GMC Sierra | A valuable tool

Like everyone else, the GMC Sierra is looking to expand its repertoire. By putting together the Denali Ultimate version, the Grabowsky Motor Company (it was under this name that it was founded in 1902) tried to push the category (and the price) up.

The picture is a little misleading. The raised cabin, bed, skyscraper-high grille and massive tires of the GMC Sierra give the clear impression that you have to wear construction boots to get on board. Nope. Look at it less, look at it more. Chrome, varnished rims and running boards betray its ambitions for frequent pleasant suburbs. Getting away from its primary calling, that is, a work tool capable of pulling, often, (very) heavy loads.

The Sierra Denali Ultimate is certainly a dream, but it doesn’t do much for entrepreneurs or craftsmen, who are more concerned with the utility value of their work tool than its appearance. This version is the best, most complete model of this manufacturer’s range. The structure remains rustic (level chassis), but does not forget the woodwork or leather and small touches that we generally associate with luxury cars.

The Sierra doesn’t turn down anything, not even the semi-autonomous Super Cruise drive system, which lets you slap down fast lanes, as the TV ad suggests.

The “Crew” unit sits in front of the shortest bed available (5 feet 8 inches) on the Denali Ultimate version. Five people can ride. Space is large, but once all the seats are occupied, the smallest piece of luggage is invited to go under the flexible ($595) or hard ($1,380) cover that covers the rear tray. And if you still have $265 left in your wallet, you can also use it to power up the action included in the heavy leaf. Back in the cockpit, the dashboard where the central screen has not been greedy to swallow all the physical controls in its path. Arranged like piano keys, the switches are easy to find and help reduce the risk of distraction. The front seats offer respectable comfort – little support, however – with plenty of adjustment.

His Majesty the king!

Strangely, after climbing into the Sierra, a sense of superiority mixed with modesty emerges. It must be said that this van is impressive. And it seems scary to some users who, sometimes, leave it systematically in the left lane. Unfortunately, many owners use this “power”.

This heavy and beautiful car sometimes takes a little too much. If the steering is smooth and relatively accurate, the Sierra is no acrobat. Especially in a city where its turning circle and its size require patience and skill.

His overweight causes him to fail. Especially in the turn sequence. If these are discussed too quickly, Sierra punishes you by extending the focus. On the other hand, the movement of money remains under control. Towing is not a problem either, as long as the user selects “Auto” mode, which automatically switches the car from two to four wheels.

For a pickup truck costing over $100,000, the Sierra Denali Ultimate is reasonable. You can barely hear the murmur of its 6.2 liter V8 engine. Despite its large displacement, this engine surprisingly does not use more than the other eight cylinders in the unit. Mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, this 6.2-liter has no problem tearing this XXL car from its standstill and gear changes are smooth. GMC also offers a six-cylinder turbodiesel. Although it has a low hydrocarbon appetite, it cannot be recommended. Its great complexity, the cost of this oil and the adjustments that this procedure requires make it difficult to make a profit in the short and medium term.

Quiet and stable, the Sierra Denali Ultimate takes greater care of its comfort than ever before. The suspension corresponds to the primary purpose of the vehicle, which is to say reprinting the 12 works of Asterix. But this GMC is still plagued by poor road conditions and ranks second in the category behind the RAM. The latter remains, in this chapter, a complete reference. The GMC, however, retaliates when towing a trailer. The presence of Super Cruise, an autonomous driving device (level 2) that brings a lot of peace of mind to those who hate having luggage stuck on their back. A job that the Sierra Denali Ultimate accomplishes masterfully. For the asking price, we’d expect nothing less!