2006 GMC Sierra 1500 SL2 Trim Level Overview

2006 GMC Sierra 1500 SL2 Crew Cab 4WD w/Sport Package 5.8 ft. SB

The 20-inch alloy wheels with off-road tires that come with the Sport Package add extra durability and off-road performance to the Autotrac 4WD system in the 2006 GMC Sierra 1500 SL2 Crew Cab 4WD with Sport Package. The on-demand system comes with high- and low-range gearing. Also helping out are automatic locking hubs, 8.4 inches of ground clearance, and a 285-hp, 4.8-liter V8 with 295 ft-lbs of torque. This is paired with a 4-speed automatic, though a 5-speed manual is available. A flex fuel 5.3-liter V8 is optional, along with a 4.3-liter V6, though this engine leaves the four-door pickup underpowered. A locking rear differential and skid plates can be added.

The full-size Crew Cab is a four-door pickup with a 5.8-foot bed. This shorter bed length is due to the longer cab, which features 40 inches of front and rear legroom and two rows of split-folding seats for six passengers. A folding rear armrest is an addition to the SL2, and an optional sliding rear window can be added. The cargo bed comes with tow hooks. Full power features include remote entry and heated mirrors. Rounding out the package are cruise control, a CD player, intermittent wipers, tilt and power steering, and a front power outlet. Satellite radio is an added option for the SL2.

Three and four-star safety ratings don't bode well, and the pickup comes with only dual front airbags. Front disc and rear drum brakes, 4-wheel ABS, a front stabilizer bar, and automatic headlights complete the safety profile.

2006 GMC Sierra 1500 SL2 Crew Cab 4WD 5.8 ft. SB

The on-demand 4WD system in the 2006 GMC Sierra 1500 SL2 Crew Cab 4WD is an Autotrac setup, which automatically distributes torque where needed. It features high- and low-range gear settings for off-road performance and comes with automatic locking hubs, 8.4 inches of ground clearance, and off-road tires on its 17-inch wheels. Skid plates cost extra. Power comes from a 285-hp 4.8-liter V6 that offers 295 ft-lbs of torque at 4,000 RPM, matched to a 4-speed automatic. Towing capacity is 6,400 pounds. A 5.3-liter V8 or a 4.3-liter V6 is also available, with a 5-speed manual transmission.

The SL2 Crew Cab seats six in two full-size rows which both split-fold. Forty inches of front and rear legroom are passenger-friendly, though the cargo bed is only 5.8 feet long. It comes with tow hooks and an optional trailer hitch. Upgraded cloth seats, full power features, and remote entry distinguish it from the SL1. Other standard equipment includes cruise control, a CD player, tilt and power steering, a tachometer, and intermittent wipers. Satellite radio is optional. Chrome bumpers and a chrome grille boost the star power of the Sierra.

Safety features are few, and the Sierra ranks only average in crash tests. Dual front airbags with passenger deactivation, 4-wheel ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, a front stabilizer bar, and automatic headlights are about it. Traction control and side curtain airbags are not offered. The pickup employs a short and long arm front independent and solid live axle rear suspension.

2006 GMC Sierra 1500 SL2 Crew Cab 5.8 ft. SB

The SL2 trim line for the 2006 GMC Sierra 1500 comes only in a four-door Crew Cab setup. This features four regular-size doors opening onto two rows of seats. Rear legroom increases to 39 inches instead of the 33 in the Extended models. The Crew Cab has the same wheelbase and overall length as the Extended, which means the extra interior room crops off some inches on the pickup bed, which is only 5.8 feet long. This half-ton, rear-wheel-drive pickup comes standard with a 285-hp, 4.8-liter V8 and 4-speed automatic. A 5-speed manual is optional, along with a 5.3-liter, 295-hp V8.

The 2006 GMC Sierra 1500 SL2 Crew Cab rides on 17-inch wheels with all-season tires and features 4-wheel ABS brakes, front disc and rear drum brakes, dual front airbags with passenger deactivation, and automatic headlights. A locking rear differential, traction control, and skid plates can be added. The pickup earns three and four stars in crash tests. The SL2 ups the ante of the SL1 with standard power windows, locks, and mirrors, heated mirrors, and remote entry. These join cruise control, a CD player, tilt and power steering, a front power outlet, intermittent wipers, and a tachometer. Both front and rear benches split-fold, and bucket seats are available for the front row, along with an overhead storage console and rear sliding window. Tow hooks are standard in the cargo bed, and a trailer hitch is optional. Towing capacity maxes out at 5,700 pounds. An extra option with the SL2 is satellite radio.

2006 GMC Sierra 1500 SL2 Crew Cab w/Sport Package 5.8 ft. SB

The Sport Package adds larger 20-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels to complement the chrome grille and bumpers on the GMC Sierra 1500 SL2 Crew Cab with Sport Package. This rear-wheel-drive pickup seats six in two rows, with four full-size doors and a 5.8-foot cargo bed. Rear legroom expands six inches from that in the Extended models. The truck rides on a short and long arm front and solid live axle rear suspension. Under the hood is a 4.8-liter V8 that delivers 285-hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque. It's matched to a 4-speed automatic, but a 5-speed manual can be substituted, along with a 295-hp, 5.3-liter V8 or a 195-hp, 4.3-liter V6.

The SL2 Crew Cab can tow up to 5,900 pounds and achieves 16/19 mpg. A trailer hitch is optional, but tow hooks come standard. The front disc and rear drum brakes come with 4-wheel ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution. Dual front airbags feature passenger deactivation. Automatic headlights and daytime running lights are also standard. A locking rear differential and skid plates are available add-ons. The SL2 adds heated mirrors, power windows, locks, and mirrors, remote entry, and upgraded cloth seats. Also part of the package are cruise control, a CD player, intermittent wipers, tilt and power steering, a front power outlet, and front cupholders. A sliding rear window costs extra, along with satellite radio.