2010 gmc sierra 1500
The 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 will get a new 4.5-liter turbodiesel V8 engine. The 2009 Sierra 1500 is shown here.

Consumer Guide’s Impressions of the 2010 GMC Sierra 1500

Debate all you want about how General Motors may have too many divisions with too much product overlap sold by too many dealers. It’s not going to change the fact that a clean diesel engine slated for the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 will also make its way into that truck’s near-identical twin, the 2010 GMC Sierra 1500.

What We Know About the 2010 GMC Sierra 1500

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Pretty much everything we know about the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 also applies to the 2010 GMC Sierra 1500. Like the Chevy, the GMC big pickups were redesigned for model-year 2007, adopting the company’s then-new T900 architecture, the same platform used for the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade.

Since Sierra is relatively fresh in the grand scheme of pickup truck life-cycles, GM shouldn’t fiddle too much with it. An ever-so-slight exterior styling update should be on the menu, as well as a few interior trim changes. Even the gasoline powertrain song should remain the same, with choices ranging from a Reagan-era 4.3-liter V6 to V8s of 4.8, 5.3, and 6.0 (or 6.2) liters. In fairness to GMC, the division does offer one Sierra product Chevrolet does not: the luxury-themed Denali. Model-year 2010 might bring slightly more dramatic changes to that model, including more-aggressive styling cues and more-upscale interior materials. Denali should retain its 6.2-liter V8 as the sole engine.

As Silverado and Sierra are two peas in the same pod, it’s only natural that the GMC receive the new 4.5-liter turbodiesel V8 engine that will also be available in the Chevy. GM initially planned to have this engine appear in the Hummer H2, which was slated for a 2010 redesign. With the future of the Hummer brand now in question, the diesel debut now shifts to the light-duty large pickups.

The 4.5 V8 will carry the Duramax name that GM applies to the diesel engines it uses in its heavy-duty pickups. GM typically is conservative in its estimates of horsepower and torque numbers. The claim for the light-duty diesel is “more than 310 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque,” according to a press release. Frankly, we wouldn’t be surprised if it comes in at 330 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque or more. The sole transmission should be a 6-speed automatic. Figure on a maximum towing capacity that will exceed the current Sierra high of 10,500 lb.

Regardless of its final power numbers, the diesel should allow for a significant bump in fuel economy. GM estimates a 25 percent improvement over a comparable gasoline engine. A four-wheel-drive Sierra with the 5.3-liter V8 has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. If GM’s prediction is accurate, fuel economy numbers for the diesel would be in the neighborhood of 17-18 mpg city and 22-23 mpg highway.

The new diesel will employ some forward-thinking technology to lower exhaust emissions. A diesel particulate filter and “selective catalytic reduction (SCR) NOx (nitrogen oxides) after-treatment system” will allow the engine to pass emission regulations in all 50 states.

An engine with the potential to be as smooth and quiet as a gasoline motor but with better towing capability and fuel economy has no drawbacks, right? Not so much, though, if diesel fuel prices continue to remain where they are relative to gas. Shoppers may be turned off because diesel fuel is $5 per gallon or more in many areas. The engine itself will likely be an expensive option as well.

That puts GM in a tough spot. On the one hand, the diesel has the makings of being a solid piece of engineering, with power, fuel economy, and towing capacity as its highlights. On the other hand, the cost to keep the tank full may be enough to keep buyers from adopting the new engine en masse. GM can ill afford to have a product failure at this point in time.

2010 gmc sierra 1500
The 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 should go on sale in the late summer or early fall of 2009. The 2009 Sierra 1500 is shown here.

A Notable Feature of the 2010 GMC Sierra 1500

The diesel engine is the highlight here. Graphite iron and aluminum construction help reduce weight. Integral cylinder-head manifolds, integral cam-cover intake manifolds, and a narrow cylinder block allow the engine to fit an engine bay designed for a gasoline small-block V8. GM engineers also say the diesel will be nearly as smooth and quiet as their gasoline engines.

Buying Advice for the 2010 GMC Sierra 1500

As GMC sells nothing but trucks and SUVs, its position within GM’s portfolio is slightly different than that of Chevrolet, despite the vast product overlap. The marketing folks pitch GMC as an upscale alternative to mainstream Chevy, offering more standard features, classier trimmings, and, naturally, higher prices. The diesel version of the 2010 Sierra 1500 should be no different, and shoppers should approach it the same way they would a Chevy Silverado diesel. Look and see if the diesel engine would be a benefit to how you plan to use the truck. If you tow often and/or drive long distances, the advantages to using the diesel might be worth the extra cost of the engine and fuel.

2010 GMC Sierra 1500 Release Date: The 2010 GMC Sierra launch should coincide with the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado. GM probably won’t be spending a huge amount of money on a special introduction. Figure the Sierra’s release date to be late summer or early fall of calendar 2009, right around the time the rest of the auto industry has its 2010 portfolio ready to ship to dealers.

2010 GMC Sierra 1500 First Test Drive: As we reported on the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado, we don’t expect there to be any special media program or early launch for the product. The most likely candidate for a drive program would be at the company’s annual “full-line preview” held for regional journalists at various locations around the country. That would mean a late August debut. Alternatively, the company could hold a brief event in the heart of truck country, Texas, during that state’s annual fair. GM has done this with other truck products in the past. Should they go this route, the trucks would appear in late September.

2010 GMC Sierra 1500 Prices: A GMC Sierra 1500 likely will run slightly more expensive than a comparably equipped Chevrolet Silverado. The diesel engine likely will be a stand-alone option and priced identically between the brands; it should add at least $2,000-$3,000 to the bottom line. A Sierra 4WD extended cab with the diesel and moderate equipment will probably check in at about $40,000. A loaded crew-cab diesel could easily break $50,000.

2010 gmc sierra 1500
The new diesel engine available in the GMC Sierra 1500 will be able to pass emissions testing in all 50 states. The 2009 Sierra 1500 is pictured here.

For more inside information on hundreds of new cars of today and tomorrow, check out:
  • Consumer Guide New Car Reviews and Prices: Road test results, photos, specifications, and prices for hundreds of new cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs from the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide.
  • GMC: Read Consumer Guide's full reports, including ratings, prices, specifications, and fuel economy.
  • Large Pickup Trucks: The 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 will compete in the large pickup truck class. Here's Consumer Guide's roundup of all the large pickup trucks on sale today.
  • 2008 Consumer Guide Best Buy and Recommended Award Winners: Check out which cars won our Best Buy and Recommended awards for 2008.
  • Future Cars: Step into the automotive showroom of tomorrow with reviews, analysis, pictures, prices, and preliminary specifications on scores of vehicles that will be appearing next year and beyond.