'25 Sierra 1500 SLT 1,300 mi Rental

[Lead Foot PowerBoost]

I was happy to get the chance to get a direct competitor to my 14th gen F-150 for comparison. I've driven other pickups briefly before but this was a chance to live with a direct competitor for a week. Only thing is, it wasn't in my usual daily routine which would've been an ideal apples to apples comparison. Instead, it was on the family's summer vacation to Moab and Utah's national parks. It had 7,600 miles when we picked it up.

Here's what I like better about the Sierra, which was in SLT (mid-level) trim with the 5.3L V8, compared to my F-150 Lariat PowerBoost:

• Heavier steering and stiffer pedals give it a more car-like feel during suburban and highway driving.
• No vibration in pedals, smooth acceleration.
• Integrated Google Maps (though it didn't appear to give speed limits).
• The mileage was surprisingly good for a 4WD V8 truck. I averaged around 22 mpg over 1,300 miles. Some was pure highway (to and from SLC airport), while some was local, up and down mountain passes, etc. Very surprising given the Sierra's EPA ratings are 15/17/19.

Here's what seems about the same as my F-150:

• The ride seemed about the same to me. I see some magazine reviews seem to prefer the GM's ride and others don't like it.

Here's what I didn't like about the Sierra compared to my truck:

• Heavier steering and stiffer pedals, conversely, make it more of a chore to drive in parking lots or other tight spaces (like my Mazda6).
• The 5.3L's power is noticeably down compared to the PowerBoost's (no surprise there). Where my F-150 passes with little effort, I had to floor and redline the 5.3L.
• The engine tends to drone on the highway with any kind of load on it, which then disappears completely while coasting or going downhill. Got old after a few hours.
• Seats are much stiffer than the Ford's which I've seen complaints about before. Though I have to admit after 5 hours of driving I was not in any pain or discomfort.
• The infotainment screen is seriously laggy. Would routinely take 1-2 seconds to respond to my touch.
• This $59k SLT didn't even have blind spot monitoring standard. Even the base STX F-150 comes with that. Nor did it have adaptive cruise control. It had lane keeping but it didn't seem to do much. Not nearly as good as the F-150's.
• This $59k truck also didn't have a sliding rear window.
• Very hard to find GM's with sunroofs (doesn't even offer a panoramic moonroof) which is a must-have for me.
• The hood seems higher so the visibility out front seems worse.

Here are a couple of pics.

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[JumboJVT]

No GM fan, but can't help but ask: Why does a sliding rear window matter? Just to suck shit from the bed into the cab? Love to be able to get an 302A without it and the attendant leak liability (had 5 pickups with 'em, only one ever opened). And a moonroof/sunroof? History says they are nothing but a long-term liability. Never understood why anyone would want the sun in their eyes (I get in the truck to get out of the sun Glad to see your unbiased reveiw of the funtional parts of the GM, but these two items don't warrant mention in my opinion. As far as the sticker price vs. equipment, have you looked at current F150 prices? They arent' the same as '21. In the shopping I've been doing, equally equipped OTD prices are damned close. A 6.2 GM will give your PB a run, and sound way better doing it...the only GM powerplant I'd consider.

 

[Lead Foot PowerBoost]

No GM fan, but can't help but ask: Why does a sliding rear window matter? Just to suck shit from the bed into the cab?

I find the open rear window really helps smoothing out the air flow through the cabin with the front windows and/or sunroof open. I drive with the windows open and natural ventilation whenever it's between around 65 and 78.

And a moonroof/sunroof? History says they are nothing but a long-term liability. Never understood why anyone would want the sun in their eyes (I get in the truck to get out of the sun

A sunroof is a must-have for me, especially a panoramic one. I have it open whenever possible and I like the airy feeling it gives a car cabin. Seems bigger inside wiht the shade open. I drive the majority of the time in the mornings or late afternoons when the sun is low enough in the sky that it's not distracting. It's simple enough to close the shade when I'm driving in the mid-day.

As far as the sticker price vs. equipment, have you looked at current F150 prices? They arent' the same as '21. In the shopping I've been doing, equally equipped OTD prices are damned close.

Yes. A F-150 STX stickers for $48k and comes standard with blind spot monitoring. A Sierra SLT stickers for $60k and does not include it.

A 6.2 GM will give your PB a run, and sound way better doing it...the only GM powerplant I'd consider.

You're assuming I only care about performance but I will say no thank you sir to the 36% hit to fuel economy.

 

[Truckguy24]

Just prove the case a little bit more. A lot of people never have looked at the XL and look what a 2024 and newer F-150 even includes via Fords order guide.

I bought my 2024 F-150 101A once I realized it was pretty much an XLT of prior generations.

- Standard blind spot monitoring ( I don't use this but I know it's important to some)
- Lane keep assist standard (shut it off but I know it's important to some people)
- Heated mirrors standard
- LED headlights standard with auto high beams standard
- 12-in screen with phone connectivity standard
- Customizable digital dash standard
- Standard factory class IV hitch that is now set up like a trailer tow package unlike prior generations.
-36 gallon tank standard on many f150s now

Among all the other items that the 2024 and newer f-150s include. Really makes it apparent how much Ford has put into the these trucks including the lowest of the low like what I have.

I think all the trucks have their pros and cons, but I felt that the F-150 especially on the XL and STX, have an unbelievable amount of standard features and the ability to put just about any powertrain you want on them makes it even more special versus some of the competition.

Good writeup!

 

[JCsTruck]

Good writeup and good commentary in this thread. Goes to show you that options like sunroof and rear sliding window are subjective. I had a truck with a rear sliding window and rarely used it. Most of the time I used it to break into it when I locked my keys in the truck ?. Also, fog lights, never used. Our Kia Telluride has a sunroof which is a must have for my wife but I don’t particularly like it myself and never open it.

For me, when it comes to trucks or any vehicle really, I value a high qaulity drivetrain and value interior comfort also. I like that Ford builds these trucks with aluminum bodywork that saves up to 700 lbs of weight over a comparable steel bodied truck. I also like all the great and high tech powertrain options Ford offers, and when it comes to V8’s, the 5.0 liter V8 is second to none now with DOHC, 32v, VVT, Direct injection and Port fuel injection. 400 HP and Mustang inspired 7,000 RPM redline, Ahh yeah!

 

[JumboJVT]

I find the open rear window really helps smoothing out the air flow through the cabin with the front windows and/or sunroof open. I drive with the windows open and natural ventilation whenever it's between around 65 and 78.



A sunroof is a must-have for me, especially a panoramic one. I have it open whenever possible and I like the airy feeling it gives a car cabin. Seems bigger inside wiht the shade open. I drive the majority of the time in the mornings or late afternoons when the sun is low enough in the sky that it's not distracting. It's simple enough to close the shade when I'm driving in the mid-day.



Yes. A F-150 STX stickers for $48k and comes standard with blind spot monitoring. A Sierra SLT stickers for $60k and does not include it.



You're assuming I only care about performance but I will say no thank you sir to the 36% hit to fuel economy.

Like to know where your coming up with an STX with a V8, 4WD and Tow/Haul for $48K? Ford says $56K and it has no rear window. An SLE with the 5.3, Max Trailer package is, you guessed it $56K. And $1200 will buy you a rear window, trailering app and adaptive cruise. Can't get the window on the STX apparently. And most importantly, an STX can't be had with a 6-1/2' bed, so whats the point? ? I'll stand by what I said: equally equipped, you can cover the price difference between the Ford and GM products with your hat. OTD is what matters anyway, not the sticker.


As to the rear window, I'll guess you have a tonneau cover and seldom use the truck to move material? Stuff coming in the back wouldn't be a problem then. But again, its a leak liability over time. On the same note, I'm not opposed to a sunroof in theory. But there is no escaping the liability they pose. History is a stern master. Local dealer has a '24 303A that they have a very attractive price on. Salesman said everybody balks at the roof. We have weather year around in New England.

I'm definiely an outlier. I'll trade shiny baubles for reliability and durability (thereby limiting future costs to keep the features I paid for on the front end operational over the long haul) any and every day of the week. I drive 20K miles a year and have never felt wanting of any of the new gadgets, like BSM, adaptive cruise, brake assist, etc.

 

[eharri3]

I like the rear slider and moonroof. When I had my 09 Tundra and was shopping I saw the panoramic moonroofs expand to pickups and decided I had to have one. Held out for one on my 2021 XLT and don't regret it. It is open pretty much every time the weather is appropriate for it.

Rear slider is also nice. For days when it's not oppressively hot it's nice to open both plus most of the windows and get very comfortable airflow in the truck. This is on surface streets, not usually highway speeds where the bed vortex will push everything through the back window. Every truck I've ever owned has had a rear slider. 2 manual, 2 automatic. I regret that my f series just has the tiny square and miss the one piece slider in my Gen2 Tundra.

The only GM truck I was ever interested in was the 6.2 and I came close because they're less expensive than comparable Fords and Rams and I've always been a big fan of the motor. I got over not getting a 6.2 when I found out the Powerboost is close to 600 lbs of torque and offers the option to run on regular.

Next Gen Silverado is already being field tested under camo and they're keeping a V8 option so should be interesting to see what that looks like. Hemi is back, 5.0 still around. If they want it to be competitive they probably need a version with at least 400hp and 400-plus pounds of torque on 87. The 5.3 ain't even close to cutting it anymore. If they won't do 400 AND 400-plus ON 87 I'm not sure why they don't just drop in a TT V6.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Few weeks ago at a rental for a few days. It was a Dodge ram, a 24. I don’t remember the trim level, but it was comparable to an XLT, which is what I have.

The ride was nice since it was a coil spring rear end. Handling steering breaking was sluggish. It was a V-6. I didn’t beat on it, but it had acceptable acceleration for what it was.

The seats were kinda weird Ashlea I was weird. The turn knob shifter was something I completely despised.

Makes me happy to be in my F150. Couple the previous comments mentioned a rear slider window. I love mine.
As far as a moon roof/sunroof, I would’ve known another vehicle with one. Had one in Georgia & Florida hated it.

 

[Lead Foot PowerBoost]

Like to know where your coming up with an STX with a V8, 4WD and Tow/Haul for $48K? Ford says $56K and it has no rear window. An SLE with the 5.3, Max Trailer package is, you guessed it $56K.

I was merely saying that Ford's entry level trim includes this basic safety and convenience feature whereas GMC's mid-level trim does not.

 

[ttnuagmada]

I was able to make this same comparison here recently, was in pretty much the exact same year/model of sierra for a week while my f150 was in the shop.

I agree with pretty much everything you said, though a couple of points I'll add

What I liked about the GMC: Transmission. I didn't even think about the transmission or what it was doing when I had it. That included driving around in Dallas traffic. The truck just always seemed like it knew what gear to be in, and just never made a fuss about anything.

What I didn't like: I have an XLT, but I still thought this SLT interior with leather had a cheap feel to it. It looks pretty good in pictures, but there's something about it that just has a cheap feel to it compared to my XLT. I like the overall layout of the F150 better too.


This is definitely a driver preference thing, but I missed having Auto-Hold too. It took me a couple of days to get used to having to keep my foot on the brake.

 

[gagliano7]

I find the open rear window really helps smoothing out the air flow through the cabin with the front windows and/or sunroof open. I drive with the windows open and natural ventilation whenever it's between around 65 and 78.



A sunroof is a must-have for me, especially a panoramic one. I have it open whenever possible and I like the airy feeling it gives a car cabin. Seems bigger inside wiht the shade open. I drive the majority of the time in the mornings or late afternoons when the sun is low enough in the sky that it's not distracting. It's simple enough to close the shade when I'm driving in the mid-day.



Yes. A F-150 STX stickers for $48k and comes standard with blind spot monitoring. A Sierra SLT stickers for $60k and does not include it.



You're assuming I only care about performance but I will say no thank you sir to the 36% hit to fuel economy.

I had a 2018 GMC Sierra 6.2 before my 2023 5.0. I drive the same way to work with both trucks. The Sierra did 1 mpg better than my 5.0. My drive is a lot of up and down hills.

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