2014 GMC Sierra Denali Earns Cabin Kudos from Ward's

What does the 2014 GMC Sierra Denali have in common with ultra-lux sedans like the brand-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class or striking Rolls-Royce Wraith? WardsAuto recently recognized all three as among the 2014 Ward's 10 Best Interiors in the auto industry. True, not all of the entries on the list were up in six-figure territory, but even the more affordable choices, like the Kia Soul or new Chrysler 200, are known for dramatic design. And the all-new 2014 GMC Sierra Denali fits right into that mix, explained Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of WardsAuto World magazine, who called the truck's cabin "a stunning departure" for the segment.

"The Sierra Denali foregoes traditional luxury cues such as wrinkled leather and wood for a modern, sophisticated pickup interior with real aluminum trim," said Winter. "Technology is featured everywhere, from the reconfigurable LCD gauge cluster to the latest active safety systems ... . The heated and cooled seats are fabulously comfortable on long drives and the triple-sealed doors make the Sierra Denali the quietest pickup cabin we’ve ever experienced.”

Yet at the same time, the 2014 GMC Sierra Denali also is "well-suited to the work site," according to Ward's writer Tom Murphy, who further appreciated the cabin's practical side, highlighted by "lots of storage cubbies, a massive center console and features necessary for extreme weather," including both those climate-controlled seats and a heated steering wheel.

It's also worth noting that, even though the brand-new Silverado has been facing sales challenges in past months, and was outsold by the Ram in March, the 2014 GMC Sierra has been doing better, and particularly in March. Last month, Sierra sales jumped 22 percent, a growth rate second only to the Ram's 25.7 percent, and its volume of 16,863 units was good for its usual fourth spot on the full-size pickup leaderboard, with a comfortable advantage over the Toyota Tundra.

The party line from Helen Emsley, executive director of Global GMC Design and User Experience: “Our mission with the GMC Sierra Denali was to achieve bold refinement and set the new standard for a premium cabin experience that offers the comfort and technology our customers expect and demand. We are working very diligently to raise the bar on all of our interiors across the GMC portfolio, so this is validating for the work we have done and our strategic direction.”