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2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD

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Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2018 Base 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133.6 in. WB
most popular
Price:   -  From $35,000
2018 Base 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 144.2 in. WB Price:   -  From $37,200
2018 Base 4x2 Double Cab 8 ft. box 158.1 in. WB Price:   -  From $37,400
2018 Base 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133.6 in. WB Price:   -  From $37,900
2018 Base 4x2 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 153.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $38,800
2018 Base 4x2 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 167.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $39,000
2018 Base 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 144.2 in. WB Price:   -  From $40,100
2018 Base 4x4 Double Cab 8 ft. box 158.1 in. WB Price:   -  From $40,300
2018 SLE 4x2 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133.6 in. WB Price:   -  From $40,400
2018 Base 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 153.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $41,700
2018 Base 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 167.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $41,900
2018 SLE 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 144.2 in. WB Price:   -  From $42,900
2018 SLE 4x2 Double Cab 8 ft. box 158.1 in. WB Price:   -  From $43,100
2018 SLE 4x4 Regular Cab 8 ft. box 133.6 in. WB Price:   -  From $43,500
2018 SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 153.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $45,100
2018 SLE 4x2 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 167.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $45,300
2018 SLE 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 144.2 in. WB Price:   -  From $46,300
2018 SLE 4x4 Double Cab 8 ft. box 158.1 in. WB Price:   -  From $46,400
2018 SLT 4x2 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 144.2 in. WB Price:   -  From $47,800
2018 SLT 4x2 Double Cab 8 ft. box 158.1 in. WB Price:   -  From $48,000
2018 SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 153.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $48,400
2018 SLE 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 167.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $48,600
2018 SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 153.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $50,300
2018 SLT 4x2 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 167.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $50,500
2018 SLT 4x4 Double Cab 6.6 ft. box 144.2 in. WB Price:   -  From $50,900
2018 SLT 4x4 Double Cab 8 ft. box 158.1 in. WB Price:   -  From $51,100
2018 SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 153.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $53,400
2018 SLT 4x4 Crew Cab 8 ft. box 167.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $53,600
2018 Denali 4x2 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 153.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $56,400
2018 Denali 4x4 Crew Cab 6.6 ft. box 153.7 in. WB Price:   -  From $59,600

Overview

Ranching. Fracking. Logging. For these and other extreme jobs, light-duty trucks won’t cut the mustard – something more rugged is needed. For this reason and others, GMC builds the 2018 Sierra 2500HD. With the ability to tow up to 18,100 pounds, and with 910 pounds-feet of torque from the available diesel engine, this truck is built to do more than haul the occasional light bulb from Home Depot.

What's New for 2018

For 2018, GMC sprinkles the heavy-duty Sierra with a few updates. Besides a new grille for the Denali model, other changes include a tire fill alert notification, a standard rearview camera, and a standard 7.0-inch infotainment system. Three additional colors are available: Deep Mahogany Metallic, Red Quartz Tintcoat, and White Frost Tricoat, which will be available later in the year.

GMC Sierra 2500HD

Choosing Your Sierra 2500HD

The plethora of options and choices available for the heavy-duty Sierra make the Golden Corral’s buffet tables look as sparse as an airliner’s breakfast menu. Four trim levels, three cab types, two bed lengths, two available engines, and a choice of two- or four-wheel drive make for a dizzying amount of combinations for even the most seasoned truck buyer.

As for cab choices, the traditional two-door, bench-seat Regular Cab is standard. An extended Double Cab, with smaller front-hinged rear doors, lets passengers ride along on the full rear bench seat. When that won’t do, the Crew Cab and its four standard-sized doors is available. While a Regular Cab is only available with an 8.0-foot bed, the larger cabs offer an optional 6.6-foot bed. These cabs can house interiors ranging from spartan to ritzy, something determined by the four available trim levels.

Standard propulsion comes courtesy of a 6.0-liter gasoline V8, from GM’s acclaimed Vortec engine family. It produces 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Payload with this engine ranges from 2,943 lbs (Crew Cab, 6.6-foot bed, 4WD) to 3,534 lbs (Regular Cab, 8.0-foot bed, 2WD). For those with a propensity to tow rather than haul, max trailering is between 13,900 lbs (Crew Cab, 8.0-foot bed, 4WD) and 14,800 lbs (Regular Cab, 8.0-foot bed, 2WD).

For those looking for even more heavy-duty towing capacity, the 6.6-liter Duramax diesel is available. The oil-burner is hooked up to a six-speed automatic Allison transmission, and produces 445 hp. In the heavy-duty truck world, however, torque is more important than horsepower, and this engine produces an abundance of it: an impressive 910 lb-ft at a lowly 1,600 RPM. A Sierra HD powered by a Duramax boasts fifth wheel towing capacity ranging from 12,400 lbs (Crew Cab, 8.0-foot bed, 4WD) to 18,100 lbs (Regular Cab, 8.0-foot bed, 2WD). Payload, however, can’t match the gas engine, ranging from 2,356 lbs (Crew Cab, 8.0-foot bed, 4WD) to 3,204 lbs (Regular Cab, 8.0-foot bed, 2WD).

Available packages include the Snow Prep Package (giving buyers a stronger alternator and the electrical provisions to wire up auxiliary lights and a plow), the Gooseneck Prep Package, and the Driver Alert Package (which equips the truck with safety features such as forward collision warning, park assist, and lane departure warning).

GMC Sierra 2500HD

Base

A base Sierra HD is about as close to grandpa’s old work truck as a buyer can get these days. For a starting price of $36,035 (including a $1,295 destination charge), a base Regular Cab Sierra HD consist of HID lights, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment center, a six-speaker audio system, as well as a heavy-duty oil cooler, a transmission cooler, and a rear differential. Also standard is Teen Driver mode, which lets owners program certain settings and limit certain features, while also locking out the ability to disable certain safety systems. Air conditioning and power locks are standard, though manual windows, a vinyl bench seat, and a vinyl floor remind drivers of the truck’s entry-level status.

GMC Sierra 2500HD

SLE

The SLE starts at $42,665 for a Regular Cab, Long Box variant. Standard features include: power-adjustable heated outside mirrors, a remote locking tailgate, power windows, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cargo box lighting, Bluetooth, a rearview camera, carpeted floor, a cloth bench seat, and body-color door handles, mirror caps and bodyside molding. Options include an 8.0-inch touchscreen with navigation, fog lights, a power driver’s seat, and 18-inch wheels.

GMC Sierra 2500HD

SLT

The Double Cab (Regular Cab is unavailable for SLT and Denali), Standard Box SLT costs $48,630. Standard amenities include an integrated trailer brake controller, heated front seats, power-folding mirrors, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch wheels, and chrome door handles, mirror caps, and bodyside molding. A power rear-sliding window, seven-speaker Bose sound system, rear DVD entertainment system, heated steering wheel, and 20-inch wheels are among the many available options. The notable All-Terrain Package adds the Z71 off-road package, upgraded shocks, underbody shields, unique badging, and other cosmetic touches.

GMC Sierra 2500HD

Denali

Pricing for the top-of-the-line, Crew-Cab-only Denali starts at $57,240, and gives buyers a true Texas Cadillac. The SLT’s front leather bench seat is swapped out for leather bucket seats, and other standard amenities and niceties include chrome assist steps, body-colored front and rear bumpers, a power-sliding rear window, and wireless charging. Also standard is a seven-speaker Bose sound system, the Driver Alert Package, and a heated steering wheel. There are no options exclusive to the Denali – the long list of available features matches the lesser SLTs.

CarsDirect Tip

With an abundance of enticing options, it’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole of over-equipping a 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD and landing an eye-watering price tag as a result. To avoid this, jot down what's most important to your needs. Focus on what the truck will be used for, and the resulting abuses which it'll endure. This will make it easier to determine whether to take the keys to a gas-powered Crew Cab in Denali trim or a Regular Cab Sierra with diesel power.

Get your price on a GMC Sierra 2500HD »

author image
Automotive Editor
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Expert Review

Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

They're big, imposing, posh, and expensive. Are we talking about pricey German imports? No sirree - we're talking about the full-size pickup, a segment which has slowly transformed from farm implements with heat to genuine Texas Cadillacs. Few rigs better represent this modern luxo-truck era than the 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD. The Sierra is a near-identical twin to the Chevrolet Silverado, but being a GMC means it has a heaping of extras not found on it's more affordable sibling. This truck means business - the business of luxurious capability.

Best Value

Despite the top-shelf Denali getting the brunt of the marketing attention, there's a number of other worthwhile trims to consider for the 2500-series Sierra. Personally, we'd go with the SLT guise. It includes amenities like heated seats, remote start, adjustable pedals, and dual-zone climate control, as well as an eight-inch touchscreen and 4.2-inch driver information display - all for $6,100 less than a base Denali.

There's a number of frivolous packages that do little other than jack the price up, but one must-have grouping is the $845 Driver Alert Package, which includes literal life-savers like emergency braking, park assist front and rear, and lane departure warning. Choosing this package, though, means mandatory upgrades to leather-wrapped heated and ventilated bucket seats and a heated steering wheel. All told, it brings the total price to $2,155, though we imagine most buyers wouldn't leave the lot without those doodads anyway.

To top it all off, we would configure our 2500-series as a Crew Cab with four-wheel-drive and the standard-length 6'5" bed. With this combo, we could easily use it as both a U-Hauler or as a family hauler, all depending on the day of the week.

Here's our Sierra as it would look all dolled up on delivery day:

  • Model: 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLT
  • Engine: 6.0-liter V8
  • Output: 360 horsepower / 380 lb-ft of torque
  • Transmission: Six-speed automatic
  • Drivetrain: Four-wheel-drive
  • MPG: N/A (HD trucks are not rated by the EPA)
  • Options: Driver Alert Package ($845; includes lane-departure warning, emergency braking, front and rear park assist, and safety alert seat), leather-appointed front bucket seats ($510; also includes wireless charging pad, 10-way power adjustment, and floor console), front heated and ventilated seats ($650), heated steering wheel ($150)
  • Base Price: $54,795 (including destination charge)
  • Best Value Price: $56,950

Performance

GMC Sierra 2500HD

Normal performance figures like acceleration, top speed, and even fuel economy fall away once you enter the realm of heavy-duty full-size trucks. In this playing field, there's only two important metrics: torque and towing.

Let's take a minute to talk about the two sacred Ts. The 6.0-liter gas engine can muster up to 380 lb-ft of of torque, but that's ho-hum compared to the eye-watering 910 lb-ft of twisting force that the 6.6-liter turbo-diesel can pump out. This translates to a maximum towing capacity of 18,000 pounds for the oil burner, while the gas motor can drag up to 13,000 pounds aft of the tailgate. Both engines utilize a six-speed automatic.

The Sierra doesn't disappoint in the payload department either, even if the raw numbers aren't as astonishing to behold. The top payload rating is 3,233 pounds, possible in gas-powered Crew Cab, 2WD, standard-length bed format. The lowest payload is a relatively paltry 2,356 pounds, which is the max rating for a diesel Crew Cab with 4WD and the eight-foot bed.

Underneath the Sierra's bed lies a tried-and-true leaf-spring suspension, which does an admirable job of maintaining a pleasant ride for when the truck is hitched up or fully laden. Empty the bed or unhitch your trailer, and the lack of refinement from this old-school design becomes apparent, making you question why the air-spring suspension in the Ram trucks isn't more widely plagiarized.

Style

Brazenly butch always seems to be the philosophy behind a pickup's styling motif, and this GMC is no exception. Everything is squared off and straightedge-linear, from the fender cutouts to the big and imposing grille that dominates the truck's visage. Move into Denali territory, and there's enough chrome to make a big-rig driver look on with envy. It's all unabashedly proud and arrogant - in other words, a true American truck.

One of the big selling points of the GMC-grade trucks is the additional available creature comforts over their less-ritzy Chevrolet siblings. The Sierra keeps this tradition intact; across all trim levels, there's ample equipment both standard and optional. For instance, even a base truck - normally the closest thing to a farm-spec work truck you can get nowadays - includes niceties like power windows and locks, a 7-inch touchscreen, a cloth-upholstered 40/20/40 bench seat, and a 3.5-inch driver information display. By the time you reach Denali stomping grounds, you'll find standard luxuries like navigation, heated and ventilated leather bucket seats, HID headlights and LED lighting, dual-zone climate control, and a host of active-safety features.

Whether you're bouncing along in a base model or riding high in a swaddling Denali, the Sierra is comfortable and quiet. Even the diesel models - which 90% of the Denali-trim trucks are equipped with - are impressively silent and refined in operation.

The Best and Worst Things

910 lb-ft of torque means that there's nothing a diesel-powered Serra can't pull. Between that and the generous amount of standard features, there's a compelling case to be made for this truck.

Unfortunately, all that comes at a cost. Most buyers will be leaving the lot with their pockets about sixty-thousand dollars lighter. If you're not careful, that number could creep towards seventy large without much too much warning. When did pickups get so expensive?

Right For? Wrong For?

GMC Sierra 2500HD

Anyone who does significant amounts of long-range interstate towing would do themselves a favor by checking out the well-appointed Sierra HD.

If you find yourself doing more local driving or just the occasional tow, stick with the light-duty trucks. They're easier to maneuver, less ponderous over the road, and better on gas, too.

The Bottom Line

The Sierra HD is big, capable, and luxurious, and comes with a standard bench seat, V8, and column shifter. For all intents and purposes, this glamorized Chevy is a modern-day Oldsmobile 98 or Buick Electra. It trumpets the qualities that made those old-school American cruisers so unbeatable when it came to comfort and style while mixing in modern-day safety and technology. If you're looking for lavish trappings and impressive towing capacity that's topped off with a heaping of American Patriotism, be sure to swing by your local GMC dealer to eyeball the Sierra HD.

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Available
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
Standard: 6.0L V-8 / 360 HP / 380 ft.lbs.
Available: 6.6L V-8 / 445 HP / 910 ft.lbs.
Transmission
6-spd sequential shift control auto w/OD
Drive Type
Rear-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
Not Available
Passenger Capacity
3 / 2
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
Standard: 6.0L V-8 / 360 HP / 380 ft.lbs.
Available: 6.6L V-8 / 445 HP / 910 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Rear-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
Not Available
Brakes
Duralife 4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Torsion
Rear Suspension
Rigid Axle Leaf
Spare Tire And Wheel
Full-size Steel / Full-size / Steel
Fuel Tank
36.0 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Regular Unleaded / Diesel / Gaseous Fuel Compatible
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$138
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
Passenger Volume
Exterior Length
224.4 "
Exterior Width
80.1 "
Exterior Height
77.8 "
Front Headroom
42.8 "
Rear Headroom
Front Legroom
45.3 "
Rear Legroom
Front Shoulder Room
66.0 "
Rear Shoulder Room
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
5,741 Lbs. / 6,671 Lbs. / 5,931 Lbs.
Wheel Base
134 "
Turning Radius
22.9 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
2 Doors
Wheels
17.0 " Painted Steel / 17.0 " Machined Aluminum / 18.0 " Painted Steel
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone / Metallic Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Manual / Dual Manual Convex Spotter / Dual Power Remote Heated Convex Spotter / Dual Power Remote Heated, Convex Spotter Driver
Bumpers
Chrome With 2 Front Tow Hook(s) / Front Chrome With 2 Front Tow Hook(s)
Grille Moldings
Black W/chrome Surround / Body-colored W/chrome Surround / Body-colored
Rear Spoiler
Exhaust
Stainless Steel / Stainless Steel With Polished Tailpipe Finish
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
3 / 2
Seat Trim
Cloth / Vinyl
Front Seat Type
40-20-40 Split-bench / Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
4-way / (8-way Power)
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
4-way
Front Armrests
4-way / (8-way Power)
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Gmc Infotainment System Am/fm, Clock, Seek-scan / Gmc Infotainment System Am/fm, Seek-scan / Gmc Infotainment System Siriusxm Am/fm/satellite, Seek-scan / Clock
Speakers
6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Tilt
Climate Control
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Driver And Passenger
Tinted Windows
Light / Deep
Vanity Mirrors
Passenger
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
2 / 1
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger / Driver And Passenger W/passenger Front-impact Cancellable
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Security Systems
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Pass-key Iii+
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
24 Months / 24,000 Miles
Roadside Assistance Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
72 Months / 100,000 Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD for Sale

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