This week we have the Escalade of pickup trucks, the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate. You’d be hard pressed to find a more luxurious truck anywhere.
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Exterior
As you walk around the refined exterior in Titanium Rush, you see the big GMC grill, which is unique to the Ultimate, tow hooks, LED headlights, tail lights, and fog lamps, 22” wheels, and dual exhaust in the rear.
Powertrain
Under the hood is a 3-liter Duramax diesel engine that is putting out 305-Horses, but most importantly 495-pound feet of torque. It is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission that has shift paddles and my tester is four-wheel drive.
Interior
As you enter the spacious cabin, the interior is luxurious. The seats are comfortable, they are heated and cooled, and they will massage you. Beautiful stitching is everywhere, and all materials are soft to the touch.
From the driver’s seat, you see a large 12.3” gauge cluster that is colorful and easy to read. There is a configurable driver info center that you scroll through from the steering wheel.
The Denali Ultimate has a huge 13.4-inch touchscreen that sits on the dash. It operates the 12-speaker Bose sound system, Bluetooth, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Google Assistant.
A swipe to the left gives you the trailer towing settings, climate, vehicle settings, Wi-Fi Hotspot, and more. You can configure the buttons as you wish and add and delete them as you choose.
Under that are A/C controls, and a row of buttons that will do many things, most notable is to turn on the lane assist, activate the parking assist, turn off the start/stop system, lower the tailgate, and you can lower all 4 windows at one time.
Under that, you can charge your cell phone, there is a T-handle shifter and a couple of cup holders. Your elbows will rest on a deep but very soft center console that also houses USB and USB-C ports.
Moving to the second row of seating, there is tremendous leg and headroom, the seat is heated, there are air conditioner vents, a fold down armrest with cup holders, and USB and USB-C ports. The seats fold up from the bottom for additional storage and there is storage built into the back of the rear seats.
Features
This Sierra has all the popular comfort and safety features you want including power tilt and heated steering wheel, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, blind spot warning, deployable running boards, remote start, rear seat reminder, a power moon roof, rear camera mirror, a head-up display, and trailer towing package.
Super Cruise
This pickup is equipped with GM’s $2,200 Super Cruise self-driving system. GM has driven and mapped out over 400,000 miles of divided highways across America.
On an approved road, you’ll get a green light on the dash. Set the cruise control, hit the Super Cruise, and the vehicle literally drives itself. If you want to change lanes, turn on your blinker and it will make sure there is enough room and will change lanes for you.
A small camera on the steering wheel monitors your eyes to make sure you are engaged, and if not, you get a verbal warning. After that, the car will start to slow down, the flashers come on, and it will safely get you off the road and Onstar will call for help. This is in case the driver is incapacitated.
MultiPro Tailgate
It also has GMC’s famous MultiPro tailgate. It drops down, then folds down to form a step, it has a grab handle to help you in, and it has Kicker speakers built-into the tailgate for your stadium parties. There is also a 120-volt power outlet back there.
MPG and What You'll Pay
Fuel economy is 23 in town 27 on the highway, and 24 overall, substantially better than the 6.2 V8 that comes standard. MSRP on this one is $85,540, which includes a $1,500 credit for the diesel engine.
- What I Liked Most: Looks, the way it drives, and fuel economy.
- What I would change: Actually nothing, it’s just a great pickup.
- MSRP: Base Price $82,500/Total MSRP $85,540 with transportation.
- Fuel Economy: 23 city/27 highway/24 overall.
- Odometer reading when tested: 900 miles.
- Weight: 5,586 pounds/6,700 pound GVWR.
- Spare Tire: Full-sized.
- Length-Width-Height: 231.9” long/81.2” wide/75.5” high
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 24 gallons with the filler on the driver’s side.
- Official Color: Titanium Rush Metallic.
- Towing Capacity: 9,500 pounds.
- 2024 Sierra Ultimate in a few words: A great driving luxury truck, very nimble, great fuel economy, and an overall joy to drive.
- Warranty: 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper, 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty with roadside assistance, first maintenance visit is free and courtesy transportation.
- Final Assembly Location: Roanoke, IN.
- Manufacturer's website: GMC
