2024 GMC SIERRA EV DENALI PROMISES MASSIVE RANGE—WITH A STICKER TO MATCH
- 2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 is due to land with a manufacturer-estimated range of 440 miles on a full charge, landing just below the EPA range rating of its Chevrolet Silverado EV sibling.
- The Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 will start at $99,495, joining two versions of the Hummer EV in GMC's electric truck lineup.
- The electric truck is slated to offer 754 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque in Max Power mode, providing a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds and a maximum payload of 1,450 pounds.
Even before the debut of the GMC Hummer EV, we knew that eventually we'd see several different versions of this truck architecture under different badges. And after the debut of the Chevrolet Silverado EV, it's now the turn of the GMC Sierra EV.
Just a few months ahead of its official market debut, GMC has shared a few crucial specs that will differentiate the Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 from the other two electric truck models we've seen thus far. And this version will serve up something electric trucks haven't always offered in abundance: range.
The 2024 Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 is set to offer 440 miles of range—a manufacturer's estimate rather than official EPA numbers for the moment—still landing well north of the initial 400-mile estimate. We should note that this applies strictly to the Denali Edition 1, so other versions of the truck that will appear later may feature somewhat different range estimates.
The Chevrolet Silverado EV, which is already on sale, will still edge out this version of the Sierra EV with its 450-mile EPA range rating. The GMC Hummer EV, with its 314-mile range, will remain far behind by this measure.
The 440-mile range rating still places it far above the (much more aerodynamic) EV sedans on the market, easily eclipsing models like the Mercedes-Benz EQS and the Tesla Model S, and also landing exactly 100 miles above the 340-mile range of the Cybertruck. In fact, we have a feeling this particular metric will be brought up quite frequently in various comparison tests in the coming months, especially when it is tested while actually towing something.
An 800-volt architecture, meanwhile, will permit charging rates of up to 350 kW, allowing the truck to gain 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes.
The automaker has also revealed that the Sierra EV's towing and payload numbers will also be higher than the estimate, with the Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 promising a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds and a maximum payload of 1,450 pounds.
The fully loaded Edition 1 is set to feature a few extras, including the now-familiar four-wheel steering feature, including CrabWalk, as well as an Air Ride Adaptive Suspension, and the MultiPro MidGate that will permit a maximum load floor length of almost 11 feet. GM's Level 2 SuperCruise will be an option.
The Sierra EV also won't be short on power when it arrives later this summer, with GM estimating 754 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque, at least in Max Power mode.
But more range will ultimately mean more money, and that's another thing GM's three electric pickup trucks have in common. The Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 will start at $99,495, landing a bit north of the $74,800 starting price of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV.
From a broader perspective, later this summer the GMC brand will have not one but two giant electric pickups on sale—a reality that was difficult to picture even a few short years ago.
Just how wide of an repeat truck buyer audience either version could capture remains to be seen, given some of the headwinds its competitors have already faced amid a noted slowdown in demand for EV trucks that has already seen Lightning production cuts.
In a short span of time the Sierra EV will also face no shortage of rivals, including the Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, as well as the upcoming Ram 1500 REV.
Will we see electric trucks capture a large portion of the truck market by the end of the decade, or will repeat truck buyers largely stick with gas and diesel offerings, in addition to hybrids? Let us know what you think.
Looking to purchase a car? Find your match on the MSN Autos Marketplace 2024-04-17T16:11:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd