- Sierra EV Denali stands out with a GM-estimated 460 miles
- Midgate setup allows flexibility for items nearing 11-feet long
- Versatility from air suspension, rear-wheel steering, Super Cruise
“I’ve been on that route, and it’s not one for a full-size pickup—let alone one weighing nearly 9,000 kilos.”
That was what I noted, partly in disbelief, to my co-driver as we were shown right into a 2025 GMC Sierra EV and sent off to wind up through narrow Bay Area Redwood highways and stretches of Skyline Boulevard.
Memory served well concerning the roads; the route included some undulating ribbons of asphalt on ridges that I’d enjoyed thoroughly in a bit of Volkswagen GTI years earlier. But I completely underestimated the Sierra EV.
At about 233 inches long and 84 inches wide not counting mirrors, the large electric truck wasn’t so nerve-wracking for tackling narrow lanes. I could place it with precision, due to rear-wheel steering that pivots the rear wheels at a small angle opposite the fronts in low-speed hairpins. Fast torque delivery from the Sierra EV’s dual-motor system meant we didn’t lose momentum up the hills, while the air suspension kept us feeling even-keeled. Strong regenerative braking (Normal and High) kept our speed right appropriately on the steep downhill grades.
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
I went into the day knowing well this truck’s lofty range claim of 460 miles and the way quickly it accelerates—and I didn’t need further proof that it may blast quietly to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds (or higher, it seems). But GMC nudged us along the type of route I never would have chosen, including loads of those curves, some towing, some in-the-dirt play with the rear-wheel steering demonstrating the astonishing maneuverability and camera views, and an exercise with CrabWalk mode, which points the rear wheels in the identical direction because the fronts. And it turned us loose with the challenge of fitting an entire lot of outdoor-fun gear into the Sierra EV in a rush.
By the top of the day, I felt schooled. GMC hasn’t made a unusual design statement (that’s the Cybertruck), aimed for the outdoor lifestyle crowd (that’s the R1T), or just made an electrical version of its top-selling truck (that’s the F-150 Lightning).
The GMC Sierra EV sits next to the GMC Hummer EV within the GMC lineup, and the brand essentially separates the 2 by saying that if the Hummer EV pickup is the “it” truck, the Sierra EV is the “do it” truck. As a product, it’s a more impressive accomplishment for the market, and if you happen to’re in search of essentially the most cargo versatility for giant items, and essentially the most range for towing, hauling, and doing trucky things, that is it.
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
2025 GMC Sierra EV: Big selection for a “do it” truck
The 2025 GMC Sierra EV has a few of the market’s highest range rankings, not since it’s a standout for efficiency but since it goes big on its battery packs. Each battery packs are dual-layer, with the potential to stitch the 2 layers together in series to permit 800-volt DC fast-charging. The Max Range’s 205 kwh, it achieves range rankings of 460 miles, and the Prolonged Range’s 170 kwh affords 390 miles. The Max Range number is “GM-estimated,” because that super-sized pack throws the Sierra EV right into a medium-weight category that doesn’t apply to EPA rankings.
Over nearly 90 miles of widely varied street and highway driving, we saw 1.9 miles per kwh in accordance with the Sierra EV’s trip computer—suggesting we’d still see 390 miles of range or more in such a driving.
The massive battery opens up possibilities. The Sierra EV can tow as much as 10,500 kilos with the Prolonged Range pack or 10,000 kilos with the Max Range pack, and while it would halve the range, that’s not a lot of a difficulty here.
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1
2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1
Sierra EV can tow comfortably, find space for gear
In a brief loop with a 5,500-pound trailer, the Sierra EV seemed mostly unfazed by the load, still able to accelerating quicker than a completely loaded minivan. On a loop with two full-acceleration taps, it averaged just 1.0 miles per kwh, in accordance with the trip computer—still indicating that 200 miles of range is feasible with a horse trailer or large boat.
Max Range versions just like the one I drove deliver as much as 760 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque, via two everlasting magnet motors which can be designed and built by GM. Prolonged Range versions have essentially the identical hardware, apart from the battery pack, but make 645 hp and 785 lb-ft.
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
Those power numbers, and the 4.5-second acceleration time for the Max version, are only delivered when in Max Power mode. The Sierra EV also has Normal-Tour, Off-Road, Tow-Haul, and a customized mode. GM wouldn’t say what peak power is in any of those other modes.
The Sierra EV has an 11.0-cubic-foot frunk—called the eTrunk here, with a cupholder, a drain, weatherproofing, and more. However the surprise cargo-versatility star here is the Midgate. In only a number of minutes you possibly can convert the backseat area into an expansion of the cargo bed—making a 9-foot-1-long space with the tailgate locked, or a 10-foot-10 space with the tailgate down and the flip-down tailgate load step used to backstop long items—like a kayak.
Engineers emphasized that the Midgate isn’t meant as an answer to only use every so often, reasonably something you would possibly use day by day. While it’s not weatherproof, after all, it’s an amazing solution for bringing gear a number of miles to a launch point—without having to get specialized carriers—and you possibly can leave considered one of the backseat positions in place while using it.
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
Sierra EV Denali is pricey, but thoroughly equipped
The GMC Sierra may be very closely related to the Chevrolet Silverado EV RST, but there are some key differences in the way it matches into the EV market and the truck market. In 2024, the Sierra EV was only offered in its top Denali trim, with what’s essentially “the works”—the most important battery pack, the air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and a feature set that’s one of the luxury-focused amongst full-size pickups.
For 2025, there have been just some slight price changes, the addition of the Prolonged Range version, and 20 miles more for the Max Range version resulting from some efficiency improvements to the motor units themselves. My day was spent with the highest Sierra EV Denali version, in Max Range form, costing not less than $100,495—including the $2,095 destination fee but not any additional accessories for towing and storage.
The Sierra EV Denali includes the air suspension, rear-wheel steering, a panoramic sunroof, heated-and-cooled front seats, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, heated outboard seats, a head-up display, wi-fi hotspot compatibility, and seven-speaker Bose audio. There’s also wireless charging cleverly integrated right into a sliding center console tray, plus loads of USB-C ports and a 120-volt AC cabin outlets. As well as there’s the 7.2-kw AC Offboarding Power station which may eliminate the necessity to take that small generator out to the campsite or job site.
I didn’t get the prospect to charge the Sierra EV as a part of this transient test drive. Peak fast-charging rates are listed as 350 kw for the Max Range pack and 300 kw for the Prolonged Range pack. GM says that on a 350-kw CCS connector it should get better as much as 100 miles of range in only 10 minutes, and it’s said before that either of those packs will get from 10-80% in about 40 minutes. GMC integrates a battery preconditioning feature to assist achieve peak rates; it really works with the native navigation trip planner or via the press of a virtual button.
2025 GMC Sierra EV with GM Energy suite
Ready for backing up the house, not Apple CarPlay
Within the give-and-take of EV living, the Sierra EV also includes the potential to output 10.2 kw AC, potentially eliminating the necessity to tote around a generator. And starting with the $1,699 PowerShift charger, owners can outfit their home with GM energy components that might use the Sierra EV to assist backup the house—including PowerBank home energy storage.
While the GMC Sierra EV Denali shares much with the Chevrolet Silverado EV, one of the pronounced cabin differences is that the Sierra EV gets a 16.8-inch portrait-oriented system as an alternative of the Chevy’s landscape orientation. Identical to within the Silverado EV and other latest GM EVs, it’s made with Google built-in, including the potential to run Google-ecosystem apps—but there’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility or integration.
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
GM’s Super Cruise can also be included (for 3 years) within the Sierra EV, allowing hands-off driving plus semi-automated lane changes on greater than 750,000 miles of mapped roads and highways—with maintained driver attention. Super Cruise also now works when towing. With the 5,500-pound load, I engaged the feature briefly and located regular lane positioning and solid speed control using the regenerative braking. But it surely’s still not an ideal system or one to depend on on a regular basis; after I attempted to make use of the system to cruise on US-101 around Palo Alto, it kept disabling itself because it couldn’t see the faint-and-inconsistent lane markings that we had no issue seeing.
GMC has managed to accommodate tall people so well in front and in back, allowing loads of headroom and an amazing view outward. Seats are plush yet supportive front and rear.
The cabin is super-quiet, aided by three things: an active-noise cancellation function for the Bose audio system, additional noise padding underneath in comparison with GMC’s other models, and acoustic side glass. It adds as much as the atmosphere of a luxury vehicle.
That ambience holds on this Denali version, with high-quality stitching details within the front perforated seats, patterned speaker grilles, laser-cut wood trim, and a decent fit and finish throughout. We’ll see if these standards hold for the less-expensive versions to return.
2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali
More GMC electric trucks on the best way—but when?
GMC has said that cheaper Sierra EV AT4 and Elevation models are due in 2025, even though it hasn’t confirmed whether that will probably be for the 2025 or 2026 model 12 months. GM also hasn’t given an update on when it plans to ramp up production of those trucks at its Lake Orion, Michigan, plant where it ceased constructing the Bolt EV nearly a 12 months ago. Until then, output will probably be limited.
But it surely’s easy, also, to check an excellent more kitted-out version of the Sierra EV with magnetic ride—to quell the hold-on-tight, amusement-park-ride feeling you get within the Sierra EV when accelerating rapidly on imperfect pavement. Perhaps those are the changes that may elevate this platform for the upcoming Cadillac Escalade IQ.
GM has overcome a lot of preconceptions—including my very own—and shown what an amazing electric truck it may make. Now it must make more of them.
This Article First Appeared At www.greencarreports.com
