2015 Gmc Sierra 1500 Sle Z71 Engine 53l V8 Review

I, for one, would accept been saddened if GMC got the kicking in 2009 when General Motors restructured its brand portfolio. It would've

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been understandable being that some models in the truck and SUV brand's lineup are very similar in design and purpose to models sold nether Chevrolet'due south bowtie badge, such as this Sierra 1500 that's often referred to as the congenial twin of Chevy's Silverado, but to my eyes the GMC version has almost ever been the better looking of the two.

Such was the case with the 2014 redesign that saw both trucks completely reworked from the ground upwards. The new truck was made stronger and tougher yet more refined looking, not to mention a lot more refined inside, and the consequence has been nothing less than unanimous praise by professional scribes like yours truly along with kudos from the model's hundreds of thousands of devotees.

That interior is a real work, and I mean that in a most positive manner. The 2014 Sierra left behind i of the least appealing cabins in the one-half-ton segment for

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one of the all-time, leaving the two imports in the course very far behind while now rubbing shoulders with Ford'southward redesigned F-150 and fifty-fifty Ram's impressive 1500 interior. The new Sierra'southward design and execution are excellent, specially noticeable in my tester'southward mid-grade SLE trim.

As yous may already know, the Sierra 1500 can also be had in base and near peak-line SLT trim likewise as tiptop-tier Denali guise, the latter qualifying information technology for premium pickup truck status amongst the contractor and cowboy crowd (and cowgirls too). You tin dress up the SLT with leather and other premium touches if its understated styling is more to your liking and slightly less expensive and so-equipped pricing more than acceptable to your budget, but I happen to similar the way GMC kitted out this item SLE model.

Forgoing

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the base model'south rubberized flooring and more minimalistic dash layout, the SLE gets premium-level soft-affect surfaces on the front door uppers where elbows often rest and door console inserts where sound absorption is critical, plus the expected padded armrests on the doors and overtop the middle storage bin. Soft synthetic surfacing improves the look and sound-absorptive qualities of the dash top too, wrapping right downward to the lower musical instrument panel besides equally over the 2 glove box doors, which as you may have guessed doesn't happen in base trim. Likewise impressive, GMC has stitched together all the soft leather-like surfaces with attractive off-white thread that matches the same treatment on the leather-wrapped steering wheel and optional leatherette-bolstered saucepan seats. The seats get attractive cloth inserts too, more comfy than leather during extremely common cold and hot conditions. Additionally, a prissy woven headliner material adds to the truck's upscale ambiance.

Additionally,

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an impressive array of loftier-resolution electronic interfaces adds to the Sierra SLE's premium-similar air. I institute the 8-inch total-colour loftier-resolution IntelliLink touchscreen infotainment system particularly user-friendly, the graphics superb, and standard OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot capability a real bonus, while the optional Bose audio upgrade, building on the standard AM/FM/CD/MP3 display audio system, made some of my favourite tunes audio fabulous. Steering wheel controls are e'er appreciated when searching through stations, especially with myriad talk and musical options on the satellite radio-equipped Sierra. While flicking my way to Lithium, a personal favourite, I couldn't help just terminate at 70s on 7 for a moment, every bit The Eagles' Take it Easy seemed ideal for this truck. Reaching back to the past sent me over to a local archetype rock station on the FM dial where Canadian rockers The Tragically Hip kicked it up a notch.

If

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you lot'd rather play what's on your smartphone or iPod you lot'll be happy that Bluetooth streaming audio is standard in the SLE, or if hardwiring your device works amend for you you lot'll appreciate the Sierra SLE's unprecedented row of 3 USB slots clustered under the leftmost flip-up hat at the base of the middle stack, while two more can be found nether the center armrest where at that place's also an SD menu slot and aux plug, all combining for a level of wired connectivity unmatched in the industry. Back on the centre stack, two accessory chargers and an optional 110-volt three-prong plug allow as many charging options every bit y'all'll likely ever need. A graphic navigation organisation with mapping adequacy can be integrated into the infotainment display as well, simply the standard OnStar system I mentioned before is gratis for vi months, including its Directions

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& Connections Program with Plough-by-Turn Navigation plus OnStar RemoteLink.

In a higher place the row of ports and plug-ins, and then on acme of a row of secondary toggles squeezed in between for actuating the optional power adjustable pedals, dual LED lights for the cargo box, rear parking sonar, and grade control, sits GM's superb dual-zone automated climate control organization, one of the nicest designs in the segment and every bit convenient as any. I especially like how the digital temperature settings are displayed within the rubber-rimmed correct and left rotating knobs, an efficiently packaged setup that looks swell.

Speaking of neat looking, the Sierra SLE's primary guess cluster suits the truck perfectly, featuring 2 apartment-bottomed dials for the tachometer and speedometer plus four similarly-shaped albeit smaller gauges in a higher place for engine temperature, oil pressure level, voltmeter and fuel. Its red and white on black colour scheme complements

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the SLE'due south sporty interior, while the 4.two-inch high-resolution full-color multi-information screen fix amidst the dials was simple to employ and fully featured with admission to driver personalization features, oil life monitoring, tire pressure monitoring, alert messages, and advanced vehicle data.

GM still makes the best seat heaters in the business concern as they not only warm the lower front cushions via 3 temperature settings, only also the backrests, these available with the optional saucepan seat upgrade that can be had separately or as part of the SLE-specified All Terrain Package. Additional All Terrain Package equipment includes a 10-manner power-adaptable driver'south seat and vi-manner front passenger seat with power recliners and lumbar back up, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, carpeted flooring mats, rear parking sonar, element of group vii projector headlamps

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with LED signature lighting, fog lamps, chrome bodyside mouldings, chrome mirror caps, chrome door handles, upgraded alloy wheels, underbody shielding for the transfer instance, the Z71 Off-Road suspension with Rancho shocks and a trailering parcel. The All Terrain Package usually comes with color-keyed bumpers front and rear, the dorsum bumper incorporating GM'due south innovative CornerSteps for easy admission to the cargo box while the tailgate is downward, but the person who optioned out my tester chose the All Terrain Chrome Bumper Package for a more traditional pickup truck expect. In addition to the CornerSteps, GMC likewise offers retractable aid steps for accessing the cargo box from the side, while my tester also featured a nice set up of rectangular chromed side steps for piece of cake access to the cab.

By the fashion, when y'all opt for the bucket seats, which supercede the standard 40/20/40-split

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demote with a fold-downwardly centre armrest, you also get a nice big heart console with removable cupholders and storage galore. There's fifty-fifty a special spot for your telephone, plus power cord management and hanging file folder capability. And now that we're talking seats and storage, the Crew Cab'southward standard rear demote is split in a threescore/twoscore configuration while a handy underseat storage organisation can be added. I've had this in previous testers and it's a useful upgrade that's accessible when you flip the bottom seat cushions upward against the cab wall. Alternatively, the standard Coiffure Cab setup leaves ample stowage space for keeping larger items safe, secure and dry out when the rear seats aren't in employ.

Before I delve into the many option packages and standalone extras available with the

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Sierra SLE Coiffure Cab I should probably review some of this model'due south standard features. The listing is extremely long every bit you might take guessed, simply some of the highlights not already mentioned include a chrome grille surround, halogen projector headlamps, daytime running lamps with automatic lamp control, torso-color mouldings, body-colour mirror housings and torso-color door handles, black wheel arch mouldings (torso-color are optional), wheelhouse liners, and 17-inch bright machined aluminum wheels on 255/70R17 all-season tires, although my tester was fitted with a gorgeous set of 20-inch bright machined alloy rims with gray painted accents on 275/55R20 all-terrain rubber. Additional standard features include solar absorbing tinted glass up

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forepart, deep tinted glass around the back, an EZ-Elevator and Lower locking tailgate, four moveable cargo box tie-downs, recovery hooks forepart and dorsum, a full-size spare tire underneath the cargo bed, transmission folding powered and heated side mirrors with an integrated driver's side sentry mirror, a tilt-adjustable leather-wrapped multifunction steering bicycle, prowl command, Bluetooth hands-free telephone connectivity, powered windows with limited up/downward for the commuter and express down for all others, illuminated vanity mirrors, and half dozen-speaker audio accessible via the aforementioned infotainment system that also features Pandora internet radio, a backup camera, and phonation activation.

SLE trim can be had in Regular Cab, Double Cab or my tester's Crew Cab body style, with 5-foot-7 short box, 6-foot-five/6 standard box, or 8-foot long box functionality, rear-wheel bulldoze or iv-wheel drive, or with the standard 4.3-litre EcoTec

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V6 featuring direct-injection, variable valve timing and GM's Active Fuel Direction cylinder deactivation arrangement, expert for a responsive 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque and impressive fuel economy rating of 13.4 L/100km in the city, nine.9 on the highway and 11.9 combined in 2WD or fourteen.1 urban center, ten.6 highway, or 12.5 combined with the part-time four×four system.

My Sierra 1500 Coiffure Cab SLE four×iv came with the model'due south optional v.iii-litre EcoTec V8, besides boasting direct-injection, variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation, plus FlexFuel adequacy that can permit for cleaner driving when traveling through the U.S. The engine produces a robust 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, and includes an auxiliary external transmission oil cooler for keeping the powertrain chilled while towing. The V8 is surprisingly fuel-efficient at an estimated

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fourteen.6 L/100km city, 10.3 highway and 12.seven combined in 2WD or 14.9 metropolis, 10.7 highway or 13.0 combined in 4WD guise.

Heavy loads in mind, GM's 420 horsepower 6.2-litre EcoTec V8 with 460 lb-ft of torque can only be had in SLT trim and above, which likewise relegates its state-of-the-art 8-speed automated transmission to trims in a higher place the SLE. The standard vi-speed automated is very skilful, yet, providing quick, shine shifts and proven reliability, plus Tow/Haul mode, Cruise Grade Braking and Powertrain Grade Braking.

Ride comfort and handling prowess have long been GMC selling points, and the latest Sierra only improves on by strengths. It rides on an independent forepart intermission

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with coil springs mated up to a solid live axle setup on ii-stage multi-leafage springs in the rear, a classic chassis configuration that should please pickup truck traditionalists that are put off past the Ram 1500'due south four-wheel coil leap setup. The rack-and-pinion steering system is boosted electrically, providing less elevate on the engine and doing an admirable chore of delivering reasonably direct response through the corners. GMC makes sure the Sierra is only as maneuverable in glace situations as when it'southward dry past including StabiliTrak electronic stability control organization with Proactive Gyre Abstention as well as traction control, while electronic Trailer Sway Control and Hill Offset Assist round out the standard agile condom features. Passive safety equipment includes all the usual airbags, plus the pleasantly surprising

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inclusion of premium-level seat-mounted side-impact airbags for the rear outboard seating positions.

Switchgear to engage the ii-speed Autotrac 4×4 organization's transfer instance tin can be found to the left of the steering cavalcade just above an identically shaped and sized rotary knob for controlling the headlights, the onetime allowing easy actuation of 2-cycle drive, Automobile, four-bicycle drive high or four-wheel bulldoze low modes. I didn't have this particular truck off-roading, although by previous experience accept found Sierra 4x4s excellent when pavement ends and trail begins, or for that matter complete lack of trail, and as mentioned my test truck came with the All-Terrain Bundle, a $2,980 option when configured on my tester incidentally, then its capabilities only increment over the base Crew Cab SLE 4×four.

Pricing

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in mind, my tester's V8 engine upped its window sticker past $one,125 while those 20-inch alloys I spoke of before added a very reasonable $770 to the bill, plus $250 for the larger tires. Some extras not however covered include an engine block heater at $100; an integrated trailer brake controller at $300; a $1,095 SLE Convenience Bundle that includes the same power adaptable pedals and rear park assist plus a sliding rear window with a defogger; and a $2,260 SLE Premium Package that adds the dual-zone automatic climate controls and 110-volt Air-conditioning power outlet I mentioned before, plus telescopic steering to the standard tilt arrangement, remote offset, universal home remote, fog lamps and trailering equipment.

The 2015 Sierra 1500 SLE Crew Cab 4×4 with the standard box starts at $44,300 plus $ane,695 for freight and pre-commitment prep, while my tester'southward rich looking Sonoma

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Blood-red Metallic paint was a no-cost option; 10 additional colours and shades are available. All of my truck'due south options pushed the final tally just past $50k, withal reasonable for such a nicely equipped full-size near-luxury truck, but by no means is my tester fully equipped even for its SLE trim. Loads of standalone options are still available, from mechanical upgrades like an automatic locking rear differential to hauling improvements such equally a prophylactic bed liner, spray-on box and bed liner, cargo net, cargo rug, metal storage box, or multiple tonneau covers, from soft vinyl or vinyl with integrated support bows to a hard tri-folding tonneau with a vinyl cover. Y'all tin can dress up your Sierra with numerous torso-colour or chromed enhancements, upgrade the mirrors for style or towing, add together side steps in various styles and trims, better the functionality of the motel with console inserts, one an expandable folder tote and another an organizer tray, while protecting everything inside with a theft deterrent organisation.

Pick

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packages non already mentioned include the SLE Preferred Parcel, slotting in a higher place the Convenience Package and beneath the Premium Package and featuring a few more goodies than the old and a flake less than the latter; the Carbon-20 Edition and Carbon-22 Edition packages featuring a black grille environment, carbon fibre appearance decals, and unique wheels (the 20 and 22 numerals designating bike size), while the latter bundle also gets 4-inch round blackness assistance steps and much more; the Kodiak Edition with its ain assortment of options already discussed throughout the review; Max Trailering Package with a heavy-duty 9.76-inch rear axle, 3.73:1 rear beam ratio, locking rear differential, 18-inch alloys, trailering package, trailer electric brake controller, and enhanced engine radiator cooling system; Snow Turn Prep Package (you lot might have been able to employ this one over the winter) with a power feed for backup and roof emergency light, 170-amp alternator, forward lamp wiring harness, provision for

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cab roof mounted lamp/beacon, high chapters air cleaner, underbody shield and heavy-duty front springs; and finally a Chrome Appearance Packet for that big rig custom look.

I've mentioned towing several times yet neglected to talk adequacy. This said those needing to booty heavy loads tin balance assured my tester's 4,309-kilo (9,500-lb) capacity is more than adequate for about jobs. Depending on cab, box and 2WD/4WD drivetrain choice, the Sierra SLE with the 5.3-litre V8 is good for a minimum trailer weight of three,946 kilos (eight,700 lbs) and maximum of iv,445 kg (9,800 lbs). Too my tester's 830-kg (ane,830-lb) payload can manage tough work, although the Sierra you cull might simply be capable of carrying 776 kilos (1,710 lbs) in its cargo box, or potentially up to 1,029 kg (ii,270 lbs).

There's

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no other segment in the industry that's more customizable than the full-size pickup category, but to this end the Sierra isn't going afterwards bargain basement shoppers. For that purpose information technology has its new mid-size Canyon model that starts at a mere $20,600 plus freight, the base Sierra fetching considerably more at $31,450. Ford doesn't offering its Ranger here anymore (the new global-market mid-size Ranger a truly impressive unit that might make it our manner if GM proves successful with its Coulee/Chevy Colorado twosome) then a stripped F-150 starts at just nether $25k excluding freight, where the Ram 1500 tin can be had at just over $22k, the Dakota a distant afterthought. The mid-size sales leading Tacoma's larger Tundra sibling starts at just under $28k, whereas Nissan'due south well-equipped Titan starts at a lofty $41k and change. Of course the Titan doesn't fifty-fifty rate as far as sales numbers go, the Sierra and its Chevy Silverado cousin (which starts at just over $29k) owning a solid second-identify behind Ford's F-Series, the Ram occupying

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third in the Detroit Large iii triumvirate (that is unless nosotros're talking brand to make, where the Ram pickup line clearly outsells the Sierra in Canada and the U.S.).

Of form, GMC likely doesn't care all that much virtually selling the well-nigh half-ton pickup trucks in the segment, and I'k guessing neither practise you. Sure they'd love to be number one, merely these days it's more than about overall profitability than bragging rights, and of grade long-term client satisfaction. GMC has done well satisfying its leagues of faithful fans shown by the brand's strong customer satisfaction ratings and top-10 ranking in the about recent 2015 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Written report, a reality that should improve equally these customers replace their one-time trucks with this impressive new version. At least their loyalty will exist rewarded, every bit the new Sierra 1500 is an excellent pickup truck.
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Source: https://www.thecarmagazine.com/2015/04/13/2015-gmc-sierra-1500-sle-crew-cab-4x4-road-test-review/