GMC has more than a century’s worth of history as a builder of tough trucks that haul large loads and take on rough terrain. Going all the way back to a record-setting trip in 1909, a GMC truck called the Rapid drove up to Colorado’s Pike Peak for the first time. Today, GMC continues to build trucks that climb mountains as easily as goats and can carry both loads of passengers and cargo anywhere you want to drive. Because GMC trucks last, you can head to your used GMC dealer and find a truck or SUV worth your hard-earned dollars.
Buyers today can count on vehicles to last longer than ever, and GMC trucks and SUVs are some of the longest-lasting of their segments. Below, you can find a list of five trucks and SUVs that will make a dependable companion while you haul, tow, and taxi your loads from one place to another. The world is full of vehicles, but there is only one brand that conquered a mountain first. Whether you need a vehicle that fits up to nine passengers, blasts through the snow like it isn’t there, or serves as your reliable work truck, GMC vehicles are the perfect fit.
#1. Yukon
The first Yukon models showed up in the market in 1991 as a much shorter version of the Yukon we know today. In 2000 the Yukon received a redesign that offered a third-row split-fold seat to accommodate more people than the original six, and it focused on raising the bar of interior comfort for a more luxurious ride. Before 2000, the Yukon was built with a 5.7-liter V8 that produced 255 hp, and then the 2000 models arrived with a 4.8-liter V8 that generated 280 hp. An optional 5.3-liter V8 was available for this and following model years until 2007 when the Yukon updated once again.
For the 2007 update, the Yukon’s 5.3-liter engine gained more power to output up to 320 hp with an active fuel management system to be more fuel efficient. This year also benefitted from interior updates like rear-seat entertainment controls, power-folding second-row seats, and OnStar connectivity. Even base models would come with the towing package, and the Yukon of this year could tow up to 8,200 pounds.
2015 sees the next redesign with several additional new features and styling, but an upgrade to the suspension and chassis also improved the ride quality. Upper trims with magnetic ride control are the smoothest, most luxurious rides, and two V8 engine options are even more powerful than the previous years. Rear-seat entertainment, a head-up display for the driver, and interior motion detectors are all options in upper trims that become more affordable as used vehicles.
#2. Acadia
GMC offered the first model of the Acadia in 2007 to bring buyers a crossover SUV on a car-like chassis. While GMC vehicles tend to be truck-based, the Acadia on its car-based chassis is still a large SUV that does its duty in cold weather with the option of all-wheel drive powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine. Though front-wheel drive is standard, the 2007 Acadia has plenty of power with up to 275 hp at its disposal, with the option of four-wheel drive. Similar to the Yukon, the Acadia makes room for up to eight passengers and sports a striking two-tone, spacious interior. StabiliTrak, OnStar, and anti-lock brakes are standard equipment in this model year.
With the arrival of 2011 models, the Acadia incorporated the luxurious Denali trim line for the first time. Ample space inside the Acadia accommodates passengers of any size, and the rear cargo area has nearly 20 cubic feet of space behind the third row. Even in the 2011 model, buyers could find options like a Head-Up Display, Rear Park Assist, or dual sunroofs. 2013 sees the next big redesign year to incorporate new front and rear styling, a color touchscreen, and a rearview camera. After 2014, Acadia models are sold with standard driver-assisted safety features like Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning. 2018 models feature an automatic heated steering wheel and the option to choose seating for five to seven passengers.
#3. Sierra
As with most GMC vehicles, the Sierra shares a history with Chevy manufacturing. In 1999, the Sierra was birthed out of the old C/K line of trucks that were the original GM pickup for decades. The sister to the Sierra is the Chevy Silverado, born the same year, but the Sierra saw retooling to have its own identity. Between the first year and 2005, a Sierra truck could have either a regular or extended cab, the latter featuring rear access doors. A 4.3-liter V6 engine made 255 hp as the standard fare, but two V8 options were also available for more horsepower.
For those who loved the Quadrasteer system, 2002 is the first year to incorporate this optional four-wheel drive system, which subsequently also came standard on the Denali trim offered for the first time that same year. This system was discontinued after just a few years when it didn’t sell. Unlike Chevy, GMC trucks are known for their luxury and convenience features, and the Denali trim always delivers these in spades. Even in 2007, rain-sensing wipers could be found on Sierra 1500 trucks, along with a heated windshield wiper system and rear-seat audio system.
Anyone seeking a truck with towing and hauling in mind will find that even the V6 engines offer surprising power with the ability to tow over 7,000 pounds in models of at least the last five years and models boasting the beefier V8 engines can tow over 12,000 pounds with ease. Expect room for passengers to be generous and the payload capacity to be plentiful as well. Off-road enthusiasts will appreciate the All-Terrain package and the optional four-wheel drive, which also affords underbody shielding and Rancho shocks.
#4. Canyon
Not every buyer who wants a truck needs a brute that can haul six tons of trailer, and the GMC Canyon is a great midsize answer. GMC brought out the Canyon in 2004 with three cab sizes and the choice of rear-wheel or four-wheel drive, two engine options of either a four-cylinder or five-cylinder and even an off-road variant. The Canyon may be one of the closest relatives to its sister truck in the Chevy Colorado where the vehicle lineups are concerned, but like the rest of the GMC line, the Canyon upholds a standard of higher quality features and ride quality. When you want to buy a used Canyon, 2007 saw new engines and a more rigid chassis that improved control, especially when off-roading.
You can find either five or six-foot beds, depending on which cab size is optioned on the Canyon, and GMC utilizes its brand to afford more amenities that you find on Chevy trucks. In 2009, the Canyon was offered with a more powerful V8 engine that could tow up to 6,000 pounds, giving buyers who want smaller trucks the choice of trailering with small campers. GMC chose to discontinue the Canyon in 2012, but its popularity called for its return in 2015. Newer models starting in 2017 include the Denali trim and an improved towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds, not to mention a plethora of package options to upgrade to the hilt.
#5. Terrain
Once GMC went down the crossover SUV rabbit hole with the Acadia, it seems they felt it necessary to produce a smaller midsize crossover to further win over the fuel-efficiency crowds. In 2010 the Terrain came onto the scene with seating for five, but don’t mistake it for small. It’s the same size as the Chevy Equinox, but GMC gives its second-row passengers sliding seats with up to eight inches of room either way. With ambient lighting, active noise cancellation, and luxe finishes on the interior; you will find this SUV is made for the finer things in life. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine powers this midsize crossover, but the option for a 3.0-liter V6 exists.
Following years would see upgrades like the Denali trim in 2013, and in 2015 OnStar would be added with a hotspot. All the high-quality features like leather seats, heated mirrors, and driver-assisted safety are available, and each year adds packages for appearance and performance. The Terrain is available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive across all years of its lineup, and despite its shared roots with the Equinox, it actually resembles a truck more than the soft-edged Chevy SUV.
GMC Vehicles Always Deliver
Whatever your preference, GMC vehicles will deliver styling and features that both stand up to the work you need them to do and the luxury you want for comfort and ease. Small and large vehicles across the GMC brand all uphold a standard of quality that makes any of these GMC vehicles excellent choices to buy used. So, when you are looking for a used vehicle that is going to reliably last you a while, you need to get a used GMC.
