Pickups aren’t famous for being luxurious, but the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate is here to change that. For many years, the Sierra Denali has been synonymous with luxury and lavish style. Not something you often see on pickups around the market. That is one of the main reasons it is topping the sales charts. However, it is not the only reason people like the Sierra 1500 Denali. It is a good reliable pickup that does many things right. It has power, it has style and it has durability. All the things you wish for in your pickup.
But pickups aren’t simple workhorses anymore. That is why other manufacturers decided to up their game and give their flagships more style and luxury. Well, that kind of forced GMC’s hand at going ahead with the Denali Ultimate trim. If you thought that Denali was lavish, wait till you see the luxury and bling that the Denali Ultimate brings. There isn’t a more stylish and luxurious pickup on the market. But that doesn’t mean that the new Sierra neglects what pickups are all about. The performance is there as well. Let’s take a look at what the new pickup will look like.
GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate Interior
The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate is all about style and luxury. This means an excellent interior and great detailing. The interior is quite spacious and offers a lot of legroom and headroom. You won’t feel cramped in this cabin. It arrives with perforated Forge leather seating surfaces with contrast stitching. There are a lot of chrome and aluminum accents along the cabin which adds to the luxury. The Denali logo is present in the form of embroidery on the front seats. The seats have 10 positions and two-way lumbar control.
Driver seat has a memory so you can save your preset preferred position. The speaker grille is stainless steel and the audio system is by bose and has 12 speakers. Of course, GMC also threw in the latest Super Cruise. This means more than 200 000 miles of pre-mapped interstate roads. This hands-free driving software will allow drivers to relax a bit behind the wheel. This works even when towing a trailer. It is free for 3 years after which you have to purchase it.
Upright Design
On the outside, the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate is nothing less than exquisite. It has that aggressive look and is very sleek looking. The front grille is chrome with a Denali logo. Wheel rims are 22 inches and have chrome inserts. Front recovery hooks are present. Headlights are dual LED projectors and are C shaped. Even the tailgate has its own audio system.
Engine
The powertrain is one of the most important parts of the good pickup equation according to many. The style and design are not important if the pickup doesn’t do what it is designed to do. This means it has to be powerful and sturdy. Having one engine simply doesn’t cut it anymore. There needs to be a choice since the needs of buyers differ greatly. For that reason, GMC blessed its fans with 4 reliable options for the powertrain. First up there is a 2.7-liter turbo-four engine. It can produce 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque.
Next up is its bigger cousin, the 5.3 liter V8 with 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. We also have the choice of a 6.2 liter V8 which can produce 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. And for those who just need a bit more in the torque section, we have a diesel option as well. Although new upcoming emission regulations are trying to decrease pollution and carbon footprint, GMC decided to keep their diesel engine. Some things are hard to beat and this 3.0 liter Duramax turbodiesel six-cylinder diesel engine is one of those things.
Max towing capacity for the Sierra 1500 is 13700 pounds and hauling maxes out at 2270 pounds. This is among the better in the mid-size class. Currently, there is no news about any hybrid or electric variants. And many will see this as an absolute win. Perhaps in the future, the news will be different. But for now, internal combustion engines are here to stay when Sierra is concerned. This kind of change would probably require a lot of problem-solving. For one, the platform would need to be changed. This is more than just a mid-cycle refresh. And all the components would be transferred under the cabin. There is both 8-speed automatic transmission and a 10-speed automatic.
Fuel Economy
The mileage on the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate will depend on the engine you are using. The smallest of the bunch, a 2.7-liter engine gets 19mpg in the city and 22 on the highway with rear-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive version will get 17mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the open road. The 5.3-liter rear-wheel drive gets 16mpg in the city and 21 on the open road.
While all-wheel drive gets 16mpg in traffic and 20 on the highway. The 6.2 liter rear wheel is getting 15 in the city and 20 mpg on the highway and there is only all-wheel drive. The 3.0-liter diesel can get 23 in the city and 30 mpg on the open road with rear-wheel driving. The all-wheel version gets 22 and 26 mpg.
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate Price and Release Date
The fresh 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate is bound to arrive at the beginning of 2023. The starting price for this trim is $80,500. This truck is fully loaded with luxury to go around, and amazing bang for the buck.
