I don’t often 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 variety 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 variety of stuff the Sierra EV Denali has going for it: Intelligent packaging, a class-leading vary, an almost value acceptable inside and strong tech. However its driving expertise is downright disappointing, and a variety of that has to do with how goddamn heavy it’s, amongst different issues. A variety of engineering has to enter making a car 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 often begin off a pickup evaluate 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 ok for the $100,495 price ticket this truck instructions.Proper now, the one approach you get a Sierra EV is in Denali spec with an enormous 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 response to GMC, which I think will show to be right 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 best way the truck dispatches that energy.
In Max Energy Mode, which is used for exhausting acceleration on the push of a button on the display, the truck will rocket off the road, however its mixture of suspension that’s too smooth, tires which might 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 not calm down when accelerating exhausting within the Sierra EV Denali, or you’ll rapidly turn into 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 into a bit higher in Tour and Regular modes, the place all the things 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 go somebody on the freeway, you’ve actually acquired to maintain each fingers on the wheel or this truck will shift throughout your lane. Round city, issues are higher relating to the steering. The rear-wheel steering system makes tight maneuverability a cinch, a extremely welcome characteristic in a 233.2-inch-long truck like this. It’s additionally acquired a Crab Stroll operate, which is a really cool little trick I completely loved utilizing.
Nevertheless, sluggish speeds are the place the adjustable air suspension, which could be raised or lowered two inches in both path, form of falls aside. GMC one way or the other managed to make its “luxurious automotive feeling” suspension each too smooth when accelerating and crashy over bigger bumps. Even on a easy street, you’re feeling the Sierra EV undulating. I feel a variety of this concern could be blamed on the wheel and tire setup. In any respect 4 corners you’ve acquired 24-inch rims that sit on 275/50 all-season tires. A chunkier, wider tire would most likely alleviate a few of the crashiness and unsteadiness whereas accelerating. That wouldn’t actually repair the physique management points, however it’s a begin.
Nonetheless, there’s loads to love in regards to the Sierra EV Denali. Its powertrain, like most GM Ultium autos (or no matter they’re known as now), is fairly strong. Like I already mentioned, it’s acquired 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, apart from the 460 miles of vary, is its skill to energy your house in an influence outage. You’ll want an entire bunch of GM’s proprietary gear, however it’s a neat occasion trick nonetheless.
One thing else the Sierra’s powertrain does nicely 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 should use to have interaction regen as you want. It’s progressive too, so the extra you squeeze it, the sooner you decelerate.
Being a high-end Normal Motors product, the Sierra EV Denali comes with GM’s greatest piece of expertise: Tremendous Cruise. Like in each different utility, Tremendous Cruise offers you one of the best 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 routinely turning into sooner lanes for you, which is nice in the event 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 seems to be like a GMC truck with its upright grille that the model calls a protect, C-shaped operating lights and general huge presence. The 24-inch wheels, whereas compromising consolation, do admittedly look excellent. Relating to different EV vans in the marketplace, I’ve gotta say I feel that is one of the best wanting 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 vans, it’s one seamless physique panel alongside the aspect as an alternative of getting a niche for the mattress.
Inside, I’m glad to say the inside and tech is almost ok for the Sierra Denali EV’s price ticket. Just about all the things you contact is actual steel, quality-feeling leatherette or actual open-pore wooden. The one hints of value slicing could 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 nicely, too. Within the center you’ve acquired an enormous 16.8-inch vertical display, which is truthfully among the best programs within the enterprise. It’s simple to make use of, there are exhausting buttons for quantity and local weather management, and it’s customizable sufficient that your entire most-used options will fall simply at hand. It’s flanked on the driving force’s aspect by a 11-inch digital gauge cluster show that’s additionally loads customizable and may present a full navigation map. In my driving place, the highest edges are reduce off by the steering wheel, however your outcomes could range. Above that may be a 14-inch head-up show that could be very clear and provides you all types of related data. I simply want its housing wasn’t so nasty wanting.
Like all large vans, inside house and storage is a high-point. By my rely, there are 11,000 cupholders contained in the Sierra EV Denali, together with just a few in its 11-cubic-foot power-operated frunk. Rear passengers even have oodles of room even with the entrance seats way back to they will go. Sadly, the heated and cooled entrance seats aren’t probably the most supportive issues on this 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 occasion piece: The Multi-Flex Midgate. Certain, it’s slightly 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 best way to the top of GMC’s Multi-Professional Tailgate. With the tailgate up, it’s nonetheless acquired 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. Then you definitely 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 the complete Midgate down, you’ll be able to go away the rear window in place, too. The entire course of is less complicated than taking the doorways and roof off of a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco. GM actually thought it via, and whereas it received’t all the time be helpful, it’s a enjoyable occasion trick.
Relating to pricing, nicely, the Sierra EV Denali will not be low-cost. I do know, that’s surprising 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 — almost each huge electrical truck prices this a lot if no more.
There’s loads to love in regards to the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali. It seems to be good, it’s acquired numerous energy, it has strong tech and its vary is nearly one of the best within the biz. I simply can not assist however assume it may have been approach higher if GMC reduce down on a few of 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 method to change these info is to fully re-engineer the truck, and that’s simply not occurring.
Due to that, we’re caught with a truck that’s almost excellent, 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 circumstances, it’s one thing that must be talked about. I don’t actually understand how GM will treatment this example or if it even will attempt. 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 slightly bit, so that you higher maintain on tight.
