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 typically it’s simply unattainable 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 large 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. Quite a lot of engineering has to enter making a automobile this heavy even vaguely OK to drive, however typically 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 might drive the 2025 Sierra EV Denali.
I wouldn’t normally begin off a pickup assessment 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 manner 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 accordance with GMC, which I think will show to be appropriate in the actual 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 screen, the truck will rocket off the road, however its mixture of suspension that’s too comfortable, tires which are too skinny and rear-wheel steer, it feels extremely unstable. The steering wheel is slightly numb, and also you get rapidly overwhelmed by it tugging backward and forward as a result of it goes too gentle and torque steers because the again finish performs hopscotch down the highway. It’s downright scary. You can not chill out when accelerating exhausting within the Sierra EV Denali, or you’ll rapidly grow 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 grow to be a bit higher in Tour and Regular modes, the place the whole lot is turned down a notch and the steering will get very gentle – 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 bought to maintain each arms on the wheel or this truck will shift throughout your lane. Round city, issues are higher in terms of 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 bought a Crab Stroll perform, which is a really cool little trick I completely loved utilizing.
Nevertheless, gradual speeds are the place the adjustable air suspension, which might be raised or lowered two inches in both course, form of falls aside. GMC in some way managed to make its “luxurious automotive feeling” suspension each too comfortable when accelerating and crashy over bigger bumps. Even on a clean highway, you’re feeling the Sierra EV undulating. I believe a whole lot of this difficulty might be blamed on the wheel and tire setup. In any respect 4 corners you’ve bought 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 automobiles (or no matter they’re known as now), is fairly stable. Like I already stated, it’s bought heaps of energy and extra vary than you’ll ever actually need. 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 a protracted goddamn whereas to refill a 205-kWh battery. One upside of the battery, aside from the 460 miles of vary, is its potential to energy your own home in an influence outage. You’ll want an entire bunch of GM’s proprietary tools, however it’s a neat celebration trick nonetheless.
One thing else the Sierra’s powertrain does nicely is regenerative braking. There are two depth settings along with with 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 once 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 Common Motors product, the Sierra EV Denali comes with GM’s finest piece of know-how: 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 visitors and whereas cruising down the freeway. It’s even fairly aggressive about mechanically turning into quicker lanes for you, which is nice for those who’re somebody like me who hates being behind others.
One other factor the Sierra EV Denali has going for it are its beauty. The outside positively seems like a GMC truck with its upright grille that the model calls a protect, C-shaped working lights and total large presence. The 24-inch wheels, whereas compromising consolation, do admittedly look excellent. In relation to different EV vans in the marketplace, I’ve gotta say I believe 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 spot for the mattress.
Inside, I’m comfortable to say the inside and tech is sort of ok for the Sierra Denali EV’s price ticket. Just about the whole lot you contact is actual steel, quality-feeling leatherette or actual open-pore wooden. The one hints of value reducing might 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 slightly nicely, too. Within the center you’ve bought a large 16.8-inch vertical display screen, which is actually the most effective techniques within the enterprise. It’s straightforward to make use of, there are exhausting 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 driving force’s aspect by a 11-inch digital gauge cluster show that’s additionally loads customizable and might present a full navigation map. In my driving place, the highest edges are reduce off by the steering wheel, however your outcomes could differ. Above that may be a 14-inch head-up show that could be very clear and offers you all kinds of related info. I simply want its housing wasn’t so nasty wanting.
Like all large vans, inside house and storage is a high-point. By my depend, there are 11,000 cupholders contained in the Sierra EV Denali, together with a couple 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 will go. Sadly, the heated and cooled entrance seats aren’t essentially the most supportive issues on the planet, they usually lack a therapeutic massage perform (which this truck ought to have), however they’re not going to kill your again on a protracted drive.
All of that goodness performs second fiddle to the truck’s celebration piece: The Multi-Flex Midgate. Certain, it’s just a little little bit of a gimmick, however who doesn’t love a type of? Like on the Silverado EV, you may take away the rear firewall and window to create as much as 10 ft and 10 inches of room from the again of the entrance seats all the best way to the tip of GMC’s Multi-Professional Tailgate. With the tailgate up, it’s nonetheless bought 9 ft 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 suppose, and clamp it into place on the rear firewall. From there, simply push one other button and it comes down. For those who don’t want all the Midgate down, you may 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 by, and whereas it received’t all the time be helpful, it’s a enjoyable celebration trick.
In relation to pricing, nicely, 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 — almost each massive electrical truck prices this a lot if no more.
There’s lots to love in regards to the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali. It seems good, it’s bought numerous energy, it has stable tech and its vary is nearly one of the best within the biz. I simply can not assist however suppose it might have been manner 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 a giant battery, and it wants such a giant 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 taking place.
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 needs to kill you just a little bit, so that you higher maintain on tight.
