Is the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Right for You?

There’s a reason why people are eager to get their hands on the new GMC Sierra for sale: it’s reliable, has thunderous performance, class-leading variables like cargo space, and more. Pickup truck drivers looking for the best experience in its class don’t need to look any further than the Sierra 1500, but today, we’re zoning in on what many may consider the must-have trim: the Denali. With the trim garnering high praise, the question is: Should you buy a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali as your daily driver? We have all the answers you need, so let’s take a closer look at this luxurious Sierra trim.

A Variety of Powerful Engine Options

The 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali has the most unrelenting performance in any configuration. Unlike some Sierra 1500 trims, the Denali can be fitted with any of the three available powertrain setups. The Sierra 1500 Denali doesn’t utilize the turbocharged 2.7L I-4 engine and its 8-speed automatic transmission that comes standard with trims like the Pro and SLE. Instead, the standard powertrain is a 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. When custom ordering your Sierra 1500 Denali, you’ll also have the choice of a 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine or a 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel engine, both paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Performance is key with the Sierra 1500 Denali, so let’s start with the base engine. The 5.3L V8 engine helps provide 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, with its presence also meaning any 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali will tow at least 11,200 lbs, meaning a Class IV hitch will be more than sufficient, and Class V hitches are available. Alongside the punchy numbers we’ve mentioned is the 5.3L V8 engine’s impressive maximum payload capacity of 2,150 lbs.

The 6.2L V8 engine benefits from having a larger displacement than the 5.3L, with almost one full liter differentiating the two. There’s also the fact that the 6.2L V8 engine comes standard with 4WD, with RWD coming standard with the 5.3L V8 engine and an option for 4WD. The 6.2L V8 engine is undoubtedly the most performant regarding horsepower and the best capabilities you can achieve with a Sierra 1500 gasoline-powered engine—a maximum towing capacity of 13,000 lbs paraded by a blistering 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.

Helping to separate the Sierra 1500 from some competitors, notably the Ford F-150, the Sierra 1500 Denali can be fitted with the Duramax 3.0L turbo-diesel I-6 engine. The turbo-diesel engine’s horsepower may be the lowest of the three, with its 305 hp, but its 495 lb-ft of torque is a 29% increase over the Sierra 1500 Denali’s base V8 engine, and it also has a towing capacity of 13,200 lbs—the best out of any of the 2024 Sierra 1500’s four powertrains. You’ll also get a large improvement in fuel efficiency with the turbo-diesel engine, earning EPA-estimated ratings of 23 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway, and 25 MPG combined.

High-End Features Inside and Out

With the 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali, you can expect some of the most prolific features to come standard. For example, the Denali is one of the trims that come with a GMC MultiPro Tailgate standard, the tailgate with six separate functions, including load stops, an assist step, and more. The Denali also has a hitch guidance feature built into the infotainment center, which also displays the HD Surround Vision camera, granting you upwards of 14 external camera angles, including two dedicated for trailering and a birds-eye view, and both front seats are heated and ventilated.

The infotainment center that comes standard with the 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali is the exceptional 13.4-inch GMC Premium Infotainment System. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard with the GMC Premium infotainment system, but they also come with Google built-in, so you don’t need to connect your smartphone to use Google Maps or Google Assistant. The 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali also comes standard with a wireless smartphone charging pad, which you won’t find standard on most trims, and your truck also comes with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. A Head-Up display is optional, and a premium Bose audio system comes standard to make any audio playback sound crystal clear.

GMC gives 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali drivers a host of safety features—some that aren’t available on other trims. For example, the 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali has a Safety Alert Seat, which will vibrate when any advanced safety features are triggered, which is a feature you can’t get on trims like the SLE and Pro. Some advanced safety features that come standard with the truck because of GMC Pro Safety include Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Front and Rear Park Assist, and Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning.

The Safety Alert Seat is a great addition if you’re buying the 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali. It gets better: the aforementioned seat is a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, which also has power lumbar support. Next to yours is a 12-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat—both are trimmed with perforated leather, with some of your options including jet black perforated leather and a brownstone color.

Ample Space for Cargo and Passengers

The 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali has some class-leading attributes that help it become one of the most versatile pickup trucks you can buy. The first class-leading attribute is one the Sierra 1500 shares with its sibling, the Silverado 1500 – both trucks are created under the guise of General Motors. The shared attribute that beats the competition? Cargo space. You can fit your 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali with either the short or standard bed, but it’ll always be built with a crew cab. Thanks to the crew cab, every Denali can seat up to five passengers. If you configure your truck with a short bed, your Sierra 1500 Denali’s bed will be 5.8’-long and contain 62.9 cu.ft. of maximum cargo room. With the standard bed, it’ll measure 6.6’-long with 71.7 cu.ft. of space.

Class-leading measurements can be seen in the front row, where you and the passenger next to you will have a great deal of head and legroom, with 43.03 and 44.53 inches, respectively. The front row also has 66.02 inches of shoulder room and 61.18 inches of hip room. Second-row passengers are given almost equal attention to the first-row regarding measurements, with the three rear seats giving passengers 40.12 inches of headroom, 43.4 inches of legroom, and 65.16 and 60.24 inches of shoulder and hip room, respectively.

The Sierra 1500 Denali Is Truly a Next-Level Truck Driving Experience

Is the 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali the right vehicle for you? Are you the type of shopper who wants all of the best features combined into one trim, with little to no configuration required on your part, to get the features you desire? Are you in the market for a reliable pickup truck you plan on driving for many years and miles ahead? If any of these apply to you, you’ll be making the right choice if you invest in a 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali. Once you’ve driven around in a truck as feature-rich as the 2024 Sierra 1500 Denali as your daily driver, you can set a new standard for yourself with a vehicle that goes above and beyond your wildest dreams with exceptional luxury and performance.