Americans traditionally have a longstanding love for trucks, and within the full-size segment, competition remains highly competitive. Manufacturers are continually enhancing their trucks to create versatile vehicles that cater to a wide range of needs as they often serve as the only vehicle in some families, taking duty as the daily commuter, work vehicle, and maybe having a little fun, too.

GMC has long been recognized for its Denali line, which adds a touch of luxury to its trucks, setting them apart from their Chevrolet counterparts and the base Sierra models. The 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate takes this luxury to new heights, positioning itself as what I would refer to as the Cadillac of pickup trucks.

Outside, the Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate is distinguished by its signature Denali Vader Chrome grille and exclusive 22-inch Ultra-Bright machined aluminum wheels with Bright Chrome accents. These elements, combined with the MultiPro Tailgate, which offers six functions to enhance loading and unloading, make the Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate both functional and a slight standout from other trim levels of the Sierra 1500 – not to mention the elevated level of luxury with many other unique features.

Performance and Driving Character

Under the hood, the Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate gets the longstanding 6.2-liter V8 engine, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The proven V8, paired with a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission, propels the truck from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, followed up with bellowing performance exhaust that has a pleasant rumble.

Smoothing out the truck-like ride is the duty of the adaptive dampers, which contribute to a comfortable ride though with some jiggles to remind you that you’re still driving a truck. Though, the advanced suspension setup essentially reading the road in milliseconds effectively absorbs road imperfections, even with the uniquely-styled 22-inch polished aluminum wheels wrapped in all-season Bridgestone Alenza tires.

Towing capabilities are impressive, with a capacity of up to 8,900 pounds, which can be increased to 13,000 pounds with the max trailering package. The payload capacity stands at around 1,870 pounds, making it a versatile choice for various hauling needs. When you’re not hauling or towing, you can expect to match the EPA estimated fuel consumption figures in the real world of 15 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 16 mpg combined.

Interior and Technology

The Denali Ultimate trim brings a new level to the Sierra’s interior to properly fit the luxury mold. For starters, the front seats are not only heated and ventilated but also feature a massaging function (back area only, unfortunately). The cabin is laced with full-grain leather seating surfaces and open-pore Paldao wood accents, exuding a luxury theme. A laser-etched map of Mt. Denali adds a unique and artistic touch to the interior design, followed by coordinates of the popular Denali area embossed on door trim badges. The premium microsuede headliner is another element that enhances the luxurious cabin, creating an environment that rivals some high-end luxury vehicles.

There’s a 360-degree camera system that can be brought up at any time, enhancing maneuverability in tight spaces in addition to having a digital rearview mirror camera system putting you at ease when you may have a tall load in the bed or rear passengers blocking your traditional rearward view.

The infotainment system features a 13.4-inch diagonal multicolor touchscreen, providing user-friendly access to navigation, entertainment, and vehicle settings. The inclusion of Super Cruise, GMC’s hands-free driver assistance technology, allows for hands-free driving on compatible roads, adding a layer of unique convenience through its recent updates that allow automatic lane changes and a high level of learning autonomy. Additional safety features include adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and a color head-up display, all contributing to a secure and confident driving experience.

Pricing

The 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate may move the bar slightly for luxury in the pickup truck segment. With its powerful performance, opulent interior, advanced technology, and distinctive design, it can again be thought of as what a pickup truck from Cadillac would resemble. For those seeking a vehicle that seamlessly blends utility with luxury, the Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate stands as a compelling choice, but you must pay to play in such an area where the price of admission creeps up to $87,290 for my test vehicle, as you see here, which is now surprisingly a few grand less than previous years of the Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate trim.