The 2017 GMC Sierra is a nice pickup truck that costs a bit more than most of its rivals. However, it’s also one of the most capable, reliable, and safest options out there, and in top-tier trims, it’s also one of the most luxurious
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2017 GMC Sierra 1500: Quick Overview
- GMC keeps trim levels simple with just four options, the Base, SLE, SLT, and the ultra-premium Denali. Pricing ranges from about $32,905 to $44,899.
- Three engine options range from the entry-level 305-horsepower 4.3-liter to the 355-horsepower 5.3-liter. For ultimate capability, top-tier trims offer the 420-horsepower 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8.
- Depending on how “capable” you need your pickup to be, the 2017 Sierra 1500 can tow between 5,600 to 12,500 pounds when properly equipped, with the 6.2-liter engine being the most potent.
- There are five recalls for the 2017 Sierra, but few solely involve the Sierra. When put up against key rivals, the Sierra struggles most with the best-selling Ford F-150.
2017 GMC Sierra 1500 is a Worthy Contender as One of the Best Used Pickups Available
Shopping for a used pickup can be confusing, and if you’re not well versed with trucks in general, you may end up with a model that doesn’t suit your day-to-day needs.
Introducing the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500, a nicer, refined twin—especially in upper trims—to one the most popular light-duty trucks on the pre-owned pickup market, the Silverado.
What’s more, the Silverado goes toe-to-toe with the unofficial king of the half-ton class, the F-150, so a 2017 Sierra is worth every moment of your consideration.
However, nicer has a price, as the Sierra costs several thousand dollars more on average than most of its competitors.
If a capable, premium truck is what you’re after, the Sierra may just be the used pickup you’ve been searching for. Consider the rest of this article as your guide to everything that matters regarding the 2017 GMC Sierra.
2017 GMC Sierra: Trims, Pricing & Exterior Color Options
Using the above slider, you’ll notice that the 2017 GMC Sierra comes in just four trim levels, ranging from the entry-level Base to the premium Denali. The higher up you go in trim, the more options you’ll get, including safety and convenience features and additional powertrain options.
Per Kelley Blue Book (KBB) Fair Purchase Price, a crew cab Base with 48,000 miles should go for $32,905 on average. This number will usually sway either direction by about $3,000 depending on the model’s condition, and subtract about $2,300 if it’s rear-wheel-drive (RWD) instead of 4WD.
The below chart details similarly configured models in each trim:
Here’s how each trim differs to make up that nearly $12,000 spread between Base and Denali.
Sierra Base is a Well-equipped Entry-level Truck that Doesn’t Sacrifice on Style
While more practical in nature, the Base Sierra still offers enough creature comforts to make it enjoyable to spend time in. You’ll still get climate control, it will just be manual. If you plan to use your Sierra as more of a work truck, you can also find Base models with vinyl flooring rather than carpet, though both are offered.
A 3.5-inch driver’s information screen shares trip data, warning messages, average fuel economy, and more. As for external styling, chrome bumpers and grille surround make even the Base Sierra a nice-looking pickup.
Sierra SLE Adds 8″ Touchscreen & Comes Standard with Backup Camera
The first thing you’ll notice once you hop into an SLE is the massive eight-inch infotainment screen. Hooking up a trailer has never been easier, thanks to the standard backup camera. While the navigation feature costs a premium, the rest of the system offers full functionality and gives the interior a modern feel.
Outside not much differs from the Base trim, other than the upgraded 17-inch painted and bright machined wheels. SLE also adds wheelhouse liners, which make for a much more polished look.
Sierra SLT Features Several Upgrades, Wide Assortment of Add-ons
The SLT looks distinct from an SLE on the outside via a unique chrome grille insert and matching door handles. Rims also see an update by means of standard 18-inch polished aluminum wheels. SLT also comes with power-adjustable pedals, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and color-keyed floor mats.
Where SLT really shines is its add-on packages, which include the Enhanced Driver’s Alert System, SLT Preferred Package, and the “Crew Cab Only” Premium Plus Package. So basically, if you don’t want to spend extra for a Denali, you can load an SLT up with add-on packages that get you “most” of the same luxury for a bit lower cost.
Sierra Denali Offers Unrivaled Luxury, Unique Premium Extras
You’ll notice a Denali trim immediately, thanks to its unique front grille, body-colored front and rear bumpers, LED headlights, fog lights, and standard 20″ ultra-bright aluminum rims. Denali is also the only Sierra to feature GMC’s Magnetic Ride Control. This advanced system not only improves ride quality but stability and handling as well.
Inside, you’ll find one of the plushest cabins ever seen in a pickup, with 12-way power front seats with memory, heated and cooled front seats, a Bose premium sound system, and a hand-stitched leather steering wheel. You’ll also get standard front and rear park assist to lessen the chances of bumping into something.
Denali is also the only package to come standard with the Enhanced Driver’s Alert Package, GMC’s advanced safety bundle. This includes lane-keep assist, forward collision alert, Intellibeam headlamps, low-speed forward automatic braking, and a vibrating seat to help with driver awareness.
2017 GMC Sierra is Available in a Plethora of Exterior Color Options
Using the above slider you can browse through each of the 14 exterior colors offered on the 2017 GMC Sierra. We personally find the Cardinal Red Denali particularly striking.
2017 GMC Sierra 1500: Engine Options, Tow Capacity & Fuel Economy
4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6 is a Mostly Capable, Efficient Base Engine
While you’ll only find it on Base and SLE trims, the entry-level 4.3-liter EcoTec3 put out a meager 305 horsepower, and tows as much as 7,600 pounds in a Regular Cab when equipped with the 3.42 rear end. Opt for a RWD Crew Cab though, and towing drops to a dismal 5,500 pounds. If you need to comfortably seat up to five adults and tow a medium-sized trailer, you may want to upgrade to the 5.3-liter EcoTec3.
On the other side of the equation, if you don’t specifically need a “capable” pickup and just prefer the added safety of a large-sized daily driver, a RWD 2017 Sierra 1500 does get a respectable 18 mpg on city streets and 24 at highway speeds.
5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 is the Definite ‘Sweet Spot’ in the Sierra Engine Lineup
At a premium of about $2,100 over the 4.3-liter, we think the 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 is worth every penny.
While the extra 50 horsepower doesn’t sound like much, the 355 delivered by the 5.3-liter is definitely the Sierras sweet spot. Merging onto a freeway? No problem. Pass the car in front of you that’s going five mph under the speed limit? Done. What’s more, due to the 5.3-liter’s Active Fuel Management, which cuts down from eight to four cylinders when under low engine strain, it actually only gives up a combined one mpg on similarly configured models.
As for tow capacity, the 5.3-liter can handle between 6,100 to around 9,000 pounds depending on the rear-end axle ratio. When equipped with the available Max Trailering Package, which includes an integrated trailer brake controller, a GMC Sierra 1500 with the 5.3-liter can tow up to 10,800 pounds. Just know that that includes a 3.73 rear end, which can drastically affect how a truck performs, such as lowing fuel economy by as much as two to three mpg.
6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 Offers Plenty of Power Without Being Overly Thirsty at the Pumps
Optional on SLT and standard on Denali, the 420-horsepower 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 is among the most powerful half-ton powertrains in the light-duty segment. Also optional on SLT but standard on Denali, a Hydra-Matic eight-speed transmission, delivering nearly seamless shifts and improved towing capabilities, up to 12,500 pounds when equipped with the Max Trailering Package. Without, towing with the 6.2-liter drops to about 9,100 pounds. We found the 6.2-upgrade to cost around $2,400, and the eight-speed transmission, an extra $200 or so.
As for fuel economy, we’ll assume it’s on a 4WD SLT or Denali, which means you’ll get about 15 mpg in the city and 20 at highway speeds.
2017 GMC Sierra 1500: Common Problems, Safety Recalls & Crash Ratings
Repair Pal suggests the 2017 Sierra has an about-average cost to maintain compared to its rivals, at about $809 per year. Overall they give it a score of 3.5 out of five for reliability. The NHTSA received 187 registered complaints, made up of 64 related to the powertrain, 58 to the brakes, and various others. Of these, many stem from the below recalls, which are covered free of charge at your local GMC service center.
The NHTSA has Issued 5 Recalls on the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500
Here are three of the most prominent:
- In a 2019 recall, a software glitch could cause unintended braking on over 652,000 different Chevrolet and GMC models. Specifically, those equipped with the 5.3-liter V8 with a 3.08 rear end. This recall will present itself by the vehicle pulling unexpectedly to one side.
- Affecting more than 3.45 million 2014 to 2018 GM vehicles, including GMC, Cadillac, and Chevrolet, a vacuum pump can malfunction over time and lead to a loss in power brake assist. This can ultimately extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the chances of a crash.
- On over 3.64 million GM vehicles, including GMC, Buick, Sierra, Sierra HD, Chevrolet, the frontal airbags may not deploy due to a software glitch in one of the diagnostic modules. What’s more, this same issue caused the seatbelt pretensioners to fail as well, a real issue you should make sure has been resolved.
IIHS Crash Test Ratings Show the 2017 Sierra 1500 to be a Safe Used Truck
The 2017 Sierra 1500 received decent marks at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. While it wasn’t a Top Safety Pick, it did score their best rating of “Good” for overall Crashworthiness, struggling only slightly with the small overlap front: driver’s side test, LATCH ease of use, and headlights.
2017 Sierra 1500 vs. Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra & Ford F-150
You will spend more initially to get a 2017 GMC Sierra, as shown below, but it’s not so far out of line that you shouldn’t consider it, especially if comfort, reliability, and capability are important to you.
Here we put the 2017 Sierra 1500 against its key rivals, including Nissan’s Titan, Toyota’s Tundra, and Ford’s almighty F-150.
2017 Titan is a More Affordable Pickup with Less Overall Capability
We added the Titan to our list as, like the Sierra, it’s not a truck you hear about as much as say a Chevy, Ram, or Ford.
The Titan benefits from a 2016 redesign, so expect a modern experience overall. Excluding the HD XD lineup, the Titan only a comes with single engine option, but it’s a good one, a 390-horsepower 5.6-liter “Endurance” V8 with a max tow of 9,220 pounds. Yes, that’s about 3,300 pounds less than what a Sierra can handle, but at a savings of about $4,500
You’ll also burn an average of two to three more miles per gallon, depending on which Sierra engine you’re comparing it to.
To see a more detailed side-by-side comparison between these vehicles, check out this Vehicle History coverage.
2017 Tundra Topples the Sierra in Pricing but Ultimately Can’t Justify the Increase
The 2017 Tundra is one of the few pickups on this list that actually has an average sticker price higher than that of the Sierra. Why? Well, remember when we said the 2017 Sierra had 187 registered complaints with the NHTSA? The Tundra only had 47, the lowest of any in its class.
The biggest issue when putting the Titan again the Tundra, the Titan had a full redesign just a year earlier, the Tundra hasn’t since 2007. Yes, the Tundra rests on old bones, and though it’s been refined and updated along the way, there are certain components that just feel too dated, especially since it’s the most costly truck in the light-duty class.
To see a more detailed side-by-side comparison between these vehicles, check out this Vehicle History coverage.
2017 Ford F-150 vs. Sierra 1500 Mostly Comes Down to a Coin Flip
There are technically five different engine options available for the 2017 Ford F-150, even a 450-horsepower H.O. version of its 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. There are also seven different trims, from the work truck XL to the Baha-racing Raptor. If that’s what you’re wanting in your pickup, it’s tough to beat an F-150, but in few regards, the 2017 Sierra does. Though it’s not by much, the Sierra with the 6.2-liter V8 and Max Trailering Package squeezes out 12,500 pounds, an equivalent F-150, 12,200.
When comparing these two trucks, it mostly comes down to how it feels in your hands. We strongly suggest you test drive each of these models, as they’re very close competitors, even if the Ford comes in around $1,900 less than a similar Sierra.
To see a more detailed side-by-side comparison between these vehicles, check out this Vehicle History coverage.
Should You Buy a Used 2017 GMC Sierra Pickup?
When put up against the competition, at least the ones we’ve compared here, the Sierra is one of the best of the bunch. While you might be able to pick up the top-selling F-150 for a little bit less, nothing beats the scene of a freshly waxed 2017 GMC Sierra Denali.
So, should you buy a 2017 Sierra? Only at SLT and Denali trims, the rest are bested by rivals in terms of overall value for your dollar.
For a full list of specs, cab configurations, bed lengths, and more, check out the official 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 brochure from back when it was new.
Photos: GM; Nissan, Toyota; Ford