I don’t normally give a shit about how a lot a automobile weighs. So long as it’s not some low-slung sports activities automobile it actually isn’t one thing I put quite a lot of thought into, however generally it’s simply inconceivable 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, but it surely’s simply inescapable on this large electrical pickup truck, to the Sierra’s detriment.
There’s quite a 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 quite a lot of that has to do with how goddamn heavy it’s, amongst different issues. A number 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 resort so I may drive the 2025 Sierra EV Denali.
I wouldn’t normally 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 adequate for the $100,495 price ticket this truck instructions.Proper now, the one method 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 keeping with GMC, which I believe 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 best way 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 smooth, tires which might be too skinny and rear-wheel steer, it feels extremely unstable. The steering wheel is moderately numb, and also you get shortly overwhelmed by it tugging back and forth 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’t chill out when accelerating arduous within the Sierra EV Denali, or you’ll shortly 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 all the pieces is turned down a notch and the steering will get very gentle – lighter than Max Energy mode for positive – but it surely nonetheless stays pretty twitchy. Whether or not you’re going round a nook or accelerating to move 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 on the subject of the steering. The rear-wheel steering system makes tight maneuverability a cinch, a very welcome characteristic in a 233.2-inch-long truck like this. It’s additionally received a Crab Stroll perform, which is a really cool little trick I totally loved utilizing.
Nonetheless, gradual speeds are the place the adjustable air suspension, which may be raised or lowered two inches in both course, form of falls aside. GMC someway managed to make its “luxurious automobile feeling” suspension each too smooth when accelerating and crashy over bigger bumps. Even on a clean highway, you are feeling the Sierra EV undulating. I believe quite a lot of this concern may 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, but it surely’s a begin.
Nonetheless, there’s lots to love concerning the Sierra EV Denali. Its powertrain, like most GM Ultium autos (or no matter they’re known as now), is fairly stable. Like I already stated, it’s received 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 an extended goddamn whereas to replenish a 205-kWh battery. One upside of the battery, apart from the 460 miles of vary, is its skill to energy your property in an influence outage. You’ll want a complete bunch of GM’s proprietary gear, but it surely’s a neat social gathering trick nonetheless.
One thing else the Sierra’s powertrain does properly is regenerative braking. There are two depth settings along with with the ability to flip it utterly off, and each of them supply full one-pedal driving. One is simply stronger than the opposite. I’d usually go away the automobile in its highest setting, however it’s a bit jerky while 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 Basic Motors product, the Sierra EV Denali comes with GM’s finest piece of expertise: Tremendous Cruise. Like in each different software, Tremendous Cruise provides you one of the best Degree 2 hands-free driving available on the market. It really works wonders each in visitors and whereas cruising down the freeway. It’s even fairly aggressive about routinely becoming sooner lanes for you, which is nice in case 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 like a GMC truck with its upright grille that the model calls a protect, C-shaped working lights and general large presence. The 24-inch wheels, whereas compromising consolation, do admittedly look excellent. With regards to different EV vans available on the market, I’ve gotta say I believe that is one of the best 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 vans, it’s one seamless physique panel alongside the aspect as a substitute of getting a spot for the mattress.
Inside, I’m completely satisfied to say the inside and tech is sort of adequate for the Sierra Denali EV’s price ticket. Just about all the pieces you contact is actual metallic, quality-feeling leatherette or actual open-pore wooden. The one hints of price reducing may 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 moderately properly, too. Within the center you’ve received an enormous 16.8-inch vertical display screen, which is truthfully among the best methods 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 your whole 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 lots 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 may be very clear and offers you all kinds of related data. I simply want its housing wasn’t so nasty trying.
Like all big 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 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 probably the most supportive issues on this planet, and so they lack a therapeutic massage perform (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 social gathering piece: The Multi-Flex Midgate. Certain, it’s a bit 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 tip 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. Then you definitely 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. In case you don’t want all the 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 via, and whereas it gained’t all the time be helpful, it’s a enjoyable social gathering trick.
With regards to pricing, properly, the Sierra EV Denali is just not 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 coloration 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 lots to love concerning the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali. It seems good, it’s received plenty of energy, it has stable tech and its vary is nearly one of the best within the biz. I simply can’t assist however suppose it may have been method higher if GMC reduce 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 a giant battery, and it wants such a giant battery as a result of it’s so heavy. The one option to change these information is to utterly re-engineer the truck, and that’s simply not occurring.
Due to that, we’re caught with a truck that’s practically excellent, but it surely’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 after they verge on harmful in on a regular basis circumstances, it’s one thing that must be talked about. I don’t actually know the way GM will treatment this case 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 a bit bit, so that you higher maintain on tight.
