With the debut of the new Sierra EV, GMC is in a curious position to own two all-electric pickup truck in its portfolio. Scheduled to arrive in early 2024, it will join the larger-than-life Hummer EV at GMC dealerships and yes, it can crabwalk. It’s also pretty strong, though with all that comes a insignificant starting price of $108,695.
A cheaper version of the Sierra EV will be available eventually, but it all starts with the Denali Edition 1 seen here. Like its brother Silverado EV, this truck has a unibody design with an integrated Ultium battery pack as a structural part of the vehicle. It provides 400 miles of range on a full charge, and can quickly charge up to 350 kW with 800V DC capability, adding 100 miles of range in 10 minutes. If that juice is needed for an emergency, GMC says the Sierra EV can power a home’s “critical needs” for 21 days — provided you have the tools necessary to connect everything.
The all-electric Sierra is only available as a crew cab pickup with a bed just six feet long. Like the Silverado EV, it features a midgate that opens up the interior, expanding floor space by up to nine feet. There’s also a MultiPro tailgate that folds down, creating nearly 11 feet of total floor space. For work sites or campsites, Sierra EV has a Power Station Pro that supplies 10.2 kW of off-board power through 10 outlets. This system can also be used to charge other EVs.
That’s general boilerplate stuff, but what about performance and sideways driving? That’s where the Sierra EV differs from the electric Silverado, as it gets an estimated maximum output of 754 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque – 90 hp more than the Chevy. The dual-motor layout always drives all four wheels, and in Max Power mode, GMC says the Sierra EV can hit 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds. Four-wheel steering with Crabwalk mode is available, and the truck has air travel suspension that can raise or lower the rig by as much as two inches. It can pull up to 9,500 pounds and carry 1,300 pounds in bed.
Inside, the Sierra EV Denali is slightly different from the Silverado EV. The 16.8-inch portrait-oriented display dominates the center of the dashboard. The 11.8-inch driver’s screen sits behind the wheel, with a multi-colored heads-up display that offers more info projected onto the windshield. Being a Denali, it’s dressed in premium materials including wood and aluminum trim, and there’s plenty of features like Super Cruise, panoramic roof, 14 cameras, Bose sound, and a hands-free scratch system. Just climb into the cab with the key fob in your pocket and go – no need to press the start button.
It’s important to note that everything mentioned here applies to the Sierra EV Denali Edition 1, which is the flagship of the line with a six-figure sticker price ($107,000 plus a $1,695 goal to be specific). It’s slated to hit dealerships in early 2024, with the Sierra EV AT4 and Elevation trim following the 2025 model year. GMC says the Sierra EV model will be offered in the $50,000 range, but it’s currently unknown what those trims will be and when they will arrive.
For now, buyers who want to buy Denali Edition 1 can make a reservation at GMC.com. If it goes the way the Silverado EV RST did, the reservation is probably full by the time you read this.
