Luxurious GMC Sierra Denali gets big engine, big performance

The 2017 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 has it all – diesel power, height, size, towing ability. It’s freaking awesome! Oh, and its interior is as nice as many luxury SUVs.

All of the numbers for the Sierra are big. It’s more than 250 inches long and 78 inches high. It has a curb weight that exceeds 6,000 pounds. Even the engine is big as it’s equipped with a 6.6-liter turbo diesel engine.

The Sierra 2500 has some new looks to it. There’s an engine scoop that helps cool off the powerful Duramax powerplant. It flows perfectly well with the aggressive design of the front end. The front end has a chrome-accented honeycomb grille. Chrome accents found all over help give it a sexy, luxurious look. And that’s certainly by design as GMC is the more upscale brand, when compared to its sister marque Chevrolet. The Sierra is not only stout, but rich-looking.

Under that new engine scoop is a big 6.6-liter V8 Duramax diesel engine that makes 445 horsepower and a stunning 910 lbs.-ft. of torque. Make no mistake, despite its appearance, this is a truck that’s ready to work and get dirty.

It has a towing capacity of 13,000 pounds which is great for those with large boats and recreational vehicles. There’s a six-speed Allison transmission and digital steering assist to make backing up a trailer much easier.

The Sierra’s size and fuel consumption are more suited to a weekend warrior than a daily driver. That all goes back to my “over trucking” mentality. The Sierra 2500 is great for what it is and what it can do.

Perhaps the biggest allure of this truck as a regular driver is the swanky interior. The cabin is cavernous and full of amazing amenities and soft touch points. The back seat is large enough for adults to cross their legs or stretch them out. And the head room is more than adequate even for taller passengers. Three adults could comfortably sit in the back. Up front, the driver seat is firm, supportive and a great driving vantage point.

It’s not quite semi-truck-like but it’s close. There’s an electronic rear window – a common trend in today’s big trucks.

General Motors has mastered making the Denali trim the go-to option across their product line. Everything about the Denali trim screams lap of luxury, and that’s certainly the case with the Sierra. From hand stitching on the leather seats to faux wood trim to LED ambient lighting, the interior is special.

The technology is outstanding, too. The intuitive infotainment system has a colorful 8-inch touchscreen that integrates with smart phones. It’s well placed in the center stack which isn’t overly cluttered but still leaves plenty of space for cups and storage in the center compartment. The center area between the front seats is one of the best organized areas of any vehicle on the road.

Make no mistake, all of these niceties come at a price. Any time you see the Denali name, you can add several thousand dollars onto the base price. The standard Sierra with the 6.0-liter diesel has a starting price of $58,495. But, bigger is better, so adding the 6.6-liter which comes with a gooseneck trailer/fifth wheel package along with the extra chrome accents, made my tester head north of $70,000. To get the Sierra trimmed out like this, the final price is $70,145. And that’s a big price.

The cost to refuel the Sierra will be steep. With a 35-gallon tank, one fill-up of diesel could easily exceed $125. Fuel ratings for the truck range from 10-13 mpg in the city to 15-18 mpg on the highway. Certainly, maximizing the towing abilities of this truck will eat into the fuel economy, too.

I find the term ’Merica to be somewhat obnoxious and unpatriotic, but if ever it was applicable, it’s in the country’s love affair with big trucks. None typifies this more than the luxurious glory of the GMC Sierra 2500.

2017 GMC SIERRA DENALI 2500