A Better Way To Pickup?

GM worked wonders when introducing the Ultium platform. This is their dedicated EV platform that can be scaled up or down according to vehicle requirements. It debuted with the GMC Hummer EV back in 2021. Since then, the platform has taken on different shapes in the form of smaller SUVs like the Cadillac Lyriq, and Chevy Blazer EV. GM is using it across brands, and scaling it accordingly. One of the newest offerings is the GMC Sierra EV Denali, the very truck in question. It’s based on the Chevrolet Silverado EV, which is already a variation of the Hummer EV platform.

The question is, how well does this platform work as a Sierra Denali? To find out, GMC has so kindly loaned us a top-trim Sierra EV Denali Max Range. That added range level represents an $8,500 premium over the standard range version. Finished in a wonderful $3,995 hue of blue called Moonlight Matte over After Dark (black), this new EV certainly looks very Denali. 24-inch wheels are standard with no other options available. Other options include a vinyl Tonneau cover $800, and a $295 dual-level charge cord. The grand total comes out to $105,585 including destination.

2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali First Impressions

It’s the truck that looks like it’s straight out of Tron. Especially in the new “Moonlight Matte” paint, which perfectly matches the futuristic styling. The accent/DRL lighting and light-up GMC logo accentuate both the lines of the truck and contrast well with the beautiful finish of the matte paint. This thing is gorgeous, probably the most handsome pickup on the road right now. It’s striking, bold, and unique, but not overdone like many EVs can be these days. While I personally hate oversized wheels, I must say, the 24-inchers do suit the Sierra EV well, visually. Many will choose this vehicle on looks alone, and rightfully so.

I love the full glass roof, although an opening section would have been a nice addition, as would a dedicated shade, as it can get quite bright and warm inside the Sierra EV. Yes, it’s a GMC, but the tapered roofline and tall bed give hints of Chevy Avalanche. This is what a modern Avalanche should look like, and I wouldn’t have faulted Chevrolet if they reserved that name for their version of the truck. There are other Avalanche-related features, but we’ll get to that. Step inside and it’s pure Denali. Maybe not “Ultimate” level good, but the Denali quality is there. The wood on the dashboard, sleek design and materials, luxurious leather, and soft-touch surfaces all line the inside of the massive Sierra EV Denali. Fit and finish are top-notch, with not a single rattle or squeak. The QC team really did a number on this product.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

I wish I could say the EV Denali drives as beautifully as it looks, but it just doesn’t. As great as those 24-inch wheels look on the Denali, they do actually hurt the ride quality significantly. This is a shame because the Sierra EV uses the same brilliant suspension found on the Hummer EV, a truck that rides like it’s floating on a cloud. I suspect the tuning is different for a dedicated pickup, but still, the ride should not be this bumpy or crash over every little imperfection. This isn’t a ride that’s worthy of the “Denali” name. I expected better, especially since we know they know how to do it right.

I don’t have as much confidence in off-roading since the only control the driver has over the vehicle is a vaguely labeled “off-road” mode. In the Hummer, you can pick and choose which components you want to control, such as locking differentials, a key component when trying to off-road a 9,000+ pound vehicle. Aside from drive modes, the adjustable ride height selector came in handy as I prefer a high ride height, but low seat height. Oddly, the steering weight is overly heavy, far more than I was expecting from something with a Denali badge on it.

Again, this could be from the giant 24-inch wheels. The four-wheel-steering system is an absolute must in this truck. It successfully “shrinks” the wheelbase when maneuvering, although, seemingly not as much as the Hummer. It’s so large and menacing, however, that others do give Sierra EV drivers a little extra space around town.

Braking And Acceleration

Acceleration in normal mode is plenty quick for an EV pickup truck. The normal get-in-and-go settings are really just about perfect for this vehicle. However, if you put it into Max Power mode, or Thor’s Hammer mode, as it’s called on the streets, it all falls apart. Trying to shove that much power through four 24-inch wheels on rubber-band-thick tires has some adverse effects. You end up with some of the worst torque steer in the business. I tried locking the rear-wheel-steering, which only marginally helped. Full accelerations in this mode are downright dangerous, again, something that isn’t a problem in the Hummer EV’s version of this mode. In every other mode, the Sierra EV Denali’s power level is more than adequate for any situation.

Braking power is strong, especially when using the powerful regenerative braking modes. Both of which are far too aggressive in my opinion, but I was never personally a fan of one-pedal driving. Besides, turning it “off” still allows for some regen, and the steering wheel-mounted paddle now operates progressively, adding more regen the harder you pull it, just as a brake pedal would. I found having the vehicle cruise along without regen on, but being able to activate it at any time with the paddle is the most convenient way to go about daily driving.

• Acceleration 0-60 MPH: 4.3 Seconds
• Braking: 60-0 MPH: 132 Feet

Performance Specifications

GMC Sierra EV Denali Range

The Sierra EV Denali offers an impressive 460 miles of carefree driving with the “Max Range” variant. This number is easily achievable, and I didn’t even have to think about a charger the entire time I was driving our loan model for a full week. GMC is successfully removing one of the industry’s worst elements of EV living, range anxiety.

The Sierra EV is also great for managing its energy. Strong energy regeneration modes and optimal battery conditioning allow it to more accurately give the driver a realistic cruising range estimate. On multiple occasions, I arrived at my destination with one or two percent more charge than the truck estimated I would arrive with. With larger cruising ranges per charge, the full-size EV model is becoming more attractive.

Interior Design And Comfort

GMC’s interiors have been so beautifully updated with their latest generation of Denali models. All the leathers, metals, wood, and other soft-touch materials have been brilliantly integrated into the interior space. Little details like the latitude and longitude of the actual Denali location have been inlaid into the wooden dashboard. The overall design has been simplified somewhat for the Sierra EV, but in an elegant way. It’s also extremely quiet inside this Sierra, a very Denali way of soundproofing, but also the build quality is absolutely top-notch. This thing feels like a tank, but with zero rattles or unwanted sounds.

Interior Dimensions

The speaker outlets are sleek, along with the rest of the doorcards. The center stack has a massive infotainment screen front and center. It flows nicely into the wooden wireless charger tray, which is movable to reveal an extra storage compartment with two USB-C ports. There is another in the center console, and two more in the second row for a total of five USB-C ports, or one for each passenger. There are second-row heated seats. Everything is easily adjustable, and it might be one of the most spacious interiors I’ve ever experienced.

​​​​​​​The corporate “SuperCruise” steering wheel works well here. The best interior feature by far is the second row of air vents that are located below the steering wheel, which can quickly cool more of the driver than just the usual face or foot vents. This feature isn’t new, and is a very rare thing to find, but for hot summer days this is an extremely welcome addition.

Technology And Ease Of Use

Whatever vendetta GM has against using Apple CarPlay needs to end immediately. Jumping into the Sierra EV Denali, and finding out the hard way that one of the world’s favorite pieces of technology was missing, on purpose, was a massive let-down. I understand that integrating in-house systems can cut back on things like cost and system boot times, but not having the option to equip a Denali-badged vehicle with such an industry-wide standard brings the model down a notch.

The whole point of having a massive tablet screen is to make the best of the gold standard, Apple CarPlay, and their brilliant layout. Now, we get a copycat system that, I’ll admit, does boot up extremely quickly every time you enter the truck, but it requires more input on your phone, discouraging the driver from using the television-sized screen in front of them. This new Google-based system doesn’t make use of the screen space as well as CarPlay typically does. Google Maps does, however, work pretty brilliantly in this application.

It’s a good thing this truck’s system boots quickly too, because this vehicle has no power button. GM has decided that following other manufacturer trends was a good idea, so every time you open the door, the vehicle turns off, expecting you to leave for good, when really, I was just stopping to grab the mail. This is an extremely annoying “feature” that should be remedied by adding back in a power button. People with pickups enter and exit their vehicles for quick on-the-go reasons all the time, so having control over when the power is on or off is kind of a big deal.

The good news is GM’s brilliant SuperCruise just keeps getting better. Every time I try a new vehicle equipped with SuperCruise, it feels like the refinement improves. The version on the Sierra EV was so smooth, intuitive, and quick acting. It makes highway cruising a breeze and I stand by the technology through and through. Bed-mounted power outlets, a digital rearview mirror (which I never used), and a configurable instrument cluster round-out the tech features in the Sierra EV Denali. The heads-up display was rarely used.

Cargo And Storage Space

Hauling cargo is the GMC Sierra EV Denali’s strong suit. As mentioned before, there are parallels to the iconic Chevrolet Avalanche. Most significantly, this truck brings back the very nifty “Midgate.” Essentially, you can extend the already large cargo bed by removing the rear window and folding the rear seats forward to reveal a foldable hatch that accesses the cargo bed.

Now, that massive rear passenger compartment serves as a bed extender inside the vehicle. This is extremely helpful, especially with the tonneau cover to haul large items that can’t be exposed to elements like exterior rain or wind. It’s a neat trick that GM pioneered with the Avalanche, and it’s good to see it’s back with the Sierra EV. GMC also included their nifty foldable tailgate that turns into steps if you should need a helpful step up into the cargo bed.

Other clever storage solutions are present, as always with full-size GM trucks, such as a secret compartment below the front device charging pad, a massive center console, large doorcard pockets fit for decent-sized bottles, and, of course, the frunk. Since the Sierra EV has no moving parts where the engine bay would be, that space is now reserved for extra cargo. It does house the adde charging cable, and the shell is electronically operated.

2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali vs. Its Competitors

There are now a few solid options for electrically powered large pickup trucks. Both the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T offer their own compelling solutions alongside the GMC Sierra EV Denali. While not a completely apples-to-apples comparison, they all represent the best we have in this niche segment, so far.

How The Ford F-150 Lightning Compares To The GMC Sierra EV Denali

If you want speed and comfort, the Ford Lightning can tickle your fancy. If you need a dedicated workhorse, and the looks of the future, GMC’s Sierra EV Denali is just what the doctor ordered.

Performance

The GMC Sierra EV is the better performer. With over 100 more miles of total range, and a similar 0-60 mph time (if you can keep it in your lane), it’s the Denali that will work harder for longer, with less range anxiety for the driver. Some tests show the Lightning to be a tad quicker, but these are workhorses, not roadsters. Here, range is king, and when that number starts with a four, not a three, you’d be hard-pressed not to pick the one with the better range, especially considering our current charging infrastructure.

Comfort

With 18-inch, 20-inch, and 22-inch wheel options, the Ford F-150 Lightning rides better than the GMC Sierra EV Denali. Both offer trick four-wheel-independent suspension, but the Lightning, albeit utilizing the wrong name, isn’t having as much of an identity crisis, where GMC has decided it’s 24-inches only. Inside, both have wonderfully comfy interiors with upscale materials, although the Denali’s is more elegant and a bit less filled with cheap plastics. Overall, the Lightning is just a smoother drive, while the Denali is softer to the touch.

Technology

Both the Lightning and Denali offer silly, massive portrait-style infotainment screens, but the Lightning has a simple yet significant advantage. Ford hasn’t abandoned Apple CarPlay yet, where GM has and therefore offers the better solution. It makes use of its TV screen by brilliantly integrating CarPlay, where the Denali’s similarly sized, and shaped screen is mostly useless without the tech we all know and love.

How The Rivian R1T Compares To The GMC Sierra EV Denali

Performance

Performance-wise, the two each have advantages. While the Rivian is ridiculously quick, almost a full two seconds quicker to 60 mph than the GMC, it’s the Sierra that can travel farther, with an estimated 40 more miles of total range. So the question becomes, do you want to win the sprint or the marathon? Also, the Rivian R1T has more adjustability when it comes to dedicated drive modes/chassis manipulation.

Comfort

Rivian’s R1T, like the Ford F-150 Lightning, offers different wheel options in different sizes. Not to beat a dead horse, but this does help the sophisticated suspension that the engineers worked so hard to develop, to actually function correctly. The travel of the suspension is better used to remove harshness rather than the GMC’s, which is constantly having to deal with four giant hunks of metal crashing over every surface imperfection.

Technology

Both Rivian and GMC have decided to create their own infotainment systems and ignore the fact that Apple CarPlay is simply the most functional, most popular, and most relatable system out there. Because of this, I can’t recommend either, but GMC’s better integration, makes the best of the Google-based system, and therefore, using Google’s best solutions gives it a slight edge over the Rivian.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

If you like the looks of the GMC Sierra EV Denali, and that’s what matters most on your list of priorities, absolutely go for it. It’s stunning to behold in person. It’s also an extremely practical vehicle with ample space for just about anything you need on almost any journey. If you care about things like ride quality, convenience, overall comfort, and usability, then you should opt for the gas-powered GMC Sierra instead. They make Denali and Denali Ultimate versions of that truck, and are a more fitting example of such a legendary name. They will also cost far less than the EV version. If having the newest and greatest rugged EV is a must, then GMC also offers the Hummer EV, which can be had for similar money, offers more options, rides better, is more capable off-road, and in truck form, also offers decent cargo capacity.