2015 GMC Sierra 1500

Talking about the Regular Cab, there are not many options to choose from. There are only two available trims: the Base trim and the SLE trim. The base trim comes at $27,020, while the SLE is priced at $33,945. While the base trim remains more of a bare-bones workhorse truck with necessary safety features and amenities, the SLE adds a few more technology inside the truck, but it remains more of a workhorse rather than a family vehicle.

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Even though the truck has a lot of configurations and trims to offer, that is not the case with the Regular Cab model. Between base and SLE trim, the SLE is the trim to go for as it comes with more tech and slightly better infotainment features than the base trim. The base trim is more focused on being a work truck and can be used for more commercial purposes rather than personal use.

The standard engine in the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 is a 4.3L V6 engine, which is a new engine and produces 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque, making it capable of towing up to 7,600 pounds. The engine might not be able to compete with the powerful V8 engine but comes with its own perks. It is responsive and agile, giving the truck enough performance to perform overtakes on the highway with ease. It also sounds good, although it lacks the burble of the V8.

With the available function of cylinder deactivation, it also offers better fuel economy than the V8, making it the best choice if you are not used to towing heavy stuff daily. Pickup trucks are not your everyday speed machines, so the 0-60 times remain slow, taking 7.3 seconds to reach 60 MPH, which for the segment is an average time. The standard drivetrain is RWD, while there is an option for 4WD, which can be had right from the base model.

The RAM has the most power on offer but offers less torque. The better torque figure in the GM cousins makes up for better towing capacity. Ford is the fastest to 60, but RAM with more power has the highest top speed. All the trucks in the competition offer a V6 in their base configuration where GMC takes the top spot for being the most expensive option.

Both GMC and Chevrolet are owned by the same parent company General Motors, hence the Sierra and Silverado share the same engine and also return identical fuel economy figures. While the bigger V8 engine offers less mileage, the V6 engine with less power and the feature to deactivate its cylinder, turning it into a V4, further improves the fuel economy. EPA estimates that the V6 powertrain will return 18 MPG in the city, 24 MPG on the highway, and a combined figure of 20 MPG with the standard RWD drivetrain. The 4WD system makes the figures dip slightly with a reduction of 1 MPG in the city and combined driving conditions, while on the highway the figure dips by 2 MPG.

The GM twins with the cylinder deactivation function offer better fuel economy. The RAM 1500 offers better fuel efficiency on the highway, which makes the ideal truck for longer journeys, while the Ford F-150 offers the least mileage overall. Since all the trucks in the competition come with the same fuel tank capacity along with similar fuel economy, the overall range of the rivals also stands close to each other. 

The truck got to see major changes to the interior for the 2014 model, giving it a slightly upscale and more refined look. This has been carried over for the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab with slightly more standard tech added. The Regular Cab models do not offer a top-class luxurious interior, but it does not feel like a cheap shed inside. It comes with cloth upholstery, and the seats come with thick cushioning which makes long drives in the truck fatigue-free. Also, the added tech makes the cabin feel more upscale than a few other trucks for the same price range.

Ford has the biggest bed on offer, thus allowing for more storage space, but with these pickup trucks, you have no issues moving stuff around. The GM twins come with the biggest cabins, which makes them the most comfortable and spacious out of all the trucks here. Ram stands as the least practical option as it offers the smallest cargo bed in the competition at 57.5 cubic feet. That said, some of the key interior features are:

• Cloth-upholstery
• Single zone front air conditioning
• Front cupholders
• Trip computer
• Front reading lights

How intuitive is the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab’s infotainment unit?

The base trim comes with a pretty basic infotainment system that consists of a 4-inch color display joined to a 4-speaker sound system with music playback capability via AM/FM, USB, and an auxiliary port. The SLE trim sees a much-needed upgrade and comes with an 8-inch display and a six-speaker sound system. The available features that come with this system also get bigger, with the inclusion of features like:

• CD Player
• Voice control functionality
• Pandora Radio
• Satellite radio
• 4G LTE WiFi hotspot
• IntelliLink infotainment system

The 2014 GMC Sierra saw a much-needed change in design, and this change made the already bolder-looking truck beefier and modern at the same time. The squared-off chunky fenders and a big chrome grille upfront keep up the bold and heavy look of the truck, while it uses LED lights and projectors, which give it a modern and upscale look, making it a better-looking truck than its Chevy cousin, the Silverado.

Ford is the heaviest, which explains the low MPG, as weight affects the gas mileage. Chevy is the lightest, and RAM and GMC are almost identical in terms of weight and other dimensions, whereas, Ford is quite long and wide, which makes it harder to drive around in busy city streets. The relatively shorter wheelbase of the GMC aids in driving around the city and also helps in good handling dynamics for a truck. That said, some of the key exterior features include:

• Single tip exhaust
• All-terrain tires
• 17-inch alloys (SLE trim)
• Black bumpers

The improved design not only offers good looks but also has a stiffer structure and stronger body panels. NHTSA has not yet fully tested the truck, but still, the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab gets a full five-star rating from NHTSA. The IIHS has not tested the Regular Cab, but the Crew Cab has been put through a few of the tests that IIHS conducted, where it managed to score the top rating of ‘Good.’ Every model of Sierra comes with standard safety features like airbags, stability control, and the StabiliTrak setup for trailer sway control. Traction control and ABS are also standard features on the 2015 Sierra. Other features which are optional on the base trim but come as standard in the rest of the trims include features like:

• Rearview camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Lane Departure warning
• Safety-alert seats
• Forward-collision alert system

If you are looking for a neatly equipped pickup truck that you can take to your work as well as use as your personal use, then the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab is a truck you can surely go for. It comes with more standard tech than what was offered in the previous year’s model, and also offers more fuel economy than before. All in all, the SLE trim will let you do all your work while keeping you entertained and comfortable inside the cabin.