In Search of the Perfect Pickup

The original 57 varieties of Heinz products should be very worried. Because at last count, Chevrolet and GMC were closing fast with a combined—are you ready for this?—48 varieties of pickup trucks. From an economical two-passenger Canyon or Colorado to a three-passenger 1500 series, a five-passenger 2500 series and a six-passenger 3500 turbodiesel crew-cab dually, the two GM divisions build a pickup for almost everyone. Which makes it all that much harder to choose just one. We decided to try anyway, putting two “midlevel” trucks, the Silverado 2500 HD and Sierra Denali 1500, to test.

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 4WD LT1 Extended Cab

GMC adopted the “HD” (for “heavy duty”) nomenclature for all of its midrange trucks beginning in 2001. It’s a realistic moniker when you consider the Silverado 2500’s front boxed frame design, beefy 6.0-liter (366 cu. in.) Vortec V8, and 9,900-lb. towing capability. Pricing is $33,610 for the 2500 4WD LT1 extended cab, and our vehicle had nearly $2,700 in options for a total price of over $37,000 including shipping.


At first glance the 2500 HD appeared perfect for general pickup duty, with substantial pulling power, a 6.6-foot bed and five-passenger capability. As well, the extended cab makes sense on several counts: It accommodates three passengers in the rear-seat area when the need arises; the rear seat folds up to allow a generous volume of lockable, weatherproof storage; and it provides this utility without extending the wheelbase quite as far as on a crew-cab truck. The only downsides are that you have to open both the front door and a secondary rear door to gain access, and the rear seating is not as generous as in a crew-cab model.


Our first drive impressions were of a quiet, roomy truck. That is, until we got out on a less-than-ideal road, where the ride became somewhat harsh. Also, while pulling a ski boat, we discovered that the transmission likes to drop into third gear to get up hills, and at that the engine races rather loudly in the process. Rated at 353 hp with 373 lbs-ft. torque, the Vortec V8 is no slouch though, and the six-speed transmission, equipped with a useful tow/haul mode, always shifts quickly and smoothly. The transmission also automatically downshifts when you’re coasting downhill towing a trailer – a useful and confidence-inspiring feature.


Thoughtful touches include a backup sensor with illuminated diodes inside the cab that warn of proximity to other objects when backing up, and a trailer-wiring receptacle mounted up high next to the license plate rather than under the bumper (for easier access and to keep it above water when boat launching).

GMC Sierra Denali 1500 AWD Crew Cab Short Box

The Sierra Denali is a decidedly upscale pickup, and its leather seating and wood-grain trim helps civilizes the driving experience like few trucks can. GM’s lusty Vortec 6.2-liter V8, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission and all wheel drive (as opposed to four-wheel drive with dual-range gears on the Silverado) powered our test vehicle, which featured a five-passenger crew cab with a 5.8-foot shorty cargo bed to keep the overall length to 229.9 in.