We’re Driving The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax – What Do You Want To Know?
48
Sponsored Links
We’re spending the week with the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500, the new-generation truck that’s built on the GM T1 platform. Our test pickup is equipped with the turbo-diesel 3.0L I-6 LM2 that’s part of the Duramax engine family, rated at 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and it’s mated to the GM 10-speed automatic transmission which transfers power through either the rear or all four wheels.
Our Sierra test unit is also a Crew Cab Elevation trim level with four-wheel drive and the short box. It’s painted in the optional Satin Steel Metallic paint and fitted with the Jet Black cloth seat trim. The Elevation edition is mostly a styling package derived from the SLE trim level, adding a monochromatic appearance with blacked-out body trim and wheels to give the vehicle a nice bold look.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what the package includes:
- Trim-specific blacked-out 20-inch wheels
- Distinct monochromatic door handles, bumpers and grille surround
- Black exterior accents, including grille insert, tow hooks and side window trim
Note that our 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 isn’t equipped with the optional CarbonPro carbon fiber box or the MultiPro tailgate, since the idea behind the Elevation package is to keep the price low while still offering consumers a fair amount of standard equipment.
That said, the truck we see here does have a few options piled onto it, like the Elevation Value Package which adds a 10-way power driver seat with power lumbar, rear wheelhouse liners, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, an automatic rear-locking differential and a trailering package.
There’s also the Preferred package which adds the eight-inch infotainment screen, a 120-volt power outlet, a Bose premium sound system, a power sliding rear window and the HD Rear Vision camera. Finally, our truck also has the available Driver Alert Package 1 which adds Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Front and Rear Park Assist, Lane Change Alert and Blind Zone Alert, as well as the power sunroof standalone option. The final price as it sits is $51,795.
We will have the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax for a week where we’ll specifically be observing its real-world fuel economy to see if it’s worth opting for this diesel engine over either the two available 5.3L V8s (the 5.3L L82 V8 or the 5.3L L84 V8) or the 6.2L L87 V8. So if you would like to know more about this truck beyond the spec sheet, ask your questions in the comments section, and we’ll reply in a timely manner as part of the GM Authority interactive review.
Ready…. set… go!
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Sierra, GMC news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Sponsored Links
Diesel is more expensive to maintain, Oil & Filter changes, Fuel Filter changes, DEF, Diesel fuel more expensive than Gasoline. You would have to keep for many years to even have a chance to make up for the few MPG savings.
Tell us with the difference in GAS price vs Diesel price, Give a detailed price comparison on fuel cost vs the 6.2 engine, taken both MPG rating and the difference in cost of fuels. give us straight talk, please. Gas price averaging my area $1.39 and diesel is higher. bring out the old calculator and do a good analysis.
Hello to all
In this enigmatical forthwith, I honey you all
Esteem your one’s nearest and friends
I would like to know why there’s such a large difference in towing capacity between the 3.0 vs 5.3 when the torque rating’s are almost identical. I believe the number was around 3000lb. that’s a significant difference
I’ll try to answer what I can since I have been driving one since November.
1. At 55MPH the RPMs are between 1300-1400; At 65MPH the RPMs are 1500; At 70MPH the RPMs are 1550. I also went up a Mississippi river bridge with the cruise set at 71 and never got above 1700 RPM. I don’t even think it down shifted.
2. The add on for the diesel is 2495 at MSRP above the 5.3 with the Allstar pkg. 95% of LTs and RSTs are Allstar pkgs.
3. I average 24-25MPG for every day driving. I got 554.9 mile out of my first tank. My best 50 mile average was 29.9.
4. Acceleration is great and the 10spd is very smooth.
5. The truck comes with a 3.23 gear and a 9300lb tow rating. There is an available diesel off-road pkg with a 3.73 gear and a 12000lb tow rating.
I pull a 14′ trailer with a 850lb 4 wheeler for about 2000-2500lbs and bed completely loaded with ice chest, tools and gear. I get 17-18MPG running 75ish on the interstate. Compared to my previous truck (2015 5.3 with 3.42) I would get 10-11MPG with same load. I would get nearly same mileage with the trailer empty.
To say this truck is a commuter is selling it short. I feel the truck is under rated. You’re at max torque at cruising speeds and it pulls effortlessly. The 6.2, which is a great engine, would have to be running at 4100 RPM to reach the same torque.
As a side note, I can get 3000-3500 mile before needing to top off the DEF.
This is a fantastic power train. I have sold 5 of these 3.0 units. I order our new inventory and was leery at first. Some of my customers are pursing the mpg side of things and they have been very impressed. Not only with the economy but how smooth it is and having all that torque right off idle helps the off idle lag the 5.3 has. A couple of my guys haul trailers in the 7,000 to 8,000 ibs range. They report the 3.0 pulls hard and they were happy with its performance. The 10 speed doesn’t hunt for gears like the gas engines. So we are big fans of the power train. I have 35% of our inventory allocated to this power train. We are anxiously waiting for Gm to restart production. If you have not driven one do so. I think you will be very impressed.
Best Wishes:
Ron Rempel
Janzen Gmc
Look at your headlights they are turning purplish you need a bulletin to get them fixed .GM needs to look into this problem so more of us can get them fixed