GMC made a splash when it unleashed the Hummer EV lineup on the masses a few years ago. The Hummer pickup and SUV proved to be very popular with customers and while these rugged beasts were a good opening act, GMC has been preparing a sequel with the GMC Sierra EV. Not much was known about what the Sierra EV would bring to the table but the brand released final specifications in an announcement earlier today which also included a few surprises as well.
CrabWalk Makes Transition To Sierra
Before we get into the nitty gritty, we might as well talk about the biggest surprise that GMC had for the masses, and that’s confirmation that its nifty CrabWalk feature will be coming to the Sierra. The truck would be the third model in GMC’s lineup to get the feature and this would also mark the first time that a model outside the Hummer lineup would get access to the feature.
CrabWalk is a development of the truck’s four-wheel steering system and allows the Sierra to gingerly make its way around certain obstacles on the trail. We got a taste of this in the Hummer and while it’s better at impressing your friends at the local block party, CrabWalk still generates plenty of stares when used out in public. GMC even included a brief video of the truck strutting its stuff alongside its Hummer-badged teammates which we have included above.
Sierra EV and Silverado EV Share The Essentials
The rest of the specifications GMC released have alot in common with the Silverado EV. Like the Chevy, The Sierra EV will initially arrive as a range-topping trim, the Denali Edition 1 which is roughly in line with the range-topping Silverado RST. All Denali models will be powered by two electric motors that allow the truck to make 754 hp when the Denali is placed in “Max Power” mode with the brand stopping short of revealing the default figure for the truck when it’s going about its daily duties.
GMC has revised its estimates for the Sierra’s other capabilities when the company last spoke about them. towing capability for example is higher at 10,000 lbs while the payload rating has creeped up to 1,450 lbs. The bed measures 5 feet 11 inches but a configurable tailgate and a midgate feature (the latter borrowed from the axed Chevrolet Avalanche) extends the length of the bed to 11 feet. The EV range also goes up by 40 miles to a revised figure of 440 miles but GMC also chose to not reveal final specifications about the battery itself. That said, the brand did confirm that the truck will have an 800-volt architecture that will allow the truck to take up to 350 kW of DC fast charging which is enough to add 100 miles of range to the battery every 10 minutes.
The main difference between the two is their exterior and interior styling with the two going off on their own distinctive design paths In the case of the GMC, the interior gets its own dashboard design with the Sierra dividing its screens into two distinct sections with the digital instrument cluster being housed in a 11-inch screen while the infotainment system is managed by a large 16.8-inch portrait-style screen. A large volume knob and several analog controls are included underneath and high-quality materials also make their mark on the Denali model.
How Much?
Pricing for the GMC Sierra Denali Edition 1 is also lower than GMC’s initial announcement of $108,695 with the new price now checking in at $98,995 which includes the $1,495 destination charge. Expect GMC to eventually release more affordable trims in 2025 including the Elevation and the AT4 trims.
Production of the Sierra Denali Edition 1 will take place at GM’s Factory Zero plant in Hamtramck, Michigan which is also home to the Hummer EV and the Silverado EV. GM will eventually expand the Sierra’s production to Orion Assembly plant with the company confirming that Orion will become an EV-focused plant in 2025 to help boost EV output.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.