Swipe to the left
Blog Posts
Jan 23, 2019
First Look – 2020 GMC Sierra HD Revealed in San Diego
Towing Capacity “Well in Excess of 30,000 Pounds”
GMC showed off the 2020 Sierra HD at a private event in San Diego today, and we got a sneak peek at the truck that will hopefully go toe to toe with the Ford F-Series Super Duty and Ram Heavy Duty when it goes on sale at the end of summer 2019. As always, the Sierra HD will be available in 3/4-ton 2500 and 1-ton 3500 grades, the latter of which offered in single-rear-wheel and dual-rear-wheel configurations.
Heavy Hitter
“Trailering is the most important consideration for Sierra HD customers, and the new features and technologies in the 2020 Sierra HD make it easier than ever to hitch a trailer and tow it confidently,” said Jaclyn McQuaid, vehicle chief engineer of GM’s Heavy Duty Truck division. Putting GMC's money where McQuaid's mouth is, the GMC Sierra HD team organized a little surprise for the truck's reveal, tasking it with towing a 225,000-pound yacht-and-hoist combo across the stage.While it would be illegal and stupid to attempt to tow that much in the real world, GMC would admit that it is targeting an overall towing capacity “in excess of 30,000 pounds,” a significant improvement over the current truck’s 23,300-pound max (official numbers have yet to be announced). Aiding that heavy-hauling capability is a 6.6L Duramax turbodiesel V-8, the same L5P unit as the current Sierra HD. Like its predecessor, the 2020 Sierra HD’s Duramax engine will produce 445 hp and 910 lb-ft. In the 2020 Sierra HD, the L5P will be matched with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, a gearbox codeveloped by GM and the legendary transmission company.
Furthermore, the Sierra HD will be available with an expanded version of GMC’s ProGrade Trailering System. Part of that suite of technologies is an expansive 15-view camera system, which includes an innovative invisible-trailer view that creates a composite image from the truck’s tailgate-mounted camera and an accessory camera remote-mounted to the trailer. This feature allows the Sierra HD driver to better see around obstacles when reversing or maneuvering through tight spaces.
The Sierra HD will also be compatible with iN∙Command, an electronics integration system for compatible trailers. Depending on the trailer’s featureset, iN∙Command—which will be accessible from the truck owner’s myGMC phone app—can pre-cool the camper interior, turn on the water heater, check water levels, or monitor the generator’s fuel level. We think iN∙Command integration in the myGMC app is a useful idea, as it would give recreation enthusiasts more control and comfort while vacationing.
As on the Sierra 1500, the ProGrade Trailering System also includes trailer tire pressure and temperature monitoring, light testing, trailer electrical diagnostics, and a pre-departure checklist. These help take some of the guesswork out of trailering, ensuring every hitched haul is safe and ready for a long trip. Predictably, trailer sway control is standard, and the Sierra HD incorporates an automatic exhaust brake and grade-braking technology to maintain the integrity of the truck’s service brakes on long downhill stretches.
The 2020 Sierra HD scales up the Sierra 1500’s styling appropriately, but styling forward of the A-pillar and aft of the C-pillar is unique to the bigger truck. It keeps LED “light blades” for the daytime running lamps, and LEDs fire the headlights and taillights, as well as available foglights. Those headlamps bookend a notched grille with a large center cutout for the Duramax V-8’s cold-air intake. The grille itself is much larger than before, and although the front view is imposing, it’s much more cohesive and, to this editor’s eye at least, attractive than the similarly bold Chevrolet Silverado HD.
The cab is shared with the Sierra 1500, which means a larger interior with a taller seating position than before. The Sierra HD is available with the same 15-inch–diagonal heads-up dispaly projected on the windshield in front of the driver, and the latest iteration of GMC IntelliLink is available. Overall, the interior should be very comfortable, though we’re still disappointed with its plastic-heavy, dated design.
Torque Dirty to Me
In addition to the SLE, SLT, and Denali grades, the Sierra HD will get its first taste of the AT4 treatment. As on the smaller Sierra, the HD AT4 will include a lifted off-road suspension, Rancho shocks, more extensive skid plating, and an inclinometer feature for the heads-up display. There’s also a specific off-road mode for the Traction Select System and a low-speed HD camera system to aid in path selection on rocky trails.Coming Soon to a Dealer Near You
Expect more information on the 2020 GMC Sierra HD, including an all-new gas powertrain and additional capability details, within the next few months. The new truck is expected to hit dealers by the end of the summer, built in Flint, Michigan, thanks to a $1.5 billion investment at GM’s Flint Assembly.
