The Latest in Electric: the 2024 GMC Sierra EV Pickup
The electric pickup market is about to get a lot more competitive. Until now, if you wanted an EV pickup, you had a choice of just two vehicles: the very popular F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T, from the American-based startup (technically, there’s the Hummer EV pickup, but it’s more a luxury toy than a pickup). But now, the first Chevrolet Silverado EV models starting to reach commercial and business clients, and the Ram 1500 REV on the horizon, things are getting much more interesting. The latest EV pickup competitor is GMC’s Sierra EV, which is set to launch in early 2024.
Based on the same Ultium platform that Chevrolet uses for the Silverado EV, the GMC Sierra EV is packed with power and features. Instead of being adapted from a gasoline platform like the F-150 Lightning, the Sierra’s Ultium underpinnings provide great versatility, performance, and range. It features an 800-volt electrical architecture, most commonly found on expensive luxury cars. Thanks to that, charging times are impressively rapid, at up to 350 kW – meaning the Sierra EV can add up to 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes on the right charger. That’s faster than the Rivian R1T, faster than the Lightning, and faster than just about anything on the market.
What Is the GMC Sierra EV's Towing Capacity?
While many versions of the Sierra EV will be available over time, the launch version, called Sierra EV Denali Edition 1, delivers up to 754 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque in its most powerful drive mode. That’s better than some high-end sports cars, and at the top of the EV pickup class. Two motors, one at the front and one at the rear, power all four wheels, giving the Sierra EV exceptional grip in any situation. The Sierra EV Edition 1 also has a standard adaptive air suspension. You can select a lower ride height for more efficient cruising on the highway, then raise the truck for more capability off-road. The 2024 Sierra EV Denali Edition 1 also has a towing capacity of up to 9,500 pounds, with up to 1,300 pounds of payload.
The Edition 1, which has a starting MSRP of $107,000, also offers impressive range – an estimated 400 miles* on a full charge, according to GMC. Future models will have smaller batteries, offering a variety of different ranges and price points for consumers. Like the F-150 Lightning, the Sierra EV has an on-board Power Station Pro, allowing it to be used as a mobile power source. There’s even an available Ultium Power Bar that offers up to 10 electrical outlets to run power tools and other accessories at a work site or a campsite. With the appropriate equipment such as GM’s home energy setup, the Sierra EV can even power your house during a blackout.
*All mileage is EPA estimated.
GMC Sierra EV: Interior and Tech
As the most luxurious version of the Sierra EV, the Denali Edition 1 is packed with luxurious touches. There’s a fixed panoramic glass roof that covers both rows of seats, creating a wonderfully open-air ambiance and adding a sense of spaciousness. Leather seats have a new quilting pattern that matches the design of the EV pickup’s bold front end, and there are high-quality materials throughout, including open-pore wood trim.
Like a Tesla, a new Hands-Free Start turns the vehicle on automatically when the driver enters the Sierra EV with a key fob. Once in the vehicle, the driver simply has to put their foot on the brake and put the vehicle into gear and they are ready to go. There’s a nifty welcome animation that crosses the giant display screens, which include a large 16.8-inch portrait format screen. All displays are customizable just like a smartphone, allowing you to reposition controls and instruments to your preference.
Impressive Practicality With Spacious Frunk
The Sierra EV is not just luxurious, it’s also practical. For now, it is available exclusively as a four-door crew cab, with an integrated 5-foot, 11-inch cargo bed. But if you need more space, you can increase storage capacity by folding the rear seats and activating the “MultiPro Midgate,” which folds down the wall between the cab and the cargo bed. With the Midgate stowed, you have 9 feet of storage available. If you don’t need all that bed space, there’s a 60/40-split function for the second-row seat, allowing you to haul gear or equipment inside while still accommodating passengers. A waterproof, lockable tonneau cover is optional, and of course, at the front, there’s a spacious “frunk” offering lockable and weatherproof cargo space with two drains and a 120-volt power outlet.
The first GMC Sierra Denali EV models are expected to be delivered to customers early in 2024. More models will become available in 2025; we expect starting MSRPs around $65,000. It will be assembled in Detroit, in an upgraded facility into which General Motors has invested $2.2 billion to upgrade it for EV production. That means that less-expensive versions of the Sierra EV should be eligible for the Federal $7,500 tax incentive.
