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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

GMC logo

2026 GMC Sierra 1500

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GMC logo

2006 GMC Sierra 3500

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Overview

SpecGMC Sierra 1500ProGMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
Selected trimProWork Truck
Body styleTruck (Regular Cab)Truck (Regular Cab)
Drivetrainrear wheel driverear wheel drive
Fuel typeregular unleadedregular unleaded
Transmission8-speed shiftable automatic4-speed automatic
Engine typegasgas
Model year20262006

Pricing & market

SpecGMC Sierra 1500ProGMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
MSRP$38,300$23,185 (best)
Lowest listing price$25,398 (best)—
Median listing price$59,662 (best)—
Highest listing price$90,344 (best)—
For sale now42 (best)0

Fuel economy & range

SpecGMC Sierra 1500ProGMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
Combined MPG20 MPG (best)—
City MPG18 MPG (best)—
Highway MPG21 MPG (best)—
Fuel tank24 gal34 gal (best)

Performance

SpecGMC Sierra 1500ProGMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
Horsepower310 hp (best)300 hp
Torque430 lb-ft (best)360 lb-ft
Engine size2.7 L6 L (best)
CylindersI4V8

Size & capability

SpecGMC Sierra 1500ProGMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
Seating3 seats3 seats
Doors22
Towing capacity9,000 lbs12,000 lbs (best)
Payload2,230 lbs4,658 lbs (best)
Curb weight4,440 lbs (best)4,942 lbs
Ground clearance7.9 in10.6 in (best)
Wheelbase126 in133 in (best)
Length211 in224.5 in (best)
Width81.2 in (best)79.7 in
Height75.7 in76.7 in (best)

Safety & recalls

SpecGMC Sierra 1500ProGMC Sierra 3500Work Truck
NHTSA overall5 / 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 pole5 / 5 ★ (best)—
Rollover4 / 5 ★ (best)—
Open recalls (YMM scope)2None 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.

TrimGMC Sierra 1500GMC 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

$44,200 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

$47,500 MSRP

Work Truck

$29,255 MSRP

9

Pro

$47,800 MSRP

Work Truck

$30,155 MSRP

10

SLE

$48,700 MSRP

Work Truck

$31,495 MSRP

11

SLE

$51,300 MSRP

Work Truck

$32,145 MSRP

12

SLE

$52,000 MSRP

SL1

$24,420 MSRP

13

SLE

$54,600 MSRP

SL1

$27,905 MSRP

14

SLE

$54,900 MSRP

SL1

$28,625 MSRP

15

Elevation

$50,500 MSRP

SL1

$30,130 MSRP

16

Elevation

$53,300 MSRP

SL1

$30,620 MSRP

17

Elevation

$50,800 MSRP

SL1

$27,855 MSRP

18

Elevation

$53,600 MSRP

SL1

$28,050 MSRP

19

Elevation

$53,800 MSRP

SL1

$30,690 MSRP

20

Elevation

$56,600 MSRP

SL1

$31,640 MSRP

21

Elevation

$56,900 MSRP

SL1

$32,925 MSRP

22

SLT

$55,100 MSRP

SL1

$33,640 MSRP

23

SLT

$58,200 MSRP

SLE1

$25,885 MSRP

24

SLT

$58,900 MSRP

SLE1

$29,525 MSRP

25

Denali

$66,100 MSRP

SLE1

$30,050 MSRP

26

Denali

$69,400 MSRP

SLE1

$31,640 MSRP

27

Denali

$69,900 MSRP

SLE1

$31,980 MSRP

28

AT4

$67,000 MSRP

SLE1

$29,135 MSRP

29

AT4

$67,500 MSRP

SLE1

$29,385 MSRP

30

AT4X

$79,600 MSRP

SLE1

$32,210 MSRP

31

Denali Ultimate

$84,400 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

Live inventory

GMC Sierra 150042 for sale

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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 $25,398.
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).