For decades, the Sierra has been the top name in bold performance, comfortable luxury, and innovative features in trucks. With the 2025 GMC Sierra 2500 HD, it is clear that this is not about to change any time soon since we have a pickup that is powerful and sophisticated, delivering everything we want in a work truck like this.
The GMC Sierra series includes a number of impressive options, but the Sierra 2500 sits right in the middle, giving you power and capabilities beyond what you can find with the Sierra 1500 while also keeping a stunning number of options available for you. This combination comes together beautifully to create a pickup that is ideal in a wide range of situations, with refined features and unbridled muscle that lets you handle anything life throws at you.
First and foremost, this is a powerful pickup that is ready to help you get some serious work done, no matter what that looks like for you. There are two engines available: a 401-hp 6.6L V8 gas engine or a 470-hp Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8 to up your game to another level. You cannot go wrong with either of these and they are both designed to work hard, with a 10-speed automatic transmission that ensures you have a responsive driving experience every time you get behind the wheel. Best of all, the capability of this pickup is exceptional, with up to 3,850 lbs of payload capacity and 22,500 lbs of maximum towing when properly equipped, ensuring you can take everything you need with you.
There are plenty of hard-working trucks out there for you to choose from, but what sets the GMC Sierra 2500 apart is that it also has surprising refinement and innovative luxury features for you to enjoy. You will find this in just about any Sierra 2500 trim, but the Denali and Denali Ultimate take this to another level entirely with features like heated and ventilated front seats, a Bose premium sound system, and even massaging seats in the Denali Ultimate. If you need a comfortable work truck that can also take you anywhere you can imagine, then check out the AT4 and AT4X off-road trims to find specially-tuned off-road suspensions, protective skid plates, and much more.
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Although the engine is important in any type of vehicle, a powerful engine is absolutely vital in a full-size truck. While the Sierra 1500 has a number of terrific engines on offer, if you are looking at something like the 2025 GMC Sierra 2500, then you likely want even more muscle and enhanced power in your pickup. Fortunately, GMC understands this, and you can see it as soon as you look at what is on offer for the Sierra 2500. You have two different engines to choose from, and they both deliver impressive power and performance to ensure you have a great time on the road and plenty of muscle to tackle anything you need.
The standard engine for the GMC Sierra 2500 is a 6.6L V8 gas engine, which delivers 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque, giving you a tremendous amount of power. This comes paired with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring you get a smooth drive that is easy to control and that responds immediately to changing road conditions; it can even downshift automatically when going downhill to enable engine braking, reducing wear on your brakes. This is the only option for a standard gas engine on the Sierra 2500, but it is more than enough to meet pretty much any need.
If you prefer a diesel in your hard-working truck, then GMC has you covered with an available 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8. This beast delivers 470 hp and a massive 975 lb-ft of torque, giving you fantastic power to get any job done; it also comes paired with the Allison 10-speed automatic. If you plan on using an accessory or upfit for your truck that needs power from the engine, then you should consider the Sierra 2500's Pro or SLE trims, as both have an available version of the Turbo-Diesel engine with an integrated power take-off to make such a setup even easier. With these two options, you have a choice of amazing engines that can deliver the right power to tackle anything you throw at your truck.
Any vehicle can get you from point A to point B, and you can have a good time along the way. A truck is about much more, however, giving you enhanced performance and capabilities to not only get yourself and passengers where you need to go but also everything else you want to bring along with you. Whether you are looking for a work truck to haul a bunch of lumber or other supplies to a job site or you want a pickup for taking your boat to the lake for the weekend, the GMC Sierra 2500 is up to the task. Your choice of engine and other options impacts the kind of capabilities you get with this truck, however, so keep that in mind when choosing the right model.
When it comes to payload, it is worth noting that you have two different bed lengths available with this pickup. You can choose between a standard bed that is nearly seven feet long and has almost 70 cu.ft. of cargo space for you to utilize or a long bed that is more than eight feet long, with more than 83 cu.ft. of cargo space. If you choose the standard gas engine for the 2025 GMC Sierra 2500, then you can get just over 3,700 lbs of payload. Going with the available diesel engine ups that slightly to 3,850 lbs of maximum payload capacity—not a huge difference, but worth keeping in mind.
The towing capacity of this truck also depends on the engine you choose, and the difference is quite a bit more dramatic. If you go with the standard gas engine, then the Sierra 2500 offers up to 18,700 lbs of maximum towing capacity. The diesel engine boosts that quite a bit to 22,500 lbs of max tow rating; a difference of nearly 4,000 lbs is nothing to overlook. This is why it is so important that you take some time to understand exactly how much weight you need to pull behind your truck on a regular basis and choose the right engine to handle it.
One of the best things about GMC trucks is that you not only get impressive power and capabilities, but also a pickup that is incredibly comfortable and functional. The 2025 Sierra 2500 has numerous trim levels for you to choose from, letting you get features that work right for what you need.
If you want a truck to take off-road, for example, then the AT4 trim gives you an off-road suspension, skid plates to protect your underside, and Hill Descent Control to make it easier to go down steep inclines. You can take things even further with the remarkable AT4X trim, featuring a special off-road suspension with a 1.5-inch factory lift and Multimatic DSSV dampers, a driver-selectable e-locking rear differential, and even a head-up display. You can also choose the exclusive AT4X AEV Edition to get stamped-steel front and rear bumpers, stamped-steel skid plates, and more.
If comfort and convenience are most important to you, then you should check out the Denali and Denali Ultimate trims. The Denali features a 13.4-inch infotainment display, a 12.3-inch Driver Information Center screen, 20-inch Ultra Bright machined aluminum wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, a seven-speaker Bose Premium sound system, a wireless charging pad, and more. Going even further, the Denali Ultimate trim comes with a 12-speaker Bose Premium Series sound system, 16-way power front seats with massage functionality, and a 15-inch multi-color head-up display for an enhanced driving experience every time you hit the road.