Which is better: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?

It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.

Which costs less: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?

Based on starting MSRP, the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 starts lower at $23,185. Live GMC Sierra 1500 listings start at $498.

Which has better startingMsrp: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?

The 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (23,185).

Which has better combinedMpg: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?

The 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (23).

Which has better horsepower: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?

The 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 leads on horsepower in this comparison (420).

Which has better maxTowingLbs: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?

The 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 leads on maxTowingLbs in this comparison (13,300).

How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?

NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: GMC Sierra 1500 (5/5 NHTSA overall).

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GMC Sierra 1500 vs GMC Sierra 3500

Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.

Vehicles

2026 GMC Sierra 1500

Trim

Full research Shop inventory

2006 GMC Sierra 3500

Trim

Full research

Overview

Spec	GMC Sierra 1500Pro	GMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
Selected trim	Pro	Work Truck
Body style	Truck (Regular Cab)	Truck (Regular Cab)
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive	rear wheel drive
Fuel type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
Transmission	8-speed shiftable automatic	4-speed automatic
Engine type	gas	gas
Model year	2026	2006

Pricing & market

Spec	GMC Sierra 1500Pro	GMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
MSRP	$38,300	$23,185 (best)
Lowest listing price	$498 (best)	—
Median listing price	$59,590 (best)	—
Highest listing price	$101,562 (best)	—
For sale now	1,087 (best)	0

Fuel economy & range

Spec	GMC Sierra 1500Pro	GMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
Combined MPG	19 MPG (best)	—
City MPG	18 MPG (best)	—
Highway MPG	21 MPG (best)	—
Fuel tank	24 gal	34 gal (best)

Performance

Spec	GMC Sierra 1500Pro	GMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
Horsepower	310 hp (best)	300 hp
Torque	430 lb-ft (best)	360 lb-ft
Engine size	2.7 L	6 L (best)
Cylinders	I4	V8

Size & capability

Spec	GMC Sierra 1500Pro	GMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
Seating	3 seats	3 seats
Doors	2	2
Towing capacity	9,000 lbs	12,000 lbs (best)
Payload	2,230 lbs	4,658 lbs (best)
Curb weight	4,440 lbs (best)	4,942 lbs
Ground clearance	7.9 in	10.6 in (best)
Wheelbase	126 in	133 in (best)
Length	211 in	224.5 in (best)
Width	81.2 in (best)	79.7 in
Height	75.7 in	76.7 in (best)

Safety & recalls

Spec	GMC Sierra 1500Pro	GMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
NHTSA overall	5 / 5 ★ (best)	—
Frontal crash (driver)	5 / 5 ★ (best)	—
Frontal crash (passenger)	5 / 5 ★ (best)	—
Side crash (driver)	5 / 5 ★ (best)	—
Side crash (passenger)	Not Rated	—
Side pole	5 / 5 ★ (best)	—
Rollover	4 / 5 ★ (best)	—
Open recalls (YMM scope)	2	None reported (best)

Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.

Trim overview

All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.

Trim	GMC Sierra 1500	GMC Sierra 3500
1	Pro $38,300 MSRP(Currently comparing)	Work Truck $23,185 MSRP(Currently comparing)
2	Pro $38,500 MSRP	Work Truck $26,475 MSRP
3	Pro $41,600 MSRP	Work Truck $27,135 MSRP
4	Pro $44,000 MSRP	Work Truck $28,715 MSRP
5	Pro $42,900 MSRP	Work Truck $29,130 MSRP
6	Pro $43,100 MSRP	Work Truck $26,465 MSRP
7	Pro $44,900 MSRP	Work Truck $26,710 MSRP
8	Pro $47,300 MSRP	Work Truck $29,255 MSRP
9	Pro $47,600 MSRP	Work Truck $30,155 MSRP
10	SLE $48,700 MSRP	Work Truck $31,495 MSRP
11	SLE $51,100 MSRP	Work Truck $32,145 MSRP
12	SLE $52,000 MSRP	SL1 $24,420 MSRP
13	SLE $54,400 MSRP	SL1 $27,905 MSRP
14	SLE $54,700 MSRP	SL1 $28,625 MSRP
15	Elevation $50,500 MSRP	SL1 $30,130 MSRP
16	Elevation $53,100 MSRP	SL1 $30,620 MSRP
17	Elevation $52,300 MSRP	SL1 $27,855 MSRP
18	Elevation $53,800 MSRP	SL1 $28,050 MSRP
19	Elevation $54,900 MSRP	SL1 $30,690 MSRP
20	Elevation $56,400 MSRP	SL1 $31,640 MSRP
21	Elevation $56,700 MSRP	SL1 $32,925 MSRP
22	SLT $54,900 MSRP	SL1 $33,640 MSRP
23	SLT $58,000 MSRP	SLE1 $25,885 MSRP
24	SLT $58,700 MSRP	SLE1 $29,525 MSRP
25	Denali $65,900 MSRP	SLE1 $30,050 MSRP
26	Denali $69,200 MSRP	SLE1 $31,640 MSRP
27	Denali $69,700 MSRP	SLE1 $31,980 MSRP
28	AT4 $66,800 MSRP	SLE1 $29,135 MSRP
29	AT4 $67,300 MSRP	SLE1 $29,385 MSRP
30	AT4X $79,400 MSRP	SLE1 $32,210 MSRP
31	Denali Ultimate $84,200 MSRP	SLE1 $33,100 MSRP
32	—	SLE1 $34,325 MSRP
33	—	SLE1 $34,995 MSRP
34	—	SLE2 $31,255 MSRP
35	—	SLE2 $31,560 MSRP
36	—	SLE2 $33,530 MSRP
37	—	SLE2 $33,650 MSRP
38	—	SLE2 $33,945 MSRP
39	—	SLE2 $34,800 MSRP
40	—	SLE2 $36,215 MSRP
41	—	SLE2 $36,860 MSRP
42	—	SLT $32,735 MSRP
43	—	SLT $33,075 MSRP
44	—	SLT $35,010 MSRP
45	—	SLT $35,170 MSRP
46	—	SLT $35,425 MSRP
47	—	SLT $36,280 MSRP
48	—	SLT $37,695 MSRP
49	—	SLT $38,340 MSRP

Trim

GMC Sierra 1500

GMC Sierra 3500

Pro

$38,300 MSRP(Currently comparing)

Work Truck

$23,185 MSRP(Currently comparing)

Pro

$38,500 MSRP

Work Truck

$26,475 MSRP

Pro

$41,600 MSRP

Work Truck

$27,135 MSRP

Pro

$44,000 MSRP

Work Truck

$28,715 MSRP

Pro

$42,900 MSRP

Work Truck

$29,130 MSRP

Pro

$43,100 MSRP

Work Truck

$26,465 MSRP

Pro

$44,900 MSRP

Work Truck

$26,710 MSRP

Pro

$47,300 MSRP

Work Truck

$29,255 MSRP

Pro

$47,600 MSRP

Work Truck

$30,155 MSRP

SLE

$48,700 MSRP

Work Truck

$31,495 MSRP

SLE

$51,100 MSRP

Work Truck

$32,145 MSRP

SLE

$52,000 MSRP

SL1

$24,420 MSRP

SLE

$54,400 MSRP

SL1

$27,905 MSRP

SLE

$54,700 MSRP

SL1

$28,625 MSRP

Elevation

$50,500 MSRP

SL1

$30,130 MSRP

Elevation

$53,100 MSRP

SL1

$30,620 MSRP

Elevation

$52,300 MSRP

SL1

$27,855 MSRP

Elevation

$53,800 MSRP

SL1

$28,050 MSRP

Elevation

$54,900 MSRP

SL1

$30,690 MSRP

Elevation

$56,400 MSRP

SL1

$31,640 MSRP

Elevation

$56,700 MSRP

SL1

$32,925 MSRP

SLT

$54,900 MSRP

SL1

$33,640 MSRP

SLT

$58,000 MSRP

SLE1

$25,885 MSRP

SLT

$58,700 MSRP

SLE1

$29,525 MSRP

Denali

$65,900 MSRP

SLE1

$30,050 MSRP

Denali

$69,200 MSRP

SLE1

$31,640 MSRP

Denali

$69,700 MSRP

SLE1

$31,980 MSRP

AT4

$66,800 MSRP

SLE1

$29,135 MSRP

AT4

$67,300 MSRP

SLE1

$29,385 MSRP

AT4X

$79,400 MSRP

SLE1

$32,210 MSRP

Denali Ultimate

$84,200 MSRP

SLE1

$33,100 MSRP

—

SLE1

$34,325 MSRP

—

SLE1

$34,995 MSRP

—

SLE2

$31,255 MSRP

—

SLE2

$31,560 MSRP

—

SLE2

$33,530 MSRP

—

SLE2

$33,650 MSRP

—

SLE2

$33,945 MSRP

—

SLE2

$34,800 MSRP

—

SLE2

$36,215 MSRP

—

SLE2

$36,860 MSRP

—

SLT

$32,735 MSRP

—

SLT

$33,075 MSRP

—

SLT

$35,010 MSRP

—

SLT

$35,170 MSRP

—

SLT

$35,425 MSRP

—

SLT

$36,280 MSRP

—

SLT

$37,695 MSRP

—

SLT

$38,340 MSRP

Live inventory

GMC Sierra 15001,087 for sale

See all

GMC Sierra 1500 vs GMC Sierra 3500 FAQ

Which is better: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?: It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
Which costs less: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?: Based on starting MSRP, the 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 starts lower at $23,185. Live GMC Sierra 1500 listings start at $498.
Which has better startingMsrp: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?: The 2006 GMC Sierra 3500 leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (23,185).
Which has better combinedMpg: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?: The 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (23).
Which has better horsepower: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?: The 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 leads on horsepower in this comparison (420).
Which has better maxTowingLbs: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 or 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?: The 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 leads on maxTowingLbs in this comparison (13,300).
How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2006 GMC Sierra 3500?: NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: GMC Sierra 1500 (5/5 NHTSA overall).