2026 GMC Sierra 1500

It wasn’t that long ago that if someone used words like elegance or luxury when describing a truck, they would be laughed out of the room. These days, when it comes to pickups like the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500, those descriptions are spot on. Not only is the Sierra stylish, but its nicely equipped cabin is among the roomiest in its class. This truck is ready for work, too, with towing and payload capacity that is near the best for a full-size truck. While this truck is mechanically the same as its Chevrolet Silverado sibling, the Sierra has more upscale trim levels, such as the Denali and Denali Ultimate. Impressive payload and towing numbers, plus a spacious cab, make this GMC a great truck for a great many people.

The all-electric Sierra EV electric truck is reviewed separately.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size trucks, including the GMC Sierra 1500.

A new sport exhaust calibration is available for SLT, AT4, Denali, and Denali Ultimate trims equipped with the 6.2-liter V8. Add the dual active exhaust, and it comes with Sport mode. There are also two new paint colors, Glacier White and Coastal Dune, replacing White Frost and Thunderstorm Gray. While the Sierra previously came with Amazon Alexa functionality, that has been removed for 2026.

The Chevy Silverado 1500 has a slightly lower starting price of about $39,500. The Sierra’s main competition comes from the Ford F-150, which starts at about $40K, and the Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra, starting from $43K or so.

Before buying a new Sierra 1500 truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The strongest resale values of the class belong to the Tundra; the Sierra 1500’s values are more mid-pack or a little above.

The Sierra 1500 is available with four engines, and the base model is a fairly spry turbo 4-cylinder. It helps that this engine has more torque than the high-volume V8, resulting in quick off-the-line acceleration. That V8 is the 5.3-liter, an engine that has served as the backbone for GM trucks for decades. Between the pleasant exhaust note, the firm acceleration, and the excellent passing power, it’s no wonder this is the best-selling engine in the Sierra lineup. For those who want more power yet, there’s a 420-horsepower 6.2-liter V8, which is only available with 4-wheel drive (4WD). GM is one of the few automakers that offer a diesel engine, and the Sierra’s available Duramax turbodiesel 6-cylinder offers a lot of capability for the extra cost. This engine is nicely refined; its telltale diesel sound is muted by the sound-deadening material in the cabin, but you can still tell you’re driving a diesel. Power is definitive, confident, and strong.

With the exception of the off-road-biased trims, which feature some variation of “AT4” in their names and are lifted and ride on wider, taller tires, the Sierra drives like a smaller vehicle. Ride quality is pleasant for road trips and around town, but it’s a little on the firm side. The best ride quality comes with the addition of adaptive suspension that adjusts shock absorption and body control. Steering feels accurate, with the right amount of smooth response, and the brakes feel predictable.

One of our favorite things about driving the Sierra is Super Cruise. This optional semi-autonomous system allows for hands-off-the-wheel, eyes-on-the-road driving on more than 750,000 miles of North American highways. Its expansive map, functionality while towing, and automatic lane-changing capability make Super Cruise one of our favorite hands-free systems of its kind.

Fuel Economy

With the 2.7-liter turbo engine, fuel economy is 19 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive (RWD), 18 combined mpg with 4WD. Fuel economy with the V8 engines is about 2-3 mpg worse, with the lowest fuel economy going to the AT4X, at 15 mpg. The highest mpg is with the turbodiesel, at 25 combined mpg with RWD. That’s more efficient than the hybrid Toyota Tundra.

The GMC Sierra is more upscale than its Chevrolet sibling. Beyond the value-focused Pro trim, the Sierra’s interior goes from pleasant to lavish. Up at the Denali end, the materials are plush and the cabins are hushed. The Denali Ultimate is the crown jewel of the line, with two-tone embossed leather and leather accents on the door panels. Grab handles are easy to reach, and there are helpful storage spaces throughout the cabin, including one hidden the back of each of the rear passenger seats.

The Double Cab has 35.2 inches of rear-seat legroom, which goes up to a spacious 43.4 inches in the Crew Cab. That’s among the best in the class, and we can confirm that adults fit comfortably in these back seats.

Infotainment duties are carried out via a 13.4-inch touchscreen with nice graphics and a user-friendly interface. It has Google Built-in, which means the voice assistant is Google Assistant and the native navigation system is Google Maps. Additionally, it has wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

You can choose from Regular, Double, or Crew Cabs, and bed lengths are long (98 inches), standard (80 inches), or short (70 inches). The Sierra 1500’s styling is rugged and angular, but chrome and accent lighting make it look upscale and modern. Each trim level has its own unique elements, too. The AT4X rides taller because of its specialized lifted suspension and mud terrain tires. The Denali and Denali Ultimate have more ornate grilles than the lower trims.

The GMC Sierra 1500 is available with some really cool, helpful features, such as the 6-position MultiPro tailgate; a Utility Wall package, which allows you to use latches and straps to secure smaller items in the truck bed; and a weatherproof audio system that can be installed in the MultiPro tailgate, a nice feature for tailgate parties.

AT4X Trim
In addition to the 2-inch lift from the AT4, opting for the AT4X adds front and rear locking differentials, plus Multimatic DSSV shocks. Not only does this suspension setup offer better performance off-road, but ride quality is better than you would expect. Add the AEV Edition package for maximum off-road armor.

GMC Pro Safety
This standard suite of safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and lane keeping assistance.

MultiPro tailgate
This innovative tailgate can serve as a bed step, bed extender, or workbench. It’s no wonder it’s such a popular option on this truck.

13.4-inch infotainment touchscreen
Standard on every trim level except the Pro, this easy-to-read, user-friendly horizontal display controls wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus access to Google built-in.

Carbon fiber bed
The Sierra 1500’s CarbonPro carbon fiber bed can carry up to 63.9 cubic feet of cargo. It is also resistant to dents, scratches, and rust.

In the 2026 Sierra, there are four engine choices. The TurboMax 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine makes 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. It’s backed by an 8-speed automatic transmission. The most popular engine is the 5.3-liter V8, with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Above that, the 6.2-liter V8 has 420 hp and 460 lb-ft.

The 3.0-liter 6-cylinder turbodiesel engine produces 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, the most torque of the entire lineup. A 10-speed automatic transmission backs the V8s and the diesel. All engines are available with a default RWD setup or 4WD system, except the 6.2-liter, which is 4WD only.

Payload and Towing

The vast majority of Sierra buyers opt for the 5.3-liter V8 because of its combination of power, fuel economy, and towing capacity. It is rated for a payload of up to 2,180 pounds and can also tow an impressive 11,200 pounds. For those who don’t need to tow as much but want maximum payload capacity, the 2.7-liter can handle up to 2,260 pounds of payload, and tow up to 9,500 pounds.

For maximum towing capacity in the Sierra 1500, look for the turbodiesel. With this engine and RWD, the Sierra can tow 13,300 pounds. The 6.2-liter V8, which is only available with 4-wheel drive, can tow nearly as much – 13,200 pounds – or just a bit more than the 4WD diesel.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

GMC’s new-vehicle warranty is three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, with roadside assistance included. The powertrain warranty for the base 2.7-liter engine is five years or 100,000 miles, the same as the turbodiesel. The first scheduled service is free, regardless of engine.

Safety Ratings

The 2026 GMC Sierra has not yet been tested, but the 2025 Crew Cab model netted an “Acceptable” rating in crash tests carried out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2025 truck also earned a 5-Star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety equipment includes the GMC Pro Safety suite, which includes forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking.