2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate Review: Truck Luxury

Over 20 years ago GMC noticed a market developing for luxury pickup trucks. There was a subset of buyers that needed a truck’s capability, but still wanted the posh suppleness of a luxury sedan.

The first attempt at capturing the market was the 2001 Sierra 1500 C3. If you don’t remember it, we don’t blame you as it was a one-year-only model. By 2002, the Sierra 1500 Denali was born, and the truck hasn’t looked back since.

Denali’s are now everywhere, adorning the rear tailgates and hatches of nearly every GMC vehicle line. It’s become common. The special allure of owning a Denali has somewhat washed off. Fear not though, luxury truck buyers, GMC has a solution. It’s called the Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate.

What’s New for 2024: Some Changes Here and There

Most of the 2024 changes do not affect the Denali Ultimate. The 3.0L turbocharged diesel engine is now standard on AT4X (and remains optional on the Denali Ultimate). There are some new wheels, new colors and the turbocharged four-cylinder engine is now called TurboMax.

The one update that does affect the Sierra’s top trim is the active exhaust that lets the engine bellow in sport mode. But more on that in a bit. 

Exterior Style: Conservatively Luxury

The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra have always looked quite similar, being based on the same basic architecture. With this generation though, there is some visual difference. I am not a fan of the Silverado styling, while I quite like that of the Sierra. The differences mostly center around the lights and front grille. While on that topic, the Denali Ultimate gets an exclusive grille that looks quite nice in person. 

Unlike the regular Denali, the Ultimate also gets painted front and rear bumpers as there’s no chrome here, a nod to the fact this isn’t a regular work truck. It also gets what are called Vader Chrome GMC badges front and back. 

Our tester is painted in Titanium Rush which is a dark grey full of sparkle. It also includes the optional carbon fibre composite exterior bed, the tri-fold soft tonneau cover, and multi-pro tailgate. The latter is a tailgate that power opens like normal or can just have a small top portion opened. When down, it can also transform into a set of steps. Those steps also house the optional Kicker MultiPro audio system, which is a Bluetooth/USB audio system housed in the tailgate complete with a set of speakers. It’s the Ultimate feature for high-end tailgating. 

Powertrain and Fuel Economy: The V8 Effect

Although the turbo diesel is an option, the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate really feels at home with the 6.2-liter V8 stuffed under the hood. It makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, which trails a lot of the competition on paper. But the Ram 1500 Tungsten, Ford F-150 Limited, and Toyota Tundra Capstone are all missing one key ingredient: a V8 soundtrack. 

With naturally aspirated V8s becoming such a sacred item in luxury pickup trucks, it’s refreshing to still get that low burble in the Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate. Better yet is having it breathing out the optional active exhaust. It can be set to open the valves in Sport mode to really unleash V8 goodness. 

Even though the GMC may trail a bit in terms of sheer power, it is still plenty quick when unloaded or merely performing as a passenger shuttle. The V8 is so smooth in operation, bested only by the silky 10-speed automatic. Gearchanges are so seamless and unnoticeable, it feels like physical gears don’t exist. This is the best 10-speed automatic application I’ve encountered in a truck. 

Power flows to the wheels through a 2-speed autotrac transfer case that is pushbutton operated inside the cabin. Official fuel economy figures put the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate at 15 mpg (16.0 L/100 km) city and 19 mpg (12.1 L/100 km) highway. During my week with the truck, it averaged closer to the city figure. 

Handling and Drivability: Designed to Haul

The 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Premium comes with an adaptive ride control suspension set up. It favors on-road behaviour over off-roading, also evident with the 275/50R22SL all-season tires, auto locking rear differential, and 8.1-inches (205 mm) of ground clearance.

The goal is to improve road manners, and the truck does well. Push it hard though and the outside front tire will howl in protest while the rear axle shimmies up and down. 

Where the Sierra Denali Ultimate shines is with hauling. GMC has catered the truck to those who want a luxury vehicle, but also might need to tow a sizable trailer, possibly a fifth wheel. With an auxiliary engine oil cooler, transmission cooler, and standard integrated brake controller, the big truck can tow upwards of 13,000 pounds. I didn’t personally get to tow during my week with the truck as I lacked the equipment required. 

Ride Quality and Comfort: Mostly Comfortable

The ride quality of the Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate is commendable. On better maintained roads, the adaptive suspension works well to make occupants inside the truck’s cabin fell wholly isolated from the outside world. It floats down the road in serene comfort. Rougher roads will upset the chassis a bit though, reminding everyone on board that this still is a pickup truck. The Ram 1500’s air suspension does a better overall job smoothing out the bumps. 

The driver gets a 16-way power front seats with massage, heating, and ventilation functions. The rear outboard seats also get heating capabilities. Regardless of where one sits, there’s ample space as full-size pickup trucks have possibly the largest two-row cabins. Up front there is 43-inches (1,093 mm) of headroom and 44.5-inches (1,131 mm) of legroom. In the back there’s still 40.1-inches (1,019 mm) of headroom and 43.3-inches (1,102 mm) of legroom. 

Interior Style and Quality: It’s the Easter Eggs

A proper luxury vehicle needs to look and feel the part, and here GMC has done a good job. The seats are full-grain leather, and various materials scattered around the cabin look of quality. Most surfaces are soft touch, and I love the Denali theme of engraved topographical maps found in several places.  

The one area I don’t like inside the truck is around the HVAC controls. It is shiny piano black that’s just begging to be covered in fingerprints. The vehicle’s push start button is located here as well. 

Tech and Safety: What’s Expected

For a premium truck, the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate includes the technology one would expect, like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, a WiFi hotspot, rear camera mirror, hitch view camera, and Head-Up display. For visual and audio entertainment, there is a 12.3-inch driver information center, 13.4-inch infotainment screen, and a Bose Premium Series 12-speaker sound system. 

Everything inside the truck is user friendly to operate once the button, menu, or screens are located. Our favourite feature, which is an optional item, is Super Cruise. This is one of few actual hands-free systems out there and as always, it performed flawlessly for us. 

On a safety front, the truck comes with GM Pro Safety. This features safety systems such as forward collision alert, following distance indicator, front pedestrian braking, and lane keep assist with lane departure warning. Since we have the Denali Ultimate trim level, my tester also includes the safety alert seat and enhanced automatic emergency braking. 

Value Dollars and Sense: Pay to Play

Luxury is never cheap, and the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate is no exception. Pricing starts at $84,495 (all prices include destination charges) in the United States, bumping up slightly to an as tested figure of $86,410. In Canada, the Denali Ultimate checks in at $105,699, while our as tested price increases a bit to $111,204.

Final Thoughts: Luxury with a Bed

It’s hard to quantify what true luxury is. It’s a sense of quality that is above the mundane. Luxury is not merely installing leather seats in a pickup truck and GMC has done more than that. 

The brand has tailored the 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate to appeal to those that want luxury first and a pickup second. It’s for the crowd towing horse trailers, shuttling the family, and heading to the cottage, opposed to those with a bed full of lumber, muddy boots, and concrete mix. 

The luxury pickup truck space has become quite competitive over the years, but GMC remains a real contender in the segment. Plus, it has that sweet V8 bellow too. 

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