The truck wars won’t be over anytime soon as automakers battle it out with new models, bringing increasingly burly capability, luxurious interiors, and higher price tags. The 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 is part of this trend with the Denali Ultimate trim. It comes with refreshed styling and some practical improvements as well.
Top Features of the Sierra 2500 Denali Ultimate
Previously, the Ultimate was a package you could add on at your GMC dealership when buying the truck, but now it’s a stand-alone top trim for the Sierra 2500. This truck has plenty of pros that make it worth buying. One of these is its impressively designed cabin. For an HD pickup truck, the Sierra 2500 Denali Ultimate offers some serious luxury inside, including real wood, soft leather, and shiny metal accents.
Engine choices for the Sierra 2500 Denali Ultimate are also a big plus. The main carryover engine is the 6.6-liter gas V8 that makes 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque. The other engine is a 6.6-liter turbo diesel V8 that makes 470 horsepower and 975 pound-feet of torque. That impressive torque number is what makes most buyers opt for the diesel.
The GMC Sierra 2500 Denali Ultimate also receives several tech upgrades, including a new dashboard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.4-inch center touchscreen display. A giant 15-inch, full-color heads-up display projects onto the windshield as well.
More Reasons To Buy
If the above practical improvements aren’t enough to convince you to visit your GMC dealership to have a look at the new Sierra 2500 Denali Ultimate, let’s take a look at the wildcards. Despite its power and size, the Sierra 2500 is surprisingly well-mannered to drive. Its upgraded suspension delivers a stable and comfortable ride even when it’s not hauling anything. The cabin remains remarkably quiet as well.
The refresh increases the new Sierra 2500’s towing ability to 22,500 pounds, which covers almost anything you can throw at it. It also adds a Transparent Trailer function with cameras that remove the trailer from the center screen so you can see beyond it. The function now works with fifth-wheel and goosenecks.
Some Downsides To Consider
No vehicle is perfect, and there are a few things about the 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali Ultimate that might give you pause. The first one is size. The Sierra 2500 is a big truck and it might be too big for the average daily driver. It may have a nice ride, but it’s still huge and difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. Its high hood and squat windshield make this even harder in some situations.
No one buys a huge truck like this for its fuel economy, but it’s worth mentioning that the Sierra 2500 is not particularly efficient. HD trucks are not rated by the EPA, but real-world tests show that this truck only manages about 16 MPG in combined driving.
Ultimately, the 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali Ultimate is a good truck and a solid choice if you’re planning to tow or haul and want something really nice and comfortable to do it in. If size and price are a concern, then it’s a harder sell.
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