Upping the plush factor considerably in the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 cast of characters is the SLE trim level. This 3- to 6-passenger full-size half-ton pickup comes in Regular cab, Extended cab and Crew cab variations, as well as offering either the standard 6.6-foot standard bed or the 8.2-foot long bed with Regular and Extended cabs, or the 5.8-foot short bed in Crew cab editions.
Though rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard in the SLE trim level, Autotrac on-demand 4-wheel drive is, of course, available. The Autotrac 4WD system includes electronic hi-lo gear selection and auto-locking hubs, as well as a driver-selectable automatic setting that will instantly and automatically transfer power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip.
Standard appearance features and creature comforts, meantime, include 17-inch alloy wheels, premium cloth upholstery, leather and simulated alloy cabin accents, and remote engine start, just for starters. Then there are the standard power accessories, like remote power door locks, windows and heated outside mirrors, as well as cruise control, tilt-wheel steering and air conditioning. Of course, OnStar Directions & Connections service, along with its emergency communication and alert feature, is also standard.
Standard audio, meanwhile, consists of a single-CD player with 4 speakers in Regular cab versions or 6 speakers in Extended and Crew cabs, as well as satellite radio and an auxiliary MP3 input.
Options run the gamut from the Z-71 Off-Road Package, with skid plates and heavy-duty shocks and springs (4WD only), to upgraded and up-sized wheels with all-terrain tires. A power-adjustable driver’s seat is also available, as are upgraded audio, a rear locking differential, up-sized rear axle ratios, chrome side-steps, cargo management equipment, exterior chrome upgrades and an integrated trailer brake controller.
Standard power for Jimmy’s 2012 Sierra 1500 SLE, in all but those editions carrying the 8.2-foot long bed, is the variable-valve-timed (VVT) 4.8-liter Flex Fuel (FFV) V8 engine. Combined with the standard 4-speed automatic transmission, the baby V8 puts out 302 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque to the tune of 14 mpg city/19 highway in RWD configuration, and 13/18 in 4WD editions. Towing, finally, is maxed out at 7,200 pounds when properly equipped.
Standard on Extended cab SLEs in the long-bed configuration, and available to all other setups, is the eminently capable FFV 5.3-liter VVT V8 powerplant and 6-speed shiftable automatic that combine for 315 hp and 355 lb-ft of torque. Expect 9,100 pounds of towing capacity from the properly equipped RWD SLE with the larger V8, while mileage is estimated at 15/21 in both RWD and AWD configurations.
Safety-wise, the 2012 Sierra 1500 SLE sports standard 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front side mounted airbags and front (and in Extended and Crew cabs, rear) head airbags. Daytime running lights, a post-collision safety system and a remote antitheft alarm also come standard aboard this snazzy pickup.
