Need a truck, but want something more luxurious than that standard spec pickup with vinyl seats that your gardener drives? Well we have just the perfect truck for you, the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali. As its name suggests, the pickup’s bones come from the Sierra 1500, but by adding the Denali badge, this pickup is basically a Cadillac pickup, if Cadillac still made one.
Under the hood the 2018 GMC Sierra Denali is ready to pull just about anything thanks to its available 6.2L V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft. of torque. The V8 sends the power to the ground via an eight-speed automatic transmission. If that’s too much power for you, the standard spec engine is a 5.3L V8 with 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft. Our tester had the 6.2L V8, which made it drive like a boss – with its tire screeching torque and meaty sounding engine. The 2WD 5.3L V8 is rated at 16/26, while the 4WD and both version of the 6.2L V8 are rated at 15/26 mpg.
On the road the Sierra 1500 Denali soaks up bumps with ease thanks in large part to its magnetic ride control suspension. You don’t bounce around as much as you would in other full size pickups and the amount of body roll is kept in check. The magnetic ride control is easily one of the Sierra 1500 Denali’s best features, since it constantly adjusts the suspension to make sure that the ride is ideal.
While the 6.2L V8 is nice, that isn’t just what the Sierra 1500 Denali is all about. This truck has more style than you’d expect in a pickup. On the outside, it’s all about the bling with its large chrome grille, 20-inch aluminum wheels, LED lighting and power side steps. Inside there’s leather seats, a heated steering wheel, Bose audio system, wireless charging for your phone, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, power-adjustable pedals and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can also add a rear entertainment system with wireless headphones to entertain the kids.
The interior materials are much better than you’d expect in a typical full size pickup with its high quality leather seats, aluminum and wood trim and soft touch materials. To keep the interior quiet there’s even an optional Bose noise cancellation system. Overall the interior feels more like a luxury SUV than a hard working truck. That being said there were some plastic bits that did look a little outdated on the dash and our tester lacked a push/ start button and instead used a retro key and key fob.
Don’t worry that even with the extra bling and luxurious interior, the Sierra 1500 Denali is just as tough as the other Sierra 1500 models. The Sierra 1500 Denali can tow up to 9,100 pounds and an available Trailering Camera system, Trailer Sway Control and a Trailerer Brake Controller make towing that large family boat a bit easier.
Whether you need to spend the day at the construction site, drive out to the county club for a day of golf or even a night on the town for date night, the 2018 Sierra 1500 Denali is the ideal truck for almost any occasion.
The 2018 GMC Sierra Denali starts at $54,295.
