. We can't be blamed, as the GM twins are huge players in this category. One thing remains true regardless of our findings: GMC fans will find their wants taken care of in the 2014 GMC Sierra.