Big pickup doesn't shout 'SUV'

The American pickup truck has long evaded most of the criticism leveled at SUVs: that they are looming, threatening and -- most of all -- gas-guzzling. Solo drivers in huge pickups have been able to commute from the suburbs without triggering the resentment many people feel for similarly sized SUVs.

Today's test vehicle, the 2007 GMC Sierra 2500 HD 4WD Crew Cab SLE1, is -- perhaps literally -- the biggest example of how that came to pass.

Drive it to a soccer game, a picnic, the mall, or a supermarket, and you won't get the hateful glares that a Chevrolet Suburban might generate. That's because the Sierra, unlike an SUV, is perceived as a work truck. It may be massive, but it has a mission and a purpose. It's for someone who really needs a vehicle this imposing for work and major hauling, not for driving around town.

First, it's a diesel: a 6.6 liter turbo V-8 that is appropriate for heavy-duty detail.

Second, the Sierra's size means parking it at those games or at the supermarket can be an arduous process. Even once you have maneuvered it into a space, its length, more than 20 feet, often leaves it hanging into another space.

Which is not to say this is a bad truck. It's actually remarkably smooth and comfortable, with a six-speed automatic transmission that effortlessly handles the tough-tugging torque of 660 lb.-ft. that diesel provides. Perfect for the right job. Which is not commuting.

Of course, you pay to get the power of diesel: It's a $7,195 option on a truck with a base price of $35,580.

Toss in that automatic transmission ($1,200), leather seats ($800), a power sunroof ($795), and a "preferred package" that includes remote starting, steering wheel audio controls, upgraded wheels, and dual-zone air conditioning ($695), and it becomes a $50,000 truck.

To get inside the Sierra you need to hoist yourself over its high rocker panels. Opening the rear doors feels like opening the doors to a garden shed. To get rid of a load at the recycling center you will have to climb up into the bed -- only extremely tall people can reach over the side walls to grab anything low or placed toward the middle.

For safety, it comes with four-wheel ABS, driver and front-passenger side air bags, and tire-pressure monitoring. The ABS system is a must on this three-ton-plus rig because stopping it from a high speed is an event that must be planned. Stopping it in an emergency, even with modulation front to rear in braking, would take a steady and calm approach.

We often praise small cars for feeling big (the Audi A4 comes to mind), and big cars for feeling sporty and small (the Audi A6). There is no disconnect in driving the Sierra 2500 HD: It feels as if you have a good chunk of the world at your fingertips. But remarkably, the steering is sensitive, the handling -- with proper planning for corners and stops -- is dead-on, if bulky, and the ride is relatively quiet and smooth. The pop of the diesel is more a deep murmur, except when the engine is pushed extremely hard.

And it certainly can be pushed hard. The Sierra is capable of carrying more than a ton and a half and has a tow capacity of 9,600 pounds.

Storage space abounds, some of it in massive bins, including a dual glove box. The seats are TV-room broad and comfortable, and there is absolutely no lack of space, front or rear. Those big rear doors are back there for a reason. There's enough headroom for someone wearing a Texas 10-gallon hat, a good thing, since I suspect many of these will be sold out West.

So no, this is not a truck to take to the office. It's designed for something tougher. In fact, the HD in its name may well stand for hard and dirty.

2007 Sierra 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab SLE1
Base price/as tested: $35,580/$49,963

Fuel economy: 13.6 miles per gallon in Globe testing (diesel fuel)

Annual fuel cost: $2,800 (at $2.93 per gallon, regular, 13,000 miles per year)

That mileage may not look great, but if you're using this truck correctly, it's defensible.

Drivetrain: Four-wheel drive

Seating: Five/six occupants

Horsepower: 365 | Torque: 660 lb.-ft.

Overall length: 259 inches

Wheelbase: 167 inches

Height: 76.9 inches

Width: 80.0 inches

Curb weight: 6,169 pounds

Nice touch: Excellent dashboard layout. Everything is easy to figure out and use.

Annoyance: The height of the pickup bed's side walls. At 3 inches lower, no carrying capacity would be lost, but people under 6 feet would gain easier access.

Watch for: Diesel fuel to get cleaner and more popular. It doesn't have to be just for big haulers.

Shop it against:
Dodge Ram BR2500
Another vehicle you might not want as your daily ride, unless all you use it for is work or towing your pleasure toys. Prices start at about $30,000.

Toyota Tundra CrewMax
By far the quietest and smoothest in this group. There's room for a laptop between the seats and excellent storage space elsewhere. Expect to pay more than $40,000.

Royal Ford can be reached at ford@globe.com.