GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali: 2018 Motor Trend Truck of the Year Finalist

Good ... but not great

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We Like: Its powerful engine

We Don’t Like: Driveline behavior when towing

GM gave its heavy-duty trucks a new engine for the 2017 model year, but neither the Chevrolet Silverado HD nor the GMC Sierra HD were ready in time for last year’s Truck of the Year competition. The updated HDs missed out on a battle royale with the Ram HD and Ford Super Duty—but that might have been for the best.

For this year’s competition, GM sent a Sierra 3500 HD dually, which packed the new 6.6-liter turbodiesel Duramax V-8, which makes 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque (up 48 hp and 145 lb-ft) and came mated to a six-speed Allison automatic transmission. That engine felt great when the truck wasn’t under load. “This truck is properly fast,” Christian Seabaugh said. “It has plenty of horsepower from this diesel and an endless assault of torque.”

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But once a 22,000-pound gooseneck trailer was attached, there was significant shift shock when towing around the proving ground. The driveline lash was still present on Davis Dam, where the Sierra had only 7,740 pounds to tow. With last year’s test still fresh in many judges’ memories, the GMC “wasn’t nearly as smooth or effortlessly capable” despite towing 7,300 pounds less than the Ford or Ram, Walton noted.

Despite the Denali badge, the GMC’s interior didn’t impress. “The midlevel Lariat felt more upscale,” Seabaugh said. “This has way too much plastic and not enough technology.”

Ed Loh summed up the Sierra 3500 HD best: “This doesn’t feel like an attempt to be a class leader. If the Sierra represents the best of GM’s heavy-duty efforts, this is solidly midpack.”

Read about other 2018 Truck of the Year Finalists:

2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD Duramax (3500 4WD DRW)
POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT	Front-engine, 4WD
ENGINE TYPE	Turbocharged 90-deg V-8, iron block/alum heads
VALVETRAIN	OHV, 4 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT	402.7 cu in/6,599 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO	16.0:1
POWER (SAE NET)	445 hp @ 2,800 rpm †
TORQUE (SAE NET)	910 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm †
REDLINE	–
WEIGHT TO POWER	18.9 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION	6-speed automatic
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE/LOW RATIO	3.73:1/2:28:1/2:72:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR	Control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar; live axle, leaf springs
STEERING RATIO	18.0:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK	3.6
BRAKES, F; R	14.0-in vented disc; 14.0-in vented disc, ABS
WHEELS	6.5 x 17-in cast aluminum
TIRES	235/80R17 120/117/R (M+S) Michelin LTX A/T2
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE	167.6 in
TRACK, F/R	68.2/75.2 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	258.3 x 96.0 x 77.7 in
TURNING CIRCLE	55.7 ft
CURB WEIGHT	8,426 lb
WEIGHT DIST, F/R	57/43%
SEATING CAPACITY	5
HEADROOM, F/R	42.8/40.5 in
LEGROOM, F/R	45.3/40.9 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/R	64.8/64.3 in
CARGO VOLUME BEH 1ST ROW	76.3 cu ft
PICKUP BOX L x W x H	97.8 x 51.0 x 21.2 in
PICKUP BOX VOLUME	76.3 cu ft
WIDTH BET WHEELHOUSES	51.0 in
PAYLOAD CAPACITY	4,930 lb
TOWING CAPACITY	22,700 lb
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30	2.7 sec
0-40	3.9
0-50	5.5
0-60	7.6
0-70	9.8
0-80	13.0
0-90	16.6
0-100	—
PASSING, 45-65 MPH	3.9
QUARTER MILE	15.8 sec @ 88.2 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	148 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.70 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	30.0 sec @ 0.55 g (avg)
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH	1,500 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
BASE PRICE	$68,475
PRICE AS TESTED	$70,490
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL	Yes/Yes
AIRBAGS	6: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain
BASIC WARRANTY	3 yrs/36,000 miles
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY	5 yrs/100,000 miles
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE	5 yrs/100,000 miles
FUEL CAPACITY	36.0 gal
† SAE Certified