2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Road Test and Review

2015 GMC Sierra Denali CrewCab–AustinTX Profile ・ Photo by GMC

One of the hottest American luxury vehicles these days is a fully decked-out pickup truck. The latest round of high-end pickups offer amenities that rival luxury sedans and SUVs, with comfy cabins and all the latest technical marvels. GMC started the ball rolling way back in 2002 with the Sierra Denali and expectations have surely changed over the years. It entered its third generation in the 2014 model year and was refreshed for 2016. The 2017 Sierra Denali is virtually unchanged from 2016, continuing as the most luxurious half-ton pickup in the General Motors portfolio. It’s only offered as a crew cab, with four full-size doors and either a short or standard box. The base price is $53,800. We tested a standard box 4WD Sierra Denali 1500 equipped with the Denali Ultimate package.

What makes the Denali different?

The Denali trim level offers a slew of enhancements over the Sierra SLT. Style wise, the Denali includes body color bumpers front and rear, along with six-inch chrome sidesteps and 20-inch machined-alloy wheels. Mechanically, the Denali includes an eight-speed automatic, rather than a six-speed, along with hill descent control and a 3.42 rear-axle ratio (instead of a 3.08). The interior gains a host of amenities, including a floor console, perforated leather-upholstered front bucket seats (with three level heating and ventilation), and an upgraded audio system. Most importantly, the Denali provides a full suite of advanced safety technology including forward collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane keep assist, and low-speed forward automatic braking, as well as automatic high beams. The Sierra Denali lacks adaptive cruise control, however, which is offered as an option on the Ford F-150 Platinum.

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Competition: Heavyweights Duke it Out

The top-of-the-line Sierra Denali goes toe-to-toe with the Ford F-150 Platinum, RAM 1500 Limited, Toyota Tundra Platinum and Nissan Titan XD Platinum Reserve in the lofty land of pricey pickups. GMC wisely avoids the Platinum "me too" naming syndrome, which is a good thing. Will we ever see GMC counter the western themes of the F-150 King Ranch, Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn and Tundra 1794 Edition? That’s hard to say, but a Sierra El Capitan version might just hit the mark. If you’re dropping fifty large or more on a luxury pickup, it needs to stand out from the competition.

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Sierra Denali Powertrains

The Sierra Denali’s base 5.3-liter V8 engine produces 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, while the optional 6.2-liter V8 pumps out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, each on regular gasoline. Both engines utilize variable valve timing and direct injection. Active Fuel Management cuts the V8 back to four cylinders under light loads to conserve fuel. All Sierra Denalis are equipped with eight-speed automatic transmissions. By comparison, the F-150 Platinum is offered with standard 5.0-liter V8 that produces 385 hp and 387 lb-ft of torque or an optional 3.5-liter turbocharged "EcoBoost" V6 that delivers 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Our Sierra tester’s 6.2-liter offered oodles of power and a 0-60-mph time of slightly under 7.5 seconds. Unfortunately, the Denali is not offered with FlexFuel capability -- the ability to run on gasoline using up to 85 percent ethanol content -- although the Sierra SLT offers the option for $100 on the 5.3-liter. FlexFuel can be advantageous in parts of the country where higher-percentage ethanol fuel blends are offered, as GM FlexFuel engines have been engineered to produce more horsepower while running high-octane blends.

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Fuel Efficiency

The Sierra Denali’s fuel efficiency ratings land in the middle of the pack. The 5.3-liter V8 is EPA-rated at 18 mpg city / 22 mpg highway with two-wheel-drive and 16 city / 21 highway with four-wheel-drive. The 2WD 6.2-liter is EPA-rated at 17 city / 21 highway MPG, and the 4WD model falls to 17 city / 20 highway. We saw an indicated average of slightly over 18 mpg in a week of driving in mixed conditions in our 4WD 6.2-liter Denali. The 26-gallon fuel tank provided a substantial amount of driving range. The RAM 1500 EcoDiesel -- though not yet on sale as of this writing -- is the most fuel-efficient competitor, landing an impressive at 21 city / 29 highway with 2WD and 19 city / 27 highway with 4WD (based on the EPA’s 2016 ratings). With Ford adding a turbodiesel option for the F-150 and the Titan XD already offering one, will GM follow suit? Meanwhile, if you dig the Sierra Denali’s style but want something that’s more efficient and can live with a smaller truck, GMC's midsize Canyon Denali might just fit the bill, with EPA ratings of up to 22 / 30 in 2WD and 20 / 28 in 4WD with its optional diesel engine. 

At the opposite efficiency extreme, the Toyota Tundra Platinum is exceptionally thirsty, with an EPA rating of 13 city / 17 highway with 4WD.  

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Denali Ultimate Package -- With a Caveat

Although the most notable cosmetic change in the Denali Ultimate option package ($7,450) might be the 22-inch chromed and painted alloy wheels wrapped with P285/45R22 all-terrain tires, it’s the mighty 6.2-liter V8 that’ll bring a smile to your face every time you stomp on the go pedal. Your passengers will appreciate the Tri-Mode Power Steps that make it easy to climb into and out of the truck, the power sunroof that opens the cabin up to the sky, and an active noise cancellation system that hushes road rumble. An integrated trailer brake controller and 3.23 rear axle ratio ease towing chores, while a set of chrome recovery hooks add a tough look. A word of caution: While the Ultimate package’s jumbo-sized 22-inch wheels and low profile tires look cool on the street, they’re the opposite of what you’ll want at all four corners when you’re out on the trails. If off-roading’s your thing, outfitting the SLT with the All Terrain X package (and 18-inch wheels with taller sidewalls) is the way to go.

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The Sierra Denali’s interior is a luxurious office on wheels, with plenty of room for the crew. Our tester’s 12-way-adjustable Jet Black buckets, upholstered in perforated leather, delivered ample support for long days in the saddle. Three-level ventilation and split-cushion heating help ward off the weather and ease an aching back, while a power-sliding rear window adds welcome ventilation on balmy days. The second-row seats are comfy and versatile, with 40.5 inches of headroom, 40.9 inches of legroom, 65.7 inches of shoulder room and 60.3 inches of hip room. The seats fold up easily to accommodate large items. We loaded a pair of end tables in a flash. Worth noting: The F-150 Platinum and RAM 1500 Limited offer heated rear seats, which the Denali does not.

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Infotainment -- Plugging In, With or Without Wires

Both the SLT and Denali are fitted with an eight-inch touchscreen IntelliLink infotainment system, with support for wireless Bluetooth streaming and Pandora, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Denali adds a sharp integrated navigation system. While the Sierra SLT has a six-speaker configuration, the Denali benefits from a seven-speaker Bose premium audio system with a subwoofer. A wireless charging pad on the center console lid accommodates suitably equipped Android phones, with ubiquitous USB ports for everyone else (as long as they're in the front seat). The GM OnStar system includes a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, which is great for keeping the crew online while they’re on the road. One downside: The Denali lacks a rear seat charging port.

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Hauling in Style

While many owners will avoid messy day-to-day work truck chores, the Sierra Denali is surely up to the task. The 4WD Sierra has a maximum payload of 2,120 pounds and a maximum trailering capacity of 11,700 pounds. The base rear axle ratio is 3.42. All Sierras are equipped with convenient CornerStep rear bumpers and cargo box LED lighting. The Denali trim level includes a spray-on bed liner, four movable upper tie-downs and an EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate that allows one-handed operation. You’re not likely to haul a cargo box full of gravel, but the neighbors will keep you busy on the weekends and your Honey Do list will magically regenerate itself every week. Our Denali tester handled cleanup day hauling tasks like a champ.

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Driving Impressions

Driving the Denali is a soothing experience. While the Sierra model line shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Silverado, the Denali ups the ante with Magnetic Ride Control. It’s wonderfully smooth and quiet. GMC’s engineers paid particular attention to reducing wind noise and rattles. Stomping on the go pedal is pure joy. The 6.2-liter V8 delivers a splendid rush of power and the exhaust note is as American as apple pie. Meanwhile, easing up on the pedal while cruising at speed rewards the driver with significantly improved fuel economy via seamless cylinder deactivation. You'll have to decide for yourself if the Denali is the cream of the crop when it comes to buttery-smooth ride. The RAM 1500 Limited is unique in the class for its standard Active-Level Four-Corner Air Suspension system, which allows for variable off-road heights and automatically lowers itself at highway speeds to improve aerodynamic efficiency.

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It’s Not Lonely at the Top Anymore

In the early days, the Sierra Denali stood out from the crowd. The competition is fierce 15 years down the road. If you can put brand preferences aside, you’ll do well to test drive the Sierra Denali against the F-150 Platinum and RAM 1500 Limited. One of these trucks is bound to fit you better than the others. The Denali nameplate pays homage to the highest mountain peak in North America -- but the landscape has changed.

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