Manoli Katakis 
General Motors continues its campaign of refreshing its stalwart pickup truck lineup. Roughly a year ago came the advent of the updated Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks. Then by summer of 2022, the new 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon stepped into the light. Now it’s time for the big ones. Just as Chevrolet debuted the 2024 Silverado HD lineup, it’s now time for the 2024 GMC Sierra HD to debut, led by the first-ever Sierra HD Denali Ultimate.
2024 GMC Sierra HD Denali Ultimate: The Newest And Nicest
We are ultimately seeing a supersized scale of what GMC debuted in the refreshed Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate. What that means is unique stitch-work, heavy-grain leather, paldeo wood panels with topographical etchings of Mt. Denali, as well as a stately badge on the center console complete with the geographical coordinates of North America’s highest peak, as well. Indeed, a metaphor for what GMC aims to achieve with this new truck: the pinnacle of big truck luxury. It even comes in dually flavor.
Like the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD that also debuted recently, the 2024 GMC Sierra HD sees powertrain improvements that consist of both the L8T gas V8 and L5P Duramax diesel V8 engines sharing a 10-speed Allison transmission. This will allow for the Navistar-built gasoline V8 to maintain a more optimal power band as it sends 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque to the wheels.
Additionally, the D-Max gets a power upgrade to an SAE-rated 470 hp (at 2800 rpm) and 975 lb-ft (at 1600 rpm) of torque. This extra power is experienced through the entire rev range. As described before, the extra gust comes from a more efficient turbocharger with improved efficiency to boost low-end torque, a more powerful turbo vane actuator and uprated valve springs for improved engine braking, new cylinder heads with improved cooling jackets, a new combustion system thanks to higher-flow injectors and greater fuel injection pressure, as well as an all-new engine controller. Sure, it’s not as powerful as what we see in either the Ford or Ram products, but a real world towing test would tell more to the story than a simple dyno sheet. Speaking of…
Tons Of Trailering Tricks
The 2024 GMC Sierra HD seeks to make long haul life easier with copious amounts of towing technology. No, it’s not Super Cruise, at least not yet, but the adaptive cruise control system is able to work with a trailer now, which is a major step in that direction, and should only be a matter of time before Super Cruise is a reality on GMC’s biggest boy.
Otherwise, the Transparent Trailer View system now also works for gooseneck and fifth-wheel towing just as it does for conventional towing, creating a “see-through” effect with the trailer. This is achieved by utilizing a camera mounted on the rear of the truck, accompanied with an accessory camera on the back of the trailer. Using both cameras in tandem, the truck pieces together a view of the area behind the truck as if the trailer was not there. In total, the 2024 GMC Sierra HD has 14 available camera views. Including viewpoints for both lining up conventional trailer hitches, as well as fifth-wheel/gooseneck trailers. A rear side view also pops up on the infotainment screen when changing lanes with the turn signal activated.
A trailer side blind zone alert system also extends side blind zone alerts to include the trailer, proactively avoiding accidents. Meanwhile a new GCWR alert system warns the driver if the vehicle and trailer weight exceed the vehicle’s Gross Combined Weight Rating, which tends to be unique per each truck configuration and content.
Technology And Stuff
After one is finished idolizing all of the finer details of the 2024 GMC Sierra HD interior, there comes focus to the much-improved, much modernized infotainment system and digital instrument cluster. The center of it all is a 13.4-inch-diagonal, landscape oriented touchscreen, which is apparently bigger than what Ram and Ford’ve got. The setup also features Google Built-In, and is compatible with Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto – both wireless. On higher-end trims is an available multicolor 15-inch-diagonal head-up display, and a 12.3-inch-diagonal digital instrument cluster. That’s just over 40 inches of blue light, if you’re counting. The new interior is available on all 2024 Sierra HD trim levels, except the entry-level Pro, which is basically the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD WT trim equivalent.
Production and deliveries of the 2024 GMC Sierra HD is set to begin in the first quarter of 2023. Pricing will be announced at a later date.
Great Truck Guys