I don’t normally give a shit about how a lot a automotive weighs. So long as it’s not some low-slung sports activities automotive it actually isn’t one thing I put a whole lot of thought into, however generally it’s simply unimaginable to disregard. That’s the place I’m with the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali. Usually, I wouldn’t care that its curb weight is 8,987 kilos, however it’s simply inescapable on this huge electrical pickup truck, to the Sierra’s detriment.
There’s a whole lot of stuff the Sierra EV Denali has going for it: Intelligent packaging, a class-leading vary, an almost value applicable inside and stable tech. However its driving expertise is downright disappointing, and a whole lot of that has to do with how goddamn heavy it’s, amongst different issues. Plenty of engineering has to enter making a automobile this heavy even vaguely OK to drive, however generally the legal guidelines of physics are simply an excessive amount of to beat.
Full Disclosure: GMC flew me out to Northern California, fed me and put me up in a really good lodge so I may drive the 2025 Sierra EV Denali.
I wouldn’t normally begin off a pickup overview by discussing the way it drives, however the 2025 Sierra EV Denali’s driving dynamics are tough sufficient that I have to get to it proper off the bat. It’s simply merely not adequate for the $100,495 price ticket this truck instructions.Proper now, the one means you get a Sierra EV is in Denali spec with a large 205-kWh battery pack. There’s a smaller battery coming later, however I didn’t drive that so it’s not my enterprise. The twin-motor setup pumps out 760 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque, and it has 460 miles of vary in line with GMC, which I think will show to be appropriate in the true world. It’s sufficient juice to get the 9,000-pound behemoth from 0-to-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, which is respectable, however what isn’t respectable is the way in which the truck dispatches that energy.
In Max Energy Mode, which is used for arduous acceleration on the push of a button on the display screen, the truck will rocket off the road, however its mixture of suspension that’s too gentle, tires which can be too skinny and rear-wheel steer, it feels extremely unstable. The steering wheel is reasonably numb, and also you get rapidly overwhelmed by it tugging backward and forward as a result of it goes too mild and torque steers because the again finish performs hopscotch down the street. It’s downright scary. You can’t calm down when accelerating arduous within the Sierra EV Denali, or you’ll rapidly turn out to be acquainted with a guardrail and God. It’s the identical downside my colleague Daniel Golson encountered within the Sierra’s twin, the Chevrolet Silverado EV.
The issues turn out to be a bit higher in Tour and Regular modes, the place every part is turned down a notch and the steering will get very mild – lighter than Max Energy mode for certain – however it nonetheless stays pretty twitchy. Whether or not you’re going round a nook or accelerating to cross somebody on the freeway, you’ve actually received to maintain each arms on the wheel or this truck will shift throughout your lane. Round city, issues are higher in the case of the steering. The rear-wheel steering system makes tight maneuverability a cinch, a very welcome function in a 233.2-inch-long truck like this. It’s additionally received a Crab Stroll operate, which is a really cool little trick I completely loved utilizing.
Nonetheless, gradual speeds are the place the adjustable air suspension, which will be raised or lowered two inches in both route, form of falls aside. GMC by some means managed to make its “luxurious automotive feeling” suspension each too gentle when accelerating and crashy over bigger bumps. Even on a clean street, you’re feeling the Sierra EV undulating. I believe a whole lot of this subject will be blamed on the wheel and tire setup. In any respect 4 corners you’ve received 24-inch rims that sit on 275/50 all-season tires. A chunkier, wider tire would most likely alleviate among the crashiness and unsteadiness whereas accelerating. That wouldn’t actually repair the physique management points, however it’s a begin.
Nonetheless, there’s lots to love in regards to the Sierra EV Denali. Its powertrain, like most GM Ultium automobiles (or no matter they’re known as now), is fairly stable. Like I already mentioned, it’s received heaps of energy and extra vary than you’ll ever really want. It helps 800-volt DC quick charging at as much as 350 kW, which GM says will add about 100 miles of vary in simply 10 minutes. Be warned, although, the corporate isn’t quoting a 10-to-80-percent battery cost time as a result of it most likely takes an extended goddamn whereas to refill a 205-kWh battery. One upside of the battery, aside from the 460 miles of vary, is its capability to energy your house in an influence outage. You’ll want a complete bunch of GM’s proprietary tools, however it’s a neat get together trick nonetheless.
One thing else the Sierra’s powertrain does effectively is regenerative braking. There are two depth settings along with having the ability to flip it fully off, and each of them provide full one-pedal driving. One is simply stronger than the opposite. I’d usually go away the automotive in its highest setting, however it’s a bit jerky if you first let off the accelerator. Even in fully-off mode, there’s a paddle on the left aspect of the steering wheel you need to use to have interaction regen as you want. It’s progressive too, so the extra you squeeze it, the quicker you decelerate.
Being a high-end Normal Motors product, the Sierra EV Denali comes with GM’s finest piece of expertise: Tremendous Cruise. Like in each different software, Tremendous Cruise offers you the perfect Degree 2 hands-free driving in the marketplace. It really works wonders each in site visitors and whereas cruising down the freeway. It’s even fairly aggressive about mechanically becoming quicker lanes for you, which is nice when you’re somebody like me who hates being behind others.
One other factor the Sierra EV Denali has going for it are its attractiveness. The outside positively appears to be like like a GMC truck with its upright grille that the model calls a defend, C-shaped working lights and total huge presence. The 24-inch wheels, whereas compromising consolation, do admittedly look superb. In the case of different EV vehicles in the marketplace, I’ve gotta say I believe that is the perfect trying one cash should purchase. It’s positively a greater looker than the Chevy Silverado EV, and it’s miles prettier than the sales-leading Tesla Cybertruck. I additionally dig that, in contrast to most ICE-powered vehicles, it’s one seamless physique panel alongside the aspect as an alternative of getting a niche for the mattress.
Inside, I’m joyful to say the inside and tech is almost adequate for the Sierra Denali EV’s price ticket. Just about every part you contact is actual metallic, quality-feeling leatherette or actual open-pore wooden. The one hints of price chopping will be discovered on the decrease door panels, the highest of the dashboard by the heads-up show housing and seize handles. What are you able to do?
It’s all laid out reasonably effectively, too. Within the center you’ve received a large 16.8-inch vertical display screen, which is truthfully among the finest programs within the enterprise. It’s simple to make use of, there are arduous buttons for quantity and local weather management, and it’s customizable sufficient that all your most-used options will fall simply at hand. It’s flanked on the motive force’s aspect by a 11-inch digital gauge cluster show that’s additionally lots customizable and might present a full navigation map. In my driving place, the highest edges are lower off by the steering wheel, however your outcomes might range. Above that could be a 14-inch head-up show that may be very clear and offers you all kinds of related info. I simply want its housing wasn’t so nasty trying.
Like all big vehicles, inside area and storage is a high-point. By my rely, there are 11,000 cupholders contained in the Sierra EV Denali, together with a number of in its 11-cubic-foot power-operated frunk. Rear passengers even have oodles of room even with the entrance seats way back to they’ll go. Sadly, the heated and cooled entrance seats aren’t probably the most supportive issues on the planet, they usually lack a therapeutic massage operate (which this truck ought to have), however they’re not going to kill your again on an extended drive.
All of that goodness performs second fiddle to the truck’s get together piece: The Multi-Flex Midgate. Certain, it’s somewhat little bit of a gimmick, however who doesn’t love a type of? Like on the Silverado EV, you’ll be able to take away the rear firewall and window to create as much as 10 toes and 10 inches of room from the again of the entrance seats all the way in which to the top of GMC’s Multi-Professional Tailgate. With the tailgate up, it’s nonetheless received 9 toes of storage. For reference, with the Midgate in place, the Sierra EV’s mattress is 5-foot-11.
It’s additionally not an excessive amount of of a ache within the ass to take down and put it again up. First, you flip the 60/40 split-folding rear seats down. You then press a button to launch the rear glass, which isn’t as unwieldy as you’d assume, and clamp it into place on the rear firewall. From there, simply push one other button and it comes down. If you happen to don’t want your complete Midgate down, you’ll be able to go away the rear window in place, too. The entire course of is simpler than taking the doorways and roof off of a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco. GM actually thought it by, and whereas it gained’t all the time be helpful, it’s a enjoyable get together trick.
In the case of pricing, effectively, the Sierra EV Denali just isn’t low cost. I do know, that’s stunning to you. The Max Vary truck begins $100,495 (together with $2,095 for vacation spot), and the one actual choices are paint colours that vary from $495 to $3,995 for a really fairly colour known as Moonlight Matte, in addition to a tonneau cowl and a mattress rack. There’s a cheaper Denali Prolonged Vary mannequin with 390 miles of vary coming later in 2025 that begins at $91,995. I do know these costs appear excessive, however go searching — practically each huge electrical truck prices this a lot if no more.
There’s rather a lot to love in regards to the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali. It appears to be like good, it’s received numerous energy, it has stable tech and its vary is nearly the perfect within the biz. I simply can’t assist however assume it may have been means higher if GMC lower down on among the specs to make a lighter truck. The Sierra’s weight is form of a self fulfilling prophecy — it’s so heavy as a result of it has an enormous battery, and it wants such an enormous battery as a result of it’s so heavy. The one solution to change these information is to fully re-engineer the truck, and that’s simply not taking place.
Due to that, we’re caught with a truck that’s practically superb, however it’s held again by its personal dynamic limitations. I do know, you don’t purchase a 9,000 pound truck for good driving dynamics, however once they verge on harmful in on a regular basis situations, it’s one thing that must be talked about. I don’t actually know the way GM will treatment this example or if it even will strive. I’m pretty sure GMC will promote each single one they construct, and I perceive it. General the Sierra EV is an effective truck, it simply desires to kill you somewhat bit, so that you higher maintain on tight.
