I learned to first drive behind the wheel of a pickup truck. That was many decades ago and the truck I learned to drive is a distant memory when compared to the trucks on the market today.
That 1953 Ford didn’t have power windows or mirrors. The bench seat was lumpy after several years of use. The radio was AM only. The noisy engine was connected to a three-speed transmission on the column.
Today’s pickups look like luxury cars on the inside with bucket seats, audio systems, navigation and an abundance of engine choices and transmission. You can even get four-wheel drive, which was unheard of in the good old bad days.
And, today’s trucks are much bigger.
Typical of today’s offerings is the GMC Sierra. Like its cousins from Chevrolet, the Sierra is a luxury liner with a bed. The interior was vastly redesigned two years ago with optional, two-tone leather seats with heaters. The dash and other surfaces are covered with textured materials that fit together with renewed craftsmanship … something that had been missing just a few years ago.
A recent web search uncovered 21 different combinations of Sierra’s. You can get a simple, two-door truck, extended cab or four-door extended cab. There are several box sizes to choose from making sure that there’s a truck for every need.
We test drove the SLT model crew cab with all-wheel drive. The SLT package adds two-tone, heated leather seats, adjustable pedals, steering wheel audio controls, remote start, rear seat audio controls and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The SLT options also included 18-inch wheels, rear parking assist and even heated windshield fluid. The bottom line was $44,755, which is at least 10 times more than that old ’53 cost.
Legroom in the back seat is ample, even for adults. The bench seat is split 60/40 and can be folded forward for additional storage inside the cabin when needed.
The powerful 5.3-liter, V8 offers 315 horsepower with decent fuel mileage figures of 14 around town and 19 on the highway. GM’s fuel management system helps keep the V8 from gulping gas at every turn. The four-speed automatic transmission is standard on most Sierras although the top-of-the-line Denali can be had with a new, six-speed automatic.
The four-wheel drive suspension is a bit stiff on the highway, but works like a charm with a load in the bed or a trailer behind. Switching from two-wheel or four-wheel is as simple as flipping a dial on the dash.
Yes, today’s pickups are a far cry from yesteryear and that’s a good thing. The GMC Sierra is a great example of the technological and comfort improvements through the years.

Ryan’s Ride –
Pickups have come a long ways through the years. They used to be used mainly by farmers and construction workers. Today, they are urban limos.
The trucks of today have grown in every dimension. The race to be bigger and better has created a lot of competition from GM, Ford, Dodge and recently Nissan and Toyota. And, because the trucks have gotten bigger, the race to create fuel-efficient power plants has taken a new turn as well. A hybrid engine version is due for 2009 in the Sierra.
The Sierra we tested was very well equipped. The gauges and center controls were typical GM issue and very familiar. The driver information center is especially nice to get feedback from the truck on a variety of subjects.
I especially like the remote start feature. On these recent cold mornings, it was nice to start the truck from inside the house before venturing out.
The beefy engine is the largest offered in the Sierra and provides plenty of power for the heavy truck.
I did find the ride a little bumpy, which felt like riding on flat-spotted tires at times, especially when braking. It might have just been the nature of the tires. But it was consistently there on several different types of road surfaces.
The tailgate opens and closes easily and has a locking feature, which seems superfluous unless you have a camper shell. But the tailgate does make it easy to load cargo.
The Ford F-150 has been the sales leader for decades, but the competition is getting closer. And the Sierra is closing fast.

Marilyn’s Moment –
I’ve said this before, but I like pickups. I used to drive a Chevy Silverado for years. There’s just something about sitting up higher than in a car. The intimidation factor isn’t bad either.
While the Sierra is a big, big truck, it handled just fine. I had to pick my parking spots at times. The backup warning system is nice when you’re in tight quarters.
The interior of the Sierra is very nice. The brown and cream leather seats are very striking. The huge storage box in the center console can hold all kinds of things. There are two cupholders in front of the box along with a couple of other smaller storage areas, plus pockets in the doors.
The adjustable pedals and power driver’s seat, plus the tilt steering wheel, give you plenty of options for finding a perfect driving position.
As Ryan noted, the tailgate does open and close easily. But, because this is such a big truck, it was a little high for me to load anything in the back. That’s where the rear seating area came in handy.
There’s a lot to like about pickups and a lot to like about the Sierra. I might choose it over many of the automobiles we’ve tested.