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 plenty of thought into, however typically 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, however it’s simply inescapable on this large electrical pickup truck, to the Sierra’s detriment.
There’s plenty of stuff the Sierra EV Denali has going for it: Intelligent packaging, a class-leading vary, a virtually value acceptable inside and strong tech. However its driving expertise is downright disappointing, and plenty of that has to do with how goddamn heavy it’s, amongst different issues. A number 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 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 must 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 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 way in which the truck dispatches that energy.
In Max Energy Mode, which is used for onerous 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 gentle, tires which might be too skinny and rear-wheel steer, it feels extremely unstable. The steering wheel is relatively numb, and also you get rapidly 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 may be fairly onerous to calm down when accelerating onerous within the Sierra EV Denali. It’s the identical drawback 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 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 move somebody on the freeway, you’ve actually obtained to maintain each arms on the wheel or this truck will shift throughout your lane, and that may be in any drive mode. It’s simply extra noticeable in Max Energy. Round city, issues are higher in the case 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 obtained a Crab Stroll operate, which is a really cool little trick I totally loved utilizing.
Nonetheless, sluggish speeds are the place the adjustable air suspension, which may be raised or lowered two inches in both course, form of falls aside. GMC one way or the other managed to make its “luxurious automotive feeling” suspension each too gentle when accelerating and crashy over bigger bumps. Even on a clean highway, you’re feeling the Sierra EV undulating. I feel plenty of this problem may be blamed on the wheel and tire setup. In any respect 4 corners you’ve obtained 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, 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 referred to as now), is fairly strong. Like I already mentioned, it’s obtained 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 in all probability takes a protracted goddamn whereas to replenish a 205-kWh battery. One upside of the battery, aside from the 460 miles of vary, is its capacity to energy your house in an influence outage. You’ll want an entire bunch of GM’s proprietary gear, however it’s a neat social gathering 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 utterly off, and each of them supply full one-pedal driving. One is simply stronger than the opposite. I’d typically go away the automotive in its highest setting, however it’s a bit jerky whenever 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 utilize 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 Common Motors product, the Sierra EV Denali comes with GM’s finest piece of know-how: Tremendous Cruise. Like in each different software, Tremendous Cruise provides you the very 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 mechanically becoming 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 undoubtedly seems like a GMC truck with its upright grille that the model calls a defend, 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 available on the market, I’ve gotta say I feel that is the very best wanting one cash should buy. It’s undoubtedly 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 spot for the mattress.
Inside, I’m comfortable 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 metallic, quality-feeling leatherette or actual open-pore wooden. The one hints of price chopping 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 relatively nicely, too. Within the center you’ve obtained an enormous 16.8-inch vertical display, which is actually among the finest methods within the enterprise. It’s straightforward to make use of, there are onerous 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 motive force’s facet 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 lower off by the steering wheel, however your outcomes could fluctuate. Above that may be a 14-inch head-up show that could be very clear and offers you all kinds of related data. I simply want its housing wasn’t so nasty wanting.
Like all large vans, inside area and storage is a high-point. By my depend, there are 11,000 cupholders contained in the Sierra EV Denali, together with a number 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 earth, they usually lack a therapeutic massage operate (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 social gathering piece: The Multi-Flex Midgate. Positive, it’s slightly little bit of a gimmick, however who doesn’t love a kind of? Like on the Silverado EV, you’ll be able to 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 tip of GMC’s Multi-Professional Tailgate. With the tailgate up, it’s nonetheless obtained 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 definately 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. Should you don’t want the whole 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 received’t all the time be helpful, it’s a enjoyable social gathering trick.
In relation to pricing, nicely, 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 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 large 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 good, it’s obtained numerous energy, it has strong tech and its vary is nearly the very best within the biz. I simply can not assist however suppose it might have been manner 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 an enormous battery, and it wants such an enormous battery as a result of it’s so heavy. The one technique to change these information 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, 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 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 attempt. I’m pretty sure GMC will promote each single one they construct, and I perceive it. Total the Sierra EV is an effective truck, however it will probably definitely be a handful whenever you step on it, so that you higher maintain on tight.
