GMC Sierra 1500 Denali is the boss' workhorse - Florida Weekly

GMC has taken pride in loving pickups long before it was cool. So, while the rest of the industry has been skewing toward adding hints of industrial-grade toughness, the already established workhorse arm of General Motors has been tipping toward adding a premium feeling. The best place to see that is in the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali.

It’s an all-new truck, and GMC seemed to focus its time developing clever ideas. Inside, there are cubby holes in the rear seats and a camera showing the trailer hitch. Outside, lightweight materials have shed over 350 pounds, and there are steps integrated in the rear bumper.

While the premium Denali line is famous features like its distinct grille, the cleverness extends to this upscale line. It includes a standard upgrade to the new MultiPro tailgate. It’s a two-piece setup offering a six-way configuration for everything from a good way to secure long lumber loads, to the widest bed step around today.

Shrewdness is needed in the market right now. This is an all-new truck competing in one of the hottest fields. Not only is its Chevrolet Silverado sibling just as new, but also the Ram 1500 is just as fresh. Plus, a new F-150 is expected soon. That means there’s plenty of truck news, and the GMC needs to stand out in both form and function.

Inside, everything is laid out in a straightforward manner like a good truck should. The tall dash leaves plenty of separate space for the touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, and enough toggle buttons to make this truck feel like an aircraft.

The premium-level Denali surrounds these features with leather and open-pore wood. This is all standard in black, but be on the lookout for a tasteful brown and coordinating walnut trim option available at no additional charge.

While it already comes well-equipped, the surround view camera is a must-have on a pickup like this. A tall truck with beefy/boxy lines means the last few inches between other vehicles aren’t seen. Having a definitive 360-degree view takes the mystery out of parking.

The camera system can only be bundled with other features, so the total cost is $2,230. The good news is this technology package comes with a bunch of other useful features like head-up display, lane keep assist, low-speed automatic braking, cross traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rear-view camera built into the rear view mirror.

The spacious back seat is an acknowledgment of a truck’s real role in society today. No longer the household’s subordinate workhorse, a premium truck does a family’s work with enough space to haul children and or adults in the rear.

Another acknowledgment that this is meant to be the primary every day machine is the four-wheel-drive system. Both axles can be locked in high or low for true 4×4 duty, but the Autotrac system goes further. It has an automatic transfer case mode that offers the same kind of security as an all-wheel-drive crossover. This system is optional on the lower-level Sierras, but it’s standard on the Denali.

The Denali also gets Adaptive Ride Control as standard. Computers are constantly monitoring the road conditions and can respond within two milliseconds.

It instantly dampens bumps and even adds a tighter feeling in Sport mode.

Automatic all-wheel drive and an adaptive suspension are nice assets on a truck like this, because there’s always plenty of power underfoot. The Denali line only offers the two largest engines in the lineup. They are a 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8s producing 355 and 420 horsepower respectively.

The 2019 GMC Sierra Denali starts at $56,195. Those who load it with all the options, including the larger V8, upgraded paints, and luxury interior details, can push the price beyond $70K. The sweet spot seems to be just adding in four-wheel drive and the useful technology package — creating a $62K premium truck.

That still might seem like it’s expensive, because it is. The Denali name is meant to signal a premium vehicle, and it works especially well within the Sierra lineup.

The base truck starts at $34,995. There are multiple trim levels, and by the time it reaches the ultimate Denali tier, only the highest-end features are available. This includes the larger Crew Cab configuration, highest power V8s, and leather interiors. There are cheaper ways to get into a new GMC, but Sierra 1500 Denali represents the premium end of the truck world, and accepts nothing less. ¦

Let's block ads! (Why?)