Starting with the 2014 model year Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, General Motors introduced a brand-new convenience feature aimed at easing ingress into the bed of the truck: the GM CornerStep Bumper. Today, it seems like a perfectly obvious, no-brainer sort of a feature; pickup truck load floors are usually pretty high off the ground, and folks who use their trucks as – well, trucks – quite often have to climb up to load or unload. Years ago, the feature was utterly unknown to most car buyers not just within the GM truck family, but industry-wide.
2001 Chevrolet Avalanche with step cutouts in the rear bumper
GM first launched the CornerStep Bumper on the first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche that launched for the 2001 model year. Then, a few years later, Nissan added a very similar feature to its second-generation of its Xterra SUV, which launched in 2005.
Rear bumper step cutout on a 2014 Nissan Xterra
Coincidentally, the second-generation Chevy Avalanche came out in 2007, discontinuing the Corner Step feature in favor of a sleeker, body-color lower bumper configuration. Nissan discontinued the Xterra after the 2015 model year as a result of poor fuel economy, declining sales, and necessary upgrades to the vehicle’s safety and emissions.
The next time GM used the CornerStep bumpers was on the 2014 Silverado and Sierra.
Second-generation GM CornerStep Bumper on 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
The GM CornerStep Bumper consists of two parts: a notch with a non-slip textured pad on either side of the rear bumper, where the user inserts his or her foot, and an ergonomically-shaped handhold located in each box rail protector. After debuting on GM’s light-duty trucks, it made its way to the heavy-duty Chevrolet/GMC models for the following model year.
Third-generation GM CornerStep Rear Bumper on 2019 GMC Sierra Denali
GM’s all-new, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 have brought with them an updated version of the system – one with a deeper bumper cutout capable of accommodating larger footwear, such as steel-toe boots.
Meanwhile, Nissan appears to have taken a different tack in recent years, offering a Rear Bumper Step-up Assist for models like the Nissan Titan pickup truck as a separate, genuine Nissan accessory. The step folds up and out-of-sight when not needed.
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Comments
I had a 2003 Chevy avalanche that had corner bumper steps. Sooooo it sounds like it was a GM idea after all. That avalanche also had shocks on the outside of the frame, coil rear suspension, and storage boxes in the bed sides. Quite the innovator Chevy is.
Some chevy avalanche trucks had corner step rear bumpers….
The first few year they all did. It was when they dropped the cladding they went away.
Then there’s this!
https://history-of-cars.com/images/chevrolet/chevrolet88c1500pickup4a.jpg
Soo much GM bashing, every new car or truck is either targeting, out doing (sales/performance) or be copied by a GM vehicle!
nissanauthority is available as are a lot of others!
I’m sure y’all can’t wait to poke at the mid-engine Corvette if the rumored flat plane crankshaft comes true!
“GM’s copying the Ford Mustang”, “GM’s copying the Ford Mustang”!
Aaron, I’m not sure why you are giving credit to Nissan when GM had this on the Avalanche. GM truck buyers know this feature has been around before the Nissan. Why are you even writing this article on GMAuthority.
As a former owner of a 2002 Avalanche, I loved the corner steps in the rear bumper and the hand holds on the top corners. While I understand the cladding was a bit polarizing, it also gave the trucks some distinction and personality from it’s GMT-800 stablemates.
I was surprised and disappointed that the step went away with the cladded version of the truck, and even more so that it took GM until 2014 to make it standard in the Silverado. Glad they finally did however.
-Joe Rainville, Former GM’er
No kidding Nissan’s had it for years.
Check the link above slick!