After several hours of up-close inspection, photography, interviews, and pondering, we have come up with a few things to complain about regarding GM’s new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and 2014 GMC Sierra that made their debut this morning. Maybe we’re just cranky, but below are five things concerning these trucks that we just can’t help but complain about:
1. Lack Of Interior Differentiation
With all the hype surrounding the trucks being noticeably different from each other inside and out, it was a bit of a letdown to find that the gauge cluster and center console layouts in both the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra were the same, but with different-colored ambient lighting. With the effort put into making the trucks look significantly different on the outside, it’s a bummer the same effort wasn’t put into the design of the cabin.
2. Still With Six Speed Transmissions
When the 2014 Silverado and Sierra hit the market in the second quarter of 2013, every engine will be mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Not exactly groundbreaking. Hopefully 12-18 months after the initial launch, the eight-speeds will start to appear.
3. Lack Of Interior Color
Photos of the trucks’ interiors would have turned out a lot better if they weren’t so un-colorful. Hopefully you like grey with a darker shade of grey. And if you don’t, there’s beige. Yay.
4. The EcoTec3 Engine Family Name
There seemed to be a lot of brand equity in the Vortec line. And now it’s gone. We understand the reasoning behind the decision to go with EcoTec3 name from here on out, but on the same token, we can think of plenty of reasons to have kept things unchanged. It doesn’t help the fact that there’s a new Eco-something-or-another entering the market seemingly every week from seemingly all over the industry. Things could get confusing very easily.
5. Still Too Much Chrome
Could just be a taste preference, but most of us twenty-somethings aren’t too fond of our vehicles pretending to be mirrors. We just wish we could get a well-appointed Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra without all the gaudy chrome cladding. Honestly, body colors are just fine.
Comments
I might add the brick-like shape. There’s a lot to like, but they seemed to have gotten some parts badly wrong, in my eyes.
I was a little let down by the interior. Why doesn’t GM do the two different interior theme? Like they introduced on the last truck. I don’t get that. This interior would be work truck worthy but there should be a less blocky LTZ interior like on the current trucks. I think this will be the new trucks biggest problem. I like all the storage though. And the interior decked out with touches of wood and aluminum on the Sierra looks pretty good. So maybe it isn’t that bad. But I’d still like two different interior themes. There should be more color options too. Not just ebony and gray. The interior quality looks like it went up but the interior design went in the wrong direction
100% with you.
Plus with all those “pods” and parting lines it looks like a 40 piece snap-together dash.
I really feel like that silverado should have a better design than this one. It seems like there’s no difference between this one and the current model besides adding a wider grille, projector beamers, etc
After driving a Silverado for the last 10 years, it looks like I will be getting a Ford in 2013. If this is the best GM can do, they are going to be in serious trouble again. Oh, and the engine name is only slightly better than ” Squirrel Powered Tree Hugger Tec”
Although its a step up from current generation but I’m not thrilled about New GM trucks, I was hoping for some ground breaking designs and innovation. Silverado looks ok, I like the sides (besides square wheel wells) cab looks good, better looking taillights and tailgate, but honestly I don’t like those old looking headlights, and same boring grille with just diffeerent inserts. lTZ and Z71 grille is only differented by inserts?? Ford offers 3 grille variants and in some you can get painted or chrome, here one grille different inserts and no painted version? Bumper looks better then current. They said interior will set new standards? Well I’m not too happy the way it looks, I love better quality material and I’m sure it functions better, but the design looks Iittle dated. I wonder if there will be two tone paint jobs. Sierra in the other hand is a lot better looking, can’t compmlain much about the looks, my favorite is All Terrain package.
I just love the way the rhetoric surfaced when it came to talking about the designs and how fresh and distinctive they were. They’re sounding like Vanilla Ice trying to explain how different “Ice Ice Baby” was from Queen’s “Under Pressure”. He was the only one that found a difference…and clearly, GM’s the only one seeing this big difference between the GMC and the Chevy.
One of the funnier comments ever. I still think of his ridiculous explanation when someone tries to explain how two things, which are obviously are basically the same, are “actually” different. Word from Vanilla:
“There’s goes, ‘Ding ding ding, dinga ding ding. Ding ding ding, dinga ding ding’ ; our’s goes “Ding ding ding, dinga ding ding. da Ding ding ding, dinga ding ding. It’s not the same!”
http://youtu.be/1s0hEi8zhmg?t=1m46s
As a guy who owns a 99 extended cab Silverado, the door handles on the four door extended cabs bug me a little to be honest, its not a deal breaker, but it bugs me. Other then that I like the look of them and the interior is a breath of fresh air from the previous model. Also the mean looking grille, but to each is own. One thing I will also say this is only a preview of what is to come, I like chrome but I know people that hate it, it will come they did it on the 07-13 trucks, they will do it here.
The Sierra is a huge improvement styling wise, It’s meaner and more masculine. the Silverado on the other hand is a bit of a downgrade design wise, it’s like they took the current truck and made it boxier, it simply isn’t enough of a departure from the aging existing model. they could definitely have differentiated them better, the two trucks can’t share fenders because of the shape of the lighting, so why make the different fenders look almost exactly the same? the Silverado looks like the rebadged twin this time, the design doesn’t mesh together too well, while the GMC is very much iin line with products like the Terrain and the refreshed Acadia. And Is it just me or does the Z71 Package actually make the silverado look cheaper? I wish Gm luck with these trucks, I really do, but I was just serverely dissapointed.
I 100% agree with you on item #4.
In regards to item #5, I hate chrome. Hopefully one day it becomes so expensive that it would be used only for emblems. Still do not understand where all this chrome “theme” comes from. However, to be honest, this a problem of the three: Ford, Dodge and GM. I would like to see statistical data showing that customers “WOULD NOT BUY” a truck because it does not have chrome.
Simply hate it, hate it, hate it.
While it is true that Chevrolet and GMC have been styling “twins” except for frontal appearance since the 1940’s, for sure, I had hoped that the front and rear quarter panel styling would be different this time. I am well aware of the costs of stamping dies and of parts proliferation, both in manufacturing and service, but I had still hoped they would be different this time.
In my opinion, the GMC frontal styling goes better with the squared off wheel opening treatment than does the Chevrolet. I think a smoother, less “brutal”, side styling on the Chevrolet versions would coordinate better with their frontal styling, and I would appreciate the styling option of “brutal” versus “sophisticated”. That being said, I do think GM did a wonderful job in the styling of both these trucks.
We have waited a loooong time for this truck with basically no refresher on the current 900 series; I was expecting a quantum leap forward and I want to believe we got it, but kinda feel like we didnt!
For me, these trucks look more the same than ever before! Same interiors, almost identical side profiles and fenders, and tailgates. So the grill and headlamps are different but even the hoods look alike.
Where is the 8 speed transmission? Where is the diesel? Where is the High Country? Where are the different grill designs to differentiate a $20k truck from a $50k truck? Is there anything to differentiate on the LTZ in the interior besides a center console and leather? Not even special leather or real wood?
I was ready to go put down my deposit on a new truck today if i liked what i saw yesterday. This truck is not enough of a game changer for me to even get excited, much less go buy! Malibu 2.0?
The 8-speeds and High Country are still on the way. Just not at launch. And if it means anything, I saw a label under the hood referencing a diesel engine.
We still know nothing of the trucks’ capabilities, power output, efficiency, etc. There’s no point in poo pooing them so quickly.
where??
A truck’s designed purpose limits the amount of styling that can be involved in the vehicle. You have a hood, a cabin, and the bed. There is only so much you can do with that. Most of these new trucks seem to emulate larger semi trucks in shape and stature. Now I can appreciate the bold aggressive styling design.
If I saw one of those trucks in my rear view mirror I would want to get out of their way in hurry. But this whole look at me I’m a mini Mack semi truck look has become very dated.
I am not a truck person not by any means however I can appreciate them and the versatility they provide. If my income would allow a second new vehicle it would most likely be a truck. But as I mentioned before there’s only so much you can do with a truck. but my first step would be remove ALL the chrome…..
Ford has done more to differentiate trim levels within the F-150 line up than GM has done to differentiate a Chevy from the GMC!
Where did you spend $3 Billion GM???
The outgoing Silverado LTZ has a mostly-monochromatic appearance (with no options). Hopefully they will offer something similar on the new LTZ.
Certainly these trucks will sell, but can’t help thinking GM may lose some market share rather than gain it? Why? The perception of “sameness”. They appear to have no “game changing” features? Where’s the segment busting 4.5L Duramax? Where’s the special off-road performance model to compete with Ford Raptor? Instead we get Ecotec3 as a brand for the new engines? Weak, very weak indeed.
agree with #1, I think GM could have gone further in differentiating the interiors. I thought that GMC should of had red-colored ambient lighting back when GMC merged with Pontiac (since Pontiac was mostly know for red interior illumination). At least it is done on the MY 2014.
very disappointed with them ditching the all might Vortec name! will they still be vortec engines though, without the name?
no offence but the ecotec3 name sounds 3rd party and cheap :/
The people that will ditch Chevrolet just cause of your opinion is sad your not a very loyal person with your company of choice… im going to stand by them
pls make make manual transmission on your 4×4 v6 engine,please!
Speak for yourself about too much chrome. This dull plain generic look is best left to Toyota. The main way you could tell a higher end model anything was with the extra exterior trim and chrome. Today everything looks alike with tire sizes and fog lamps being the only way to tell the better model. If you want plain get the lower tier trim level or buy a Toyota! I’ll take the extra chrome outside trim.
I agree 100%. Maybe the demographic they are marketing to are us old 40 and 50 year olds that like chrome and have brand loyalty. Buy the Toyota without chrome and while your at it, throw on matt black wheels to really make it pop. Not!!
Color palate has major issues.
When GM brought out the GMT800, they had a dark metallic blue the first year and then they discontinued it…..dealers and customers revolted — and they put it back.
Now it’s gone — as are all blues. WTF? seems to be the only appropriate comment.
It has — from what I have seen — 9 exterior colors. Ram has 12
It has 3 interior colors — Ram has 4.
Ram is gaining market share and a lot of people really like the look of the new Ram.
I haven’t checked out Ford’s color palate yet — maybe someone here knows offhand.
We won’t even get into two tones or that kind of stuff.
GM has focused on the Harbor Report instead of the customer.
i want them to build the GMC sierra all-terrain. that should be more than a concept it looks very sharp. my opinion is that this truck a little too boxy. but thats just me
With a vast array of hues available, certainly GM could have selected a palate from Buick’s interior theme to support the posh exterior these trucks have to offer, along with differentiating the interiors. the other complaints are nothing worth mentioning.
There is a lot of chrome. It would be different if it was real chromized steel like years ago, but plastic is the word now. Maybe they should give options like Ram, allowing people to buy body-color fronts for their trucks.
Well, I never was a fan of the GM/Chevrolet look. I knew they had good engines and solid trucks, but I just couldn’t stand the looks. A lot of my friends who work their trucks swear by GM.
Fast forward to 2014. I think this is by far the sexiest truck on the market. Add many fuel efficient technologies, well, let’s just say that I’ll be picking up my brand new GMC Sierra 1500 this coming week.
This will be my first GM product. Let’s hope it proves to be the beginning of a long, loving relationship!
Ok so you have to look at it from a money point of view, if you are gm and you need to do a complete redesign but still keep the car affordable, how do you do it? You can’t do everything at once… so some things are slowly going to be added throughout the next few years models. If not the 1500 would cost $80,000. I think gm did an awesome job, the previous model was too out dated looking. The ride is flawless, quite, and you have a Allison transmission with a proven motor. I couldn’t ask for more. As for the 8 – speed, thats just stupid… If I wanted good mpg I’d go buy a smart car -_-