Full-size trucks are America’s workhorses, and the GMC Sierra 1500 has been putting in the work for decades. It’s offered in a wide range of configurations, with a handful of powertrain options and useful tech for each. It’s also available with a diesel engine, making it one of the more capable trucks in the class.
2026 GMC Sierra 1500 Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500
GMC introduced a pair of substantive updates for 2025, but changes for 2026 are more subtle. The truck gained two new paint colors and dropped Amazon Alexa functionality for the model year.
Design
While it’s nearly identical to the Chevrolet Silverado, the GMC Sierra is a more upscale truck, and its exterior design reflects that positioning. Some trims feature extensive chrome accents, and the off-road AT4 model has beefy styling with all-terrain tires. GMC also offers a wide range of wheel choices, depending on the trim level.
Powertrain
The Sierra 1500 is available with four powertrain options for the 2026 model year. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder, which produces 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. A 5.3-liter V8 is available, making 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, and the top gas engine is a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The available 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six produces 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, making it the tower’s choice. The four-cylinder engine pairs with an eight-speed automatic, but all others come with a 10-speed.
Interior
The Sierra 1500 seats up to six people, depending on the cab configuration. Vinyl or cloth upholstery is standard, but higher trims add synthetic or genuine leather, massaging heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, and more. All body styles offer ample interior space, with the crew cab being the most spacious.
Technology
The base Sierra 1500 Pro comes with a 7-inch touchscreen running wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but most other trims get a much larger 13.4-inch unit, which accompanies a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The larger screen comes with Google Built-In, which adds Play Store, Google Assistant, and other features. GMC’s infotainment system is relatively straightforward and easy to use, and the large display is responsive, making it less distracting while driving.
Safety
The 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 hasn’t been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It comes with a few standard driver aids, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and a rearview camera. SuperCruise, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, a surround-view camera, rear-seat alert, and other features are available.
Pricing and Release Date
As of the time of this writing, the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 starts at $40,895. The top Denali Ultimate trim is available with a crew cab and short bed only, and starts at $85,790. All models are on sale now.
