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 quite a lot of thought into, however generally it’s simply not possible 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 acceptable inside and strong 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. Quite a lot 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 might drive the 2025 Sierra EV Denali.
I wouldn’t normally begin off a pickup evaluation 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 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 based on GMC, which I believe will show to be right 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 way in which the truck dispatches that energy.
In Max Energy Mode, which is used for laborious 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 might be too skinny and rear-wheel steer, it feels extremely unstable. The steering wheel is somewhat 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 loosen up when accelerating laborious within the Sierra EV Denali, or you’ll rapidly change into acquainted with a guardrail and God. It’s the identical drawback my colleague Daniel Golson encountered within the Sierra’s twin, the Chevrolet Silverado EV.
The issues change into a bit higher in Tour and Regular modes, the place every little thing is turned down a notch and the steering will get very mild – 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 go somebody on the freeway, you’ve actually acquired 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 function in a 233.2-inch-long truck like this. It’s additionally acquired 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 may be raised or lowered two inches in both course, form of falls aside. GMC someway managed to make its “luxurious automotive feeling” suspension each too comfortable when accelerating and crashy over bigger bumps. Even on a easy street, you’re feeling the Sierra EV undulating. I believe quite a lot of this situation may 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 in all probability alleviate a few of 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 in regards to the Sierra EV Denali. Its powertrain, like most GM Ultium automobiles (or no matter they’re referred to 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 in all probability takes a protracted goddamn whereas to replenish a 205-kWh battery. One upside of the battery, apart from the 460 miles of vary, is its capacity to energy your private home in an influence outage. You’ll want a complete bunch of GM’s proprietary gear, but it surely’s a neat occasion trick however.
One thing else the Sierra’s powertrain does properly is regenerative braking. There are two depth settings along with having the ability to flip it utterly off, and each of them provide full one-pedal driving. One is simply stronger than the opposite. I might typically depart 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 facet 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 know-how: Tremendous Cruise. Like in each different software, Tremendous Cruise provides you the very best Stage 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 mechanically becoming sooner lanes for you, which is nice if you happen to’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 to be like a GMC truck with its upright grille that the model calls a defend, C-shaped operating lights and total large presence. The 24-inch wheels, whereas compromising consolation, do admittedly look excellent. Relating to different EV vans available on the market, I’ve gotta say I believe that is the very best trying one cash should buy. 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, not like most ICE-powered vans, it’s one seamless physique panel alongside the facet as an alternative of getting a niche for the mattress.
Inside, I’m completely happy to say the inside and tech is sort of ok for the Sierra Denali EV’s price ticket. Just about every little thing you contact is actual steel, 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 somewhat properly, too. Within the center you’ve acquired a large 16.8-inch vertical display screen, which is actually among the finest techniques within the enterprise. It’s straightforward to make use of, there are laborious 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 facet 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 may be a 14-inch head-up show that could be very clear and provides you all types of related info. I simply want its housing wasn’t so nasty trying.
Like all enormous vans, inside area 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 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 occasion piece: The Multi-Flex Midgate. Positive, it’s a bit 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 way in which to the top of GMC’s Multi-Professional Tailgate. With the tailgate up, it’s nonetheless acquired 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. 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. In case you don’t want the complete Midgate down, you may depart 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 way of, and whereas it received’t at all times be helpful, it’s a enjoyable occasion trick.
Relating to pricing, properly, the Sierra EV Denali shouldn’t be 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 coloration referred to 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 so much to love in regards to the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali. It seems to be good, it’s acquired a number of energy, it has strong tech and its vary is nearly the very best within the biz. I simply can not assist however assume it might have been means higher if GMC lower 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 technique to change these info is to utterly re-engineer the truck, and that’s simply not taking place.
Due to that, we’re caught with a truck that’s almost 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 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. Total the Sierra EV is an effective truck, it simply desires to kill you a bit bit, so that you higher maintain on tight.
