2003 GMC Sierra 1500: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Expanded availability of 4-wheel steering and a DVD entertainment option highlight 2003 additions to these full-size pickups. Sierra is a design cousin of Chevrolet's Silverado, differing mainly in trim. This report covers the half-ton 1500-series Sierra. It comes in regular-cab, extended-cab, and Crew Cab styles. Extended cabs have back-hinged rear doors that don't open independently of the front doors. Crew Cabs have a longer cab and four conventional side doors. Both styles include a 3-passenger rear bench seat. Regular and extended cabs offer Wideside cargo beds of 6.5 and 8.1 ft, or a flare-fender Sportside box of 6.5 ft. Crew Cabs use only the short Wideside.

Sierra offers base, Work, SLE, and SLT models, plus the flagship Sierra Denali. The Sierra Denali is a luxury/performance extended cab with all-wheel drive but no low-range gearing. Other Sierras come with rear-wheel drive with optional traction control or with one of two 4WD systems. The base 4WD setup must be disengaged on dry pavement. Optional Autotrac 4WD can be left engaged on dry pavement. Both systems include low-range gearing. GM's Quadrasteer 4-wheel steering is standard on Sierra Denali and now is available on other extended-cab Sierras and Crew Cabs. At low speeds, it turns the rear wheels opposite the fronts for a tighter turning radius. At higher speeds, it turns them in the same direction to aid stability. A special flare-fender short box is included with Quadrasteer.

A 4.3-liter V6 is the base engine for most regular cabs. A 4.8-liter V8 is standard on extended-cab short beds and the SLE regular cab and is optional on other regular cabs. A 5.3-liter V8 is standard on extended-cab long beds and optional on regular cabs and extended-cab short beds. Crew Cabs and Denali use a 6.0-liter V8 with 300 and 325 hp, respectively. Crew Cabs and extendeds include automatic transmission with GM's Tow/Haul mode. Regular cabs offer automatic or manual transmission. All Sierras come with antilock 4-wheel disc brakes.

For 2003, all models get minor exterior styling changes and revamped dashboard and seats. Among new options are premium Bose audio and XM satellite radio. Rear-seat DVD entertainment is a new Crew Cab option. OnStar assistance is standard on Denali, a mandatory option on SLTs, and available on SLEs. Sierra's performance and accommodations mirror those of similarly equipped Silverados.

COMPETITION

With the advent of crossover vehicles, this segment has become less defined. Once the domain of work-related heavy-duty pickups, buyers are now demanding that their full-size trucks do double duty. Our Best Buys remain Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150, and GMC Sierra. These trucks offer a wide range of powertrain combinations, plenty of luxury accommodations, and ample towing power--though the GM twins are the only ones to offer full-time 4WD and convenient 4-wheel steering.

Big-rig-styled Dodge Ram matches the new Ford and GM models in most aspects but can't match their ride comfort or civility. We also like the expensive Toyota Tundra. What it lacks in brute strength, it more than makes up for with refined road manners.