I don’t often 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 numerous 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 numerous stuff the Sierra EV Denali has going for it: Intelligent packaging, a class-leading vary, a virtually value applicable 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. Plenty of engineering has to enter making a car 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 resort so I might drive the 2025 Sierra EV Denali.
I wouldn’t often 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 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 response to 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 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 tender, tires which are 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 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 not loosen up when accelerating laborious within the Sierra EV Denali, or you’ll rapidly grow to be 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 grow to be a bit higher in Tour and Regular modes, the place every little thing 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 cross somebody on the freeway, you’ve actually bought to maintain each palms on the wheel or this truck will shift throughout your lane. 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 bought a Crab Stroll operate, which is a really cool little trick I totally loved utilizing.
Nonetheless, gradual speeds are the place the adjustable air suspension, which could be raised or lowered two inches in both path, form of falls aside. GMC one way or the other managed to make its “luxurious automobile feeling” suspension each too tender when accelerating and crashy over bigger bumps. Even on a easy highway, you’re feeling the Sierra EV undulating. I feel numerous this challenge could 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 in all probability alleviate a number of the crashiness and unsteadiness whereas accelerating. That wouldn’t actually repair the physique management points, however it’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 referred to as now), is fairly strong. 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 in all probability takes an extended goddamn whereas to refill a 205-kWh battery. One upside of the battery, aside from the 460 miles of vary, is its capability to energy your property in an influence outage. You’ll want a complete bunch of GM’s proprietary gear, 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 utterly off, and each of them supply full one-pedal driving. One is simply stronger than the opposite. I might typically go away the automobile 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 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 Common 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 very best Stage 2 hands-free driving in the marketplace. It really works wonders each in site visitors and whereas cruising down the freeway. It’s even fairly aggressive about robotically 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 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 superb. Relating to different EV vans in the marketplace, I’ve gotta say I feel that is the very 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, not like most ICE-powered vans, it’s one seamless physique panel alongside the facet as a substitute of getting a spot for the mattress.
Inside, I’m joyful to say the inside and tech is almost adequate 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 value chopping could 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 nicely, too. Within the center you’ve bought a large 16.8-inch vertical display screen, which is truthfully among the finest methods 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 may present a full navigation map. In my driving place, the highest edges are minimize 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 types of related info. I simply want its housing wasn’t so nasty wanting.
Like all big 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 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, they usually lack a therapeutic massage operate (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 celebration piece: The Multi-Flex Midgate. Certain, it’s slightly 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 top of GMC’s Multi-Professional Tailgate. With the tailgate up, it’s nonetheless bought 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 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 by means of, and whereas it received’t at all times be helpful, it’s a enjoyable celebration trick.
Relating 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 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 — practically each large electrical truck prices this a lot if no more.
There’s loads to love concerning the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali. It seems good, it’s bought a lot of 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 minimize down on a number 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 approach to change these info 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 superb, 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 after they verge on harmful in on a regular basis situations, 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 desires to kill you slightly bit, so that you higher maintain on tight.
