Acceleration

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
5	5	5	5	5

Adequate with either V8 and light loads, but turbodiesel gets the nod for towing and heavy hauling thanks to its massive 660 lb-ft torque. Smooth, alert automatic transmissions rival those in many cars. Their tow/haul mode adjusts shift points for best performance with heavy loads. GM claims best-in-class towing capacities at up to 13,000 lb with external hitch, 16,700 with in-bed "5th-wheel" hitch.

Fuel Economy

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
2	2	3	3	2.5

Test 4WD extended-cabs with the 6.0-liter V8 averaged 11.0-12.6 mpg. GMC recommends regular-grade fuel for the gas V8.

Ride Quality

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
6	6	6	6	4.4

Still tops for comfort among heavy-duty trucks. As usual, rippled surfaces and large bumps cause some jiggle and tail hop with light bed loads, but ride otherwise composed, absorbent in any model. Available Z71 suspension may improve off-road prowess, but seriously compromise overall comfort.

Steering/Handling/Braking

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
4	4	4	4	3.5

Surprisingly pleasant, easy to drive except when maneuvering in tight spaces. Hefty size and weight limit cornering speed, as does expected big-truck body lean, but excellent straightline stability. Brakes furnish stable, relatively short stops with fine pedal feel. Optional trailer-brake controller a safety plus for towing.

Quietness

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
7	7	6	6	4.9

Highway wind noise impressively low for tall, blocky big rigs. Tire thrum modest except on coarsest pavement. Engines intrude only under full throttle. Smooth, refined Duramax V8 has virtually no detectable diesel clatter or smoke. Again, Z71 a detriment, off-road-ready tires roar unduly at anything over 45 mph.

Controls

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
7	7	7	7	6.3

Clear, legible gauges, but wiper switch still on turn-signal stalk, which some testers dislike. Pure Pickup interior puts audio/climate controls high on dashboard. Luxury version mounts them lower, but still within easy reach. Optional navigation system absorbs most audio functions, but higher trim levels offer redundant controls on steering wheel. Cabin materials and assembly are worthy of some cars. Even the basic Work Truck trim has a quality look and feel despite abundant hard plastic.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
9	9	9	9	8.3

Ample adult room. Bucket and bench seats both comfortable, but don't provide much side support. Newly available power-adjust pedals a boon for shorter drivers. High step-up makes entry/exit a chore for most everyone.

Room/Comfort (rear)

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
5	5	7	7	5

Bulky center console, with front bucket seats, limits toe space for rear-center passenger. Head room generous. Seatbacks comfortably angled. Leg room ample in crew cabs, tight in extendeds with front seat more than halfway back. Wide-opening rear doors help offset high step-in in extendeds, but can be tough to close by a seated passenger.

Cargo Room

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
7	8	8	9	5.2

Regular cab competitive with Ford and Dodge for behind-seat room. Extendeds and crews match or beat most rivals for in-cab cargo space, and the exclusive split flip-up seat allows carrying bulky items and one or two rear passengers. Ample small-items storage includes large bins and underseat cubbies front and rear, plus big door pockets and, with Pure Pickup interior, a second dashboard glovebox. Available bed-wall rails mount dividers and other add-ons to secure and organize cargo.

Value within Class

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
8	8	8	8	6.4

GM's newest big rigs retain the many assets of previous models while improving on performance, refinement, cabin comfort, and build quality. The result is an appealing blend of car-like civility and work-truck brawn, bolstered by numerous class-exclusive features such as all-surface 4WD. In all, a must-see for anyone shopping heavy-duty pickups.

Total Score

2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, short bed	2500HD Ext., 2WD, gas, long bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, short bed	2500HD Crew, 4WD, diesel, long bed	Class Average
60	61	63	64	51.5

Scores for all Large Pickup Trucks

Low Score		7
Average Score		51
High Score		64