When you want a full-size pickup there are broadly 2 choices. You may either go for a light duty truck with a huge bed, large cabin, and good towing capacity or you could buy a full-sized heavy-duty truck with commercial-grade features. The 2017 GMC Sierra 2500HD belongs to the latter class. The truck has been redesigned to take on competitors from Ford F-250 Super Duty, Nissan Titan XD and Ram 2500. The exterior styling has also been revamped.
2017 GMC Sierra 2500HD – Design and Features
The 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 HD comes with a rugged build and macho look. The design is decidedly boxy and the truck looks somewhat menacing. Both front and rear bumpers get chrome treatment. You get a lot of wheel choices starting from 17-inch steel wheels and range-topping Denali gets 18-inch wheels. The truck is sold in several attractive colors. There are 4 trims- base, SLE, SLT and Denali. The available body styles are extended cab, crew cab, and regular cab.
As for the interior, base Sierra trim is as barebones a truck can be. However, with each upper trim, you get plenty of comfort and entertainment features. GMC has used several noise insulation technologies to keep the cabin quiet and they actually work.
2017 GMC Sierra 2500HD – Powertrain
The 2017 GMC Sierra 2500HD comes with a 6.0-liter V8 engine that makes 360 hp and there is another 6.6-liter turbo diesel V8 engine that makes 397 hp and 765 lb-ft of torque. Both are coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission gearbox. Maximum towing capacity is 18,000 lbs and rated payload limit is 3,534 lbs.
The ride quality is quite impressive for a pickup truck. The road noise is almost nonexistent and bumps area also handled well. The 6.6-liter turbo diesel unit is powerful but it does not produce much clatter.
2017 GMC Sierra 2500HD – Specifications:
In Sierra trim, you get only 4.2-inch display screen, air conditioning, and vinyl seating. SLE brings you Remote Keyless Entry, Leather-wrapped steering wheel, HD radio, Power windows, 6-speaker audio system and OnStar with 4G LTE (IntelliLink infotainment system). SLT trim gets Dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview auto-dimming mirror, 110-volt AC power outlet, and leather upholstery. Top end Denali trim gets a Bose sound system, Wireless charging, Heated and vented seating and heated steering wheel.
As for safety, all trims get airbags, Daytime Running Lamps, stability control system, traction control and Tire Pressure Monitoring System. In SLE and upper trims, there is a Rear Vision Camera. In Denali, Lane Departure Warning and Forward collision alert are available as options. There are plenty of packages you can opt for. Examples are Driver Alert Package, Convenience Package, and GMC Interior Protection Package.
2017 GMC Sierra 2500HD – Price and Expected Release Date:
The 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 HD’s pricing starts at $33,535. The SLE trim and SLT trim cost $36,490 and $50,000 approx. Top end Denali costs $58,000. The truck will go on sales late in 2016.
The 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 HD is a worthy pickup truck you can consider for diverse needs including off-roading. The engines are powerful and build style is rugged. It comes across a worthy alternative to Silverado 2500HD and RAM 2500 series.