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 numerous thought into, however generally it’s simply unimaginable 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, nevertheless it’s simply inescapable on this large electrical pickup truck, to the Sierra’s detriment.
There’s numerous stuff the Sierra EV Denali has going for it: Intelligent packaging, a class-leading vary, an almost worth acceptable inside and strong tech. However its driving expertise is downright disappointing, and numerous 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 assessment 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 adequate 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 in line with GMC, which I think 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 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 mushy, tires which might be too skinny and rear-wheel steer, it feels extremely unstable. The steering wheel is reasonably 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 street. It may be fairly onerous to chill out when accelerating onerous within the Sierra EV Denali. 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 things is turned down a notch and the steering will get very gentle – lighter than Max Energy mode for certain – nevertheless 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 palms 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 relation to the steering. The rear-wheel steering system makes tight maneuverability a cinch, a very welcome function in a 233.2-inch-long truck like this. It’s additionally obtained a Crab Stroll perform, which is a really cool little trick I completely loved utilizing.
Nevertheless, sluggish speeds are the place the adjustable air suspension, which will be raised or lowered two inches in both path, type of falls aside. GMC by some means managed to make its “luxurious automotive feeling” suspension each too mushy when accelerating and crashy over bigger bumps. Even on a easy street, you’re feeling the Sierra EV undulating. I believe numerous this concern will 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 most likely alleviate among the crashiness and unsteadiness whereas accelerating. That wouldn’t actually repair the physique management points, nevertheless it’s a begin.
Nonetheless, there’s lots to love in regards to the Sierra EV Denali. Its powertrain, like most GM Ultium autos (or no matter they’re known as now), is fairly strong. Like I already stated, it’s obtained 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 most likely 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 means to energy your property in an influence outage. You’ll want an entire bunch of GM’s proprietary gear, nevertheless it’s a neat social gathering 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 fully off, and each of them supply full one-pedal driving. One is simply stronger than the opposite. I’d 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 aspect of the steering wheel you should use to interact 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 expertise: Tremendous Cruise. Like in each different utility, Tremendous Cruise provides you the perfect Stage 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 routinely 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 appears to be like like a GMC truck with its upright grille that the model calls a protect, C-shaped operating lights and general large presence. The 24-inch wheels, whereas compromising consolation, do admittedly look excellent. In terms of different EV vans in the marketplace, I’ve gotta say I believe that is the perfect wanting 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 aspect as a substitute of getting a niche for the mattress.
Inside, I’m glad to say the inside and tech is sort of adequate 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 value reducing will 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 reasonably properly, too. Within the center you’ve obtained a large 16.8-inch vertical display, which is actually probably the greatest techniques within the enterprise. It’s simple to make use of, there are onerous buttons for quantity and local weather management, and it’s customizable sufficient that all your most-used options will fall simply handy. It’s flanked on the motive 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 minimize off by the steering wheel, however your outcomes might fluctuate. Above that could be a 14-inch head-up show that may be very clear and provides you all kinds of related info. I simply want its housing wasn’t so nasty wanting.
Like all enormous 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 the 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 a protracted 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 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 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 assume, and clamp it into place on the rear firewall. From there, simply push one other button and it comes down. In the event you don’t want all the 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 means of, and whereas it gained’t at all times be helpful, it’s a enjoyable social gathering trick.
In terms of pricing, properly, the Sierra EV Denali is just not 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 shade 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 huge electrical truck prices this a lot if no more.
There’s lots to love in regards to the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali. It appears to be like good, it’s obtained a number of energy, it has strong tech and its vary is nearly the perfect within the biz. I simply can’t assist however assume it may have been means higher if GMC minimize down on among the specs to make a lighter truck. The Sierra’s weight is type 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 solution to change these info is to fully re-engineer the truck, and that’s simply not occurring.
Due to that, we’re caught with a truck that’s almost excellent, nevertheless 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 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 if you step on it, so that you higher maintain on tight.
