Street Scene
by Larry Mason
2001 GMC Sierra 1500 Sportside

Journalism | New Car Reviews

As I was preparing to race at the Long Beach Grand Prix in the Dayton Indy Lights Championship Series, a thought came to mind. Why not learn a bit more about the current state of General Motors products? After all, my Dayton Indy Lights car is powered by a GM (nee Buick) V6.

After a quick phone call, it was off to the prep house for me to take delivery of a brand new "Sunblast Yellow" pickup. Not only did the exterior paint scream "ticket me"; the bright yellow leather wrapped steering wheel shut the case. I may not have been able to lay low or be very stealth in this vehicle, but I came to appreciate everything else it had to offer.

This being the regular cab version, there wasn't much room behind the seats, however with the seat back angle and my vertically challenged height, I was able to store quite a few things like grocery bags of snacks and jackets out of my way. The 270 horsepower Vortec V8 was eager to rev freely and propel the Sierra down the highway briskly and quietly. To help with towing and low-end performance there is 285 lb-ft of torque on tap. The fuel mileage was also a pleasant surprise with highway mileage checking in at about 20 mpg. Transmission shift shock was non-existent and it would quickly kick down if you needed to make a pass.

In windy desert conditions, the Sierra held it's own on the highway thanks to its aerodynamically smooth exterior. The truck actually handled really well around all types of corners even with the balloon 235/75R16 all-season tires. The steering was consistently precise and responsive yet not over-assisted. Brakes were 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and provided plenty of stopping power whether loaded or not.

One of the coolest features of the new Sierra is the courtesy lamp that shines on your precious cargo in the bed. The dash-mounted switch can be flipped on to shine the light or turn it off after you've checked on you cargo. Back inside, the split-bench/bucket seats are comfortable and recline. The center seat can be turned into a huge center console and armrest when that third person isn't around. All gauges and controls are within easy reach and easy to read/control. The A/C pumps out plenty of cool air even in near-100 degree desert heat. If you want to rock out, the stereo can thump out some bass up to a point, but distortion will soon set in if you try and crank it too high.

All in all, the Sierra is a fine work truck that can easily handle everyday commuting and nights out on the town. Just don't expect to go unnoticed!

The GMC Sierra 1500 Sportside - an attention grabber and a true workhorse rolled into one.

Is there a car review, or comparison test you would like to see? Send your suggestions, comments, and questions to:
Larry Mason