2020 GMC Sierra 2500HD

GMC is the segment's only HD truck maker using an independent front suspension, and it shows. The ride is compliant, and there's little chatter from the back end as well across broken roads and bumpy trails. The 2500HD is also responsive and easy to maneuver, relative to its size and heft. You're definitely driving a big truck, but GMC has done a great job at keeping what can be a brute of a truck civilized when it needs to be.

Towing is the 2500HD's specialty, and it does it with almost frightening ease, making it easy to forget you're pulling something with serious weight. Pulling out to overtake slow traffic requires little effort from the engine, even at maximum weight, and toggling the exhaust brake function helps to tax the brakes less and keep them cool in hill country. Add in GMC's ProGrade Trailering system with its 15 cameras and invisible trailer mode, and the stress evaporates out of hauling.

The AT4 trim level doesn't add a lift to the suspension and specialist tires as it does on the Sierra 1500. However, 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and a two-speed transfer case take care of traction while off-road suspension adds to the 2500HD's agility and stability in the rough stuff. The sheer length of the truck isn't ideal for treacherously bumpy ground, but the AT4 package gives the truck a whole new dimension. We spent a happy afternoon in California's badlands roaming around steep and slippery and rutted dirt tracks with the only concern being the width of the truck.

For anyone in the business of pulling or carrying large loads, the 2500HD is an excellent premium choice. While we know GMC can do better with an interior, the technology gets us over that. The 2500HD can quickly get pricey, and GMC understands that and banks on people choosing higher trims, options, and packages to get exactly what they want and need. It's a good approach as, at its base level, the 2500HD is a more than capable platform for heavy-duty use and has a strong and powerful drivetrain. Start upgrading it, and it becomes an impressive tool for any job someone could need a heavy-duty truck for before moving up to a dually. But we're not sure if it's a class leader, and while the strong diesel engine and clever trailer camera system are wonderful, we can't help feel that the Ram 2500 remains the unbeaten benchmark in the segment.

If you don't need all of the 2500HD's towing capacity, it's the smarter choice to go for a higher-spec 1500. Starting at under $30,000, the 1500 can still tow up to 12,100 pounds (6,400 lbs less than the best of the 2500HD range). The 1500 also offers a wider range of engines, starting with a 310-horsepower 2.7-liter turbo. Being the lighter truck, it's also more economical than the 2500HD. Both have spacious cabins but rather dull dashboards, but it's nice to know that the 2500HD's highlights (the transparent trailer view and the six-function MultiPro tailgate) are also available on the smaller truck. The 2500HD is the towing king here and benefits from that special 6.6-liter turbodiesel, but other than the numbers game, these are comparable trucks so choose the 1500 if your needs aren't that extreme.

These are two very closely matched trucks. Not only do they share the same underpinnings and powertrains, but even the same infotainment system. The Silverado does start at $1,200 less, however, and that's quite a difference for two trucks that are essentially the same. The biggest differences are of course the designs, and it's up to you to decide which one speaks to you more. The Sierra also has the edge for interior quality, although neither are class-leading in this respect. GMC's MultiPro tailgate is a great feature, but is it worth the $1,200 price premium? We're not so sure. Whichever truck you choose, you'll get superb towing capacities, powerful engines, and enough space for your family and their cargo.