2023 GMC Sierra 3500HD

　　

2023 GMC Sierra 3500HD Review

byJosh JacquotCorrespondent

　　Josh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　The big news for the GMC Sierra 3500HD is that 2023 will be the last model year before this truck's midcycle refresh. But even though it's not the newest heavy-duty truck of the bunch — that honor falls to the 2023 Ford F-350 Super Duty — it's still a solid offering in the segment. It may not deliver best-in-class towing or payload ratings, but the differences in capability to its rivals are small enough to not be the deciding factor in a purchase decision. It's always the big numbers that get compared with heavy-duty trucks, but the reality for all these trucks is that the heaviest tow rating, 36,000 pounds for the Sierra 3500 HD, is produced by a configuration almost nobody buys (two-wheel drive, standard cab, dual-rear wheel, diesel). Besides, a few thousand pounds probably shouldn't decide which truck you buy when you're towing things that weigh more than a house.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 GMC Sierra 3500HD Pro 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　Not Available  for Sierra 3500HD Pro

　　Sierra 3500HD Pro

　　Pro 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $43,400 MSRPPro 2dr Regular Cab LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $44,600 MSRPPro 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $46,200 MSRPPro 4dr Double Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $46,200 MSRPPro 4dr Double Cab LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $47,400 MSRPPro 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $47,400 MSRPPro 4dr Crew Cab SB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $47,800 MSRPPro 4dr Crew Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $48,000 MSRPPro 4dr Double Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $49,000 MSRPPro 4dr Crew Cab LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $49,200 MSRPPro 4dr Double Cab 4WD LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $50,200 MSRPPro 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $50,600 MSRPPro 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $50,800 MSRPPro 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $52,000 MSRPSLE 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $50,200 MSRPSLE 2dr Regular Cab LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $51,400 MSRPSLE 4dr Double Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $52,400 MSRPSLE 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $53,000 MSRPSLE 4dr Double Cab LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $53,600 MSRPSLE 4dr Crew Cab SB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $54,000 MSRPSLE 4dr Crew Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $54,200 MSRPSLE 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $54,200 MSRPSLE 4dr Double Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $55,200 MSRPSLE 4dr Crew Cab LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $55,400 MSRPSLE 4dr Double Cab 4WD LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $56,400 MSRPSLE 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $56,800 MSRPSLE 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $57,000 MSRPSLE 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $58,200 MSRPSLT 4dr Crew Cab SB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $61,600 MSRPSLT 4dr Crew Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $61,800 MSRPSLT 4dr Crew Cab LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $63,000 MSRPSLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $64,400 MSRPSLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $64,600 MSRPSLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $65,800 MSRPAT4 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $67,800 MSRPAT4 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $68,000 MSRPDenali 4dr Crew Cab 4WD SB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $74,300 MSRPDenali 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 6A) - $74,500 MSRPDenali 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB DRW (6.6L 8cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $75,700 MSRP

　　vs

　　$233/mo

　　Avg. Large Truck

　　The Sierra offers two engines: a 6.6-liter gas V8 linked to a six-speed automatic or a 6.6-liter turbodiesel paired with a 10-speed automatic. Four bed and cab configurations are available, and four-wheel drive is available with each of them. Both the trailering package and an automatic locking rear differential are standard in every Sierra 3500HD.

　　The bottom line is that this year's Sierra 3500HD remains — as it has always been — a more costly version of the Chevy Silverado 3500HD. And even in Denali trim, the Sierra lacks the comfort and luxury amenities of its closest rivals. But it's still amply capable, offers an attractive cabin design, and may be a strong value given next year's refresh. Shop around and you could find a great deal, especially later in the year.

　　

Which Sierra 3500HD does zzdcar recommend?

We think the SLT trim hits the sweet spot in terms of value. It offers heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a high-definition backup camera among other features. But it's only available as a crew cab.

　　

GMC Sierra 3500HD models

Available in five trims (Pro, SLE, SLT, AT4 and Denali) the 2023 GMC Sierra 3500HD is a heavy-duty full-size pickup. It offers four-wheel drive across every trim and a choice of two engines, each of which is paired with its own transmission.

　　The base engine is a 6.6-liter gasoline V8 coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. It's rated at 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. The upgrade engine is a 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8 good for 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque. It's matched with a 10-speed automatic.

　　Regular-cab and extended-cab configurations are offered on the Pro and SLE trims, while the SLT, AT4 and Denali trims come only as crew cabs. Dual rear wheels are available on certain configurations to increase towing and payload capacity.

　　Pro

　　The base trim is relatively bare-bones and comes with:

　　18-inch steel wheels LED headlights and taillights Manually adjustable trailering mirrors Cargo bed steps Locking tailgate 40/20/40-split front bench seat Vinyl seats and floor coverings Manual windows and door locks (regular cab) Trailering hitch 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Dual USB jacks Six-speaker audio systemSLE

　　Adds more convenience features, such as:

　　18-inch alloy wheels Upgraded exterior trim Power trailering mirrors Configurable (MultiPro) tailgate Integrated brake trailer controller (allows adjustment of a trailer's brakes from the cab) Cloth seats and carpeted floors Cruise control Power door locks and windows Remote keyless entry 4.2-inch color driver information display Satellite radio Connected services including a Wi-Fi hotspotSLT

　　The SLT starts moving into premium territory by adding: 

　　Power-folding and extending trailering mirrors Cargo bed lighting 120-volt power outlet in cargo bed and instrument panel Keyless access with push-button engine start Remote engine start Dual-zone automatic climate control Leather seats Lockable storage under front seat Power-adjustable driver's seat with memory settings Heated front seats Heated steering wheel Second-row USB ports 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system display Wireless functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto High-definition backup camera with hitch-view angleAT4

　　Comes with most SLT features but adds off-road attitude and capability with:

　　Standard four-wheel drive Hill descent control Off-road suspension tuning with twin-tube dampers Underbody skid plates Body-color bumpers Spray-in bedliner Front bucket seats with center console Ventilated front seats Heated rear outboard seatsDenali

　　Tops the Sierra 3500HD lineup with premium features including:

　　20-inch alloy wheels Automatic high-beam headlights Chrome exterior trim Power-sliding rear window Side steps to ease cab entry and exit Premium leather seats Upgraded driver information display Navigation system Bose premium sound system Wireless smartphone charging Bed-view cameraThe Denali also includes a number of safety features and driver aids, many of which are optional on other trims:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Sierra 3500HD and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Safety alert seat (warns of potential side collisions with vibrating pulses on either or both sides of seat to indicate direction of danger)There are more than 30 option packages and around two dozen stand-alone options available for the various trims. Mostly they add features to the lower trims that are standard on the higher trims.

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