Print: 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Reviews

2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Review Summary

What reviewers liked most about the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500:

New engines boast more power, yet better gas mileage.- Cars.com
The Vortec 4800 winds through the powerband quickly, setting up the transmission for a precise shift.- Truck Trend
Inside, the Sierra is one of the luxurious pickups, setting new standards for quietness, plush appointments and solid construction.- New Car Test Drive
This pickup will be available in a seemingly infinite number of configurations.- Car and Driver

What reviewers liked least about the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500:

Still a fairly wide (steering) dead spot in the center when cruising.- New Car Test Drive
You lose about 1000 pounds of towing capacity with the 4.8-liter engine (compared to the bigger 5.3-liter V-8).- Truck Trend
Assembly quality not up to par.- The Detroit News

2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Comparisons:

The GMC regular-cab Sportside is the best looking pickup on the market.- Truck Trend
It gives you a choice if the Dodge Ram is just too outrageous or the Ford F-150 seems too curvy.- The Detroit News
Unlike the back seat on a Ford or Dodge that forces you to ride at attention, the seat back is slanted for comfort on Sierra.- Cars.com

Best one-liners about the 2002 GMC Sierra 1500:

HT stands for Hot Truck, and the Sierra HT fits the description.- The Auto Channel
GMC is going gourmet with the Sierra, billing it as an upscale model aimed at a target buyer who's a cut above the presumably plebeian Chevrolet Silverado purchaser.- Car and Driver
Sierra's not just for construction sites.- The Detroit News
Seat-bottom cushions are wider for truckers show haven't switched to bottled water and celery sticks.- Cars.com
Lockable floor console is large enough to hold a picnic lunch for a family of four.- New Car Test Drive
A fun sleeper of a hot rod.- Truck Trend

2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Introduction

General Motors is the current leader in heavy-duty pickup trucks. GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado heavy-duty trucks are more powerful and more comfortable than any heavy-duty trucks in history. They ride more smoothly and feel more refined than the current heavy-duty trucks from Ford and Dodge.

Completely re-engineered and redesigned for 2001, the GMC Sierra line is mechanically nearly identical to the Chevy Silverado line. However, there are some key differences. The Sierras are more stylish. Positioned as "professional grade" trucks, the GMCs offer more features, more technology, and more luxury then the Chevys.

These trucks can move mountains. GM says its 3500 series boasts the most power, the heftiest gross vehicle weight rating and the highest gross combined vehicle weight rating available.

2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Walkaround

GMC's Sierra is more stylish than Chevy's Silverado and we think it's more attractive. The Sierra HD shares key design features with the regular-duty models, but there are distinctions: Sierra HD looks taller, and it is, by two inches. It also looks wider, and it is with a wider track. Its broad-shouldered fender flares and muscular bumper give it an appearance GMC calls Professional Grade. For 2002, there's a bolder Sierra tailgate badge.

GMC's center port grille has a chromed appearance and directs large quantities of air under the hood. One-piece wraparound composite headlamps give the Sierra a handsome, aerodynamic appearance. Overall, the body work is smoother and more fluid than previously.

Coming soon is a redesigned 2003 Sierra with much bolder styling.

2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Interior Features

The front seats are comfortable and supportive. SLE is well-equipped with convenience features and nice cloth. SLT comes swathed in leather and feels luxurious, like an upscale Yukon XL.

The Crew Cab offers roomy rear seats, comfortable for two adults, capable of three. Folding down the rear seats reveals a large, flat cargo area. This area is a godsend, whether hauling a big dog or anything you don't want exposed to the elements or other people. The seats are split 60/40 for maximum utility.

The new 2002 Sierra Professional models feature a full-length, custom-designed console, extending from the instrument panel to the back of the front seats. The center console has a front compartment, providing concealed storage for a personal digital assistant, cell phone, and two auxiliary power points to charge them. It also provides a storage trail for smaller items, such as maps, gloves or CDs. It has an oversized Big Gulp cupholder and a second temperature controlled cupholder than can keep beverages hot or cold when the ignition is on. The center console accommodates a seven-quart capacity thermal electric cooler provided, which can keep drinks and food cold or warm. The cooler runs directly off the battery and provides power continuously even with the engine off. the center console can be easily converted to handle hanging file folders. Two power outlets ion the rear of the console are useful for charging battery packs for power tools. There's also a rear under-seat storage container the offers 2 cubic feet of space for storing tools like rotary hammers and saws. A smaller container holds fasteners and other smaller items. The console and under-seat storage can be locked.

2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Driving Impressions

We drove a Sierra 3500 Crew Cab duallie for two weeks and it was a marvel of power, comfort, and payload capability. It was smooth and comfortable for moving part of a house from Maryland to Virginia, and made short work of moving a garage full of stuff around Williamsburg. It was clearly underwhelmed by this light duty, but very comfortable when taking the mother in law to lunch.

Ride quality is excellent, the best among the duallies currently available from Ford and Dodge. Handling is surprisingly good for such a big truck. It covers real estate quickly, whether on the Interstate or on winding back roads. A hydroformed front frame gives it extraordinary rigidity, which allowed GM's engineers to tune the suspension more precisely for a better ride and handling. Front suspensions use torsion bars for durability.

Four-wheel disc brakes have reduced stopping distances and give the driver a solid pedal feel, a huge improvement over GM's previous-generation trucks. Bigger front rotors, larger brake pads, improved linings offer better stopping power and longer pad life. Dynamic rear proportioning shortens stopping distances by transferring front and rear brake bias to the tires with the best grip.

The base engine is the Vortec 6000, a 6.0-liter V8 (366 cubic inches) that generates 300 horsepower and 360 foot-pounds of torque at 4000 rpm. Introduced for 1999, it's designed for a 200,000-mile operating life with 10,000-mile oil change intervals. Its aluminum cylinder head is similar to that of the L56 Corvette. It comes with a choice of a heavy-duty five-speed manual and GM's 4L80-E four-speed electronically controlled automatic, which comes standard on Extended Cab and Crew Cab models. The four-speed automatic features a Tow/Haul mode.

The big Vortec 8100 V8 delivers 455 pounds-feet of peak torque at 3200 rpm. Torque is that force that propels the truck off the line and this 8.1-liter, 496 cubic-inch V8 has gobs of it. It generates 400 lbs.-ft. at just 1600 rpm. Don't expect neck-snapping acceleration, however. Quicker acceleration performance when towing is the objective. And it does this very well. Introduced last year, this 8.1-liter V8 replaces GM's 7.4-liter V8. It has advanced features such as an engine oil life monitor and a limp-home mode. This gas engine is an $850 option.

The new Duramax 6600 diesel is smooth, quiet, and powerful. It punches out an amazing 520 lbs.-ft. of torque at just 1800 rpm. GM's Duramax diesel engine is built in Moraine, Ohio, but was developed with Isuzu, one of the world's largest manufacturers of diesel engines. The new 6.6-liter Duramax offers improved fuel economy over the old 6.5-liter GM diesel it replaced. The Duramax was designed for a 200,000-mile operating life, according to GM engineers, and for easy serviceability. Half of heavy-duty truck pickups are sold with diesel engines. The diesel adds $4810.

The Duramax and Vortec 8100 offer a choice of a ZF six-speed manual or optional Allison 1000 five-speed automatic ($1200). Both have close-ratio gearing, which provides exceptional launch, hill climbing, and towing capability and economy. Their heavy-duty components are stronger than those typically found in one-ton truck transmissions, providing exceptional durability.

The ZF six-speed manual is easy to shift and is fully synchronized in all gears with dual-cone synchronizers in second and third. A convenient shift pattern allows the shift lever to be moved forward for reverse and straight back for first, making it easier to maneuver quickly in tight spaces. Second gear works well for taking off with a light load; first is a creeper gear.

As good as the six-speed manual is, the optional Allison five-speed automatic is one of the most impressive features of these trucks. We highly recommend it for its responsive performance. Available for the Vortec 8100 and Duramax engines, the Allison is designed to last 200,000 miles; GM engineers said it's "over-designed," meaning