2007 GMC Sierra 1500 Review (continued)
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Walkaround

The design of the front end of the 2007 GMC Sierra emphasizes the truck's wide stance. The GMC emblem is set amid dark horizontal bars in the middle of an upright and chrome-surrounded grille. The headlamps are a pair of stacked, jeweled lenses. The front bumper features round fog lamps and a wide air intake and wraps around the sides of the truck to the front lower edge of the front wheel wells.

The Denali gets it own chromed grilles, both the upper section and the air vent below the front bumper.

The hood has a pair of long, narrow V-shaped power bulges and leads back to a steeply raked windshield. The windshield is tilted back for improved aerodynamics and enhanced highway fuel economy.

The side view features slightly bulging and elongated fender flares that sweep down behind the headlamps. The sides of the cargo bed are higher than on previous models, and the exterior of the tailgate is sculpted, enhancing the rear view of the truck. Stacked tail lamps are on either side of the tailgate.

Nine colors are available on a truck that looks taller and stronger than its predecessor, yet also has improved aerodynamics that help give the Sierra a highway fuel economy rating of as many as 22 miles per gallon with the 5.3-liter V8 engine under the hood.

An optional cargo management system is available for the bed with side rails and various cargo-carrying and cargo-controlling boxes and dividers and tie-downs.

The GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado are built on the GMT900 platform, which shares most underpinnings with the Yukon SUV. The pickups get a unique rear frame section that is 245 percent stiffer. The Sierra and Silverado share mechanical components, with the exception of the unique features found on the Sierra Denali.

Compared with the previous-generation GMT800 truck, the new frame is 234 percent stiffer in torsion rigidity, 62 percent more resistant to bending and 136 percent stiffer laterally. This yields a smoother ride and better handling. It also allowed the engineers to reduce the gap between the truck bed and passenger compartment as well as the gaps between fenders and bumpers, all of which enhances aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.

For 2007, the front suspension has switched from torsion bars to coil-over shock absorbers and the rack-and-pinion steering gear is mounted to the engine cross member frame. The truck also has a new rear axle design with shocks absorbers mounted outboard and more upright for better dynamic control.

Interior Features

The 2007 GMC Sierra boasts interior features popularized by the Yukon sport utility, providing a much more upscale environment for the driver and passengers. GMC hasn't forgotten about owners who use their trucks for work, however. So the Sierra is available with the choice of a pure pickup interior or luxury-inspired accommodations more in the style of the Yukon.

The pure pickup," as it's called, has a unique dashboard that is more driver-oriented and has larger switchgear and door handles that are designed to be easily manipulated by those wearing work gloves. The pure pickup dashboard has a double-decked glove box system, with the upper box just large enough to hold a pair of work gloves and a few smaller items. The pure pickup interior includes a 40/20/40 split front bench seat with the center section folding down to provide a large storage compartment and wide armrest.

The SUV-style luxury-oriented interior puts audio and ventilation system controls more easily within reach of the front-seat passenger and has two front bucket seats with a fixed center console with assorted storage compartments.

GMC says the interior of the new Sierra is 20 percent quieter than its predecessor, thanks to enhanced insulation materials, much like those used in the company's sport utility vehicles, and to aerodynamic improvements that reduce wind noise.

Rear seating is provided for three people in the extended and crew cab versions, with a comfortable 34.3 inches of rear legroom in the extended cab and 38.7 in the crew cab.

Access to the rear seating area of the extended cab is eased by rear-hinged doors that open to nearly flush with the rear quarterpanels. Sitting in the back seat of the extended cab is made more pleasant thanks to the fact that the windows in the rear access doors power fully down."