What Drivers Should Know About the GMC Denali & Denali Ultimate
Choosing the right truck is not always easy—we know how many different options you have available, and trying to compare them all can quickly become overwhelming. We find it best to focus on one model at a time when looking at trucks for sale, like the GMC Sierra 1500, and then explore what’s available for it on a deeper level. Looking at the Sierra 1500, you have an incredible number of trim levels offered, giving you the freedom to get everything you’re looking for from your next truck.
Still, all of these options can make choosing a Sierra challenging since they require some extra time to learn more about it. We thought we’d make things easier for you today by taking a closer look at two of the most incredible options available for the 2024 Sierra 1500: the Denali and Denali Ultimate. These are the two most luxurious and sophisticated versions of this legendary full-size truck, making them perfect for a daily driver you’ll spend a lot of time in. Whether you need a mobile office for driving between job sites or a great pickup for enjoying the weekend with your family, these two models are hard to beat. So let’s take a good look at them and see what they offer.
The 2024 GMC Sierra Denali
First, we’ll look at the Denali trim, which used to be the pinnacle of luxury and sophistication for the GMC Sierra and has since been topped by the Denali Ultimate. That being said, this is still a stunning piece of machinery and a fantastic truck designed to take you further and surround you with the finest luxuries. It has some of the best standard and available features of any truck, so if you want a powerful and elegant pickup, it’s one to take a good look at.
Performance Options
You have three engines to choose from on the Sierra 1500 Denali, though some options are only offered on two-wheel drive (2WD) models and others on four-wheel drive (4WD) versions. On 2WD models, a 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque is standard; 4WD models instead feature a 6.2L V8 that delivers an impressive 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. You get a 10-speed automatic transmission paired with either of these engines, making for a great driving experience. GMC also offers a 3.0L Duramax turbo diesel engine that gives you 305 hp and a massive 495 lb-ft of torque, so keep that in mind if you prefer diesel.
Exterior Features
Looking at the GMC Denali, you get 20-inch polished aluminum wheels wrapped in all-season tires that are perfect for daily driving and everything you need. It has body-color front and rear bumpers, a CornerStep rear bumper that makes it easy to get to items in your bed, and six-inch chrome rectangular full-length assist steps for getting in and out of your truck. It has a Signature Denali Chrome grille with a chrome header, LED headlamps with fade-on/fade-off animation, LED fog lamps, and LED signature taillights. You get chrome door handles on the Denali, the GMC MultiPro tailgate, a spray-on bed liner to protect your truck bed, and more.
Interior Features
Inside the Denali, you can easily see why so many people consider the Sierra 1500 as the perfect example of sophistication and luxury done right in a truck. You’ll find a 13.4-inch GMC Premium infotainment system with Google built-in and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. It has a seven-speaker Bose Premium sound system, a Richbass woofer, and forge perforated leather seat trims available in Brownstone or Jet Black. You get heated front and rear seats with 12-way power functionality for both front seats and ventilated front seats with individual cooling functions. A 12.3-inch Driver Information Center display is easy to read at a glance, plus you get Adaptive Cruise Control, keyless open with remote start, and a wireless charging pad inside.
More Options and Packages
As impressive as the features on the Denali are, they’re not even the only things you can get on this remarkable truck. Available upgrades include a Denali Illumination Package that adds an illuminated GMC emblem to the exterior, illuminated door sills, and a puddle lamp emblem for an added touch of style. You can get a Technology Package with a rear camera mirror and a head-up display that projects onto the windshield or a Denali Reserve Package that adds GMC MultiPro Power Steps for getting in and out of the Sierra 1500, a power sunroof, and more. This lets you put together the perfect truck with everything you want.
The 2024 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate
In many ways, the Denali Ultimate is GMC’s way of taking the incredible features and gorgeous design of the Sierra 1500 Denali and simply elevating it all to the next level. You won’t find quite as dramatic a step up here from the Denali as you do when looking at the starting features on this truck compared to the Denali, but they’re still quite noteworthy. As you’d expect from its name, this is the ultimate expression of everything GMC offers on the Sierra 1500 and a truck that few others can try to match in terms of style and luxury.
Performance Options
The biggest thing to note about the Denali Ultimate and its performance is that it’s only offered with 4WD, so if you want a 2WD model, you should stick with the Denali. This means you won’t find the 5.3L V8 engine here; instead, the standard gas engine on this model is the 420-hp 6.2L V8, which delivers a fantastic driving experience. The 3.0L Duramax turbo diesel engine with massive torque is available here, too, so you can still choose whichever you prefer.
Exterior Features
At a glance, you might mistake the Denali and Denali Ultimate for being the same vehicle, but on closer inspection, you will see that several things set this one apart. First and foremost, it rides on massive 22-inch ultra-bright machined wheels with bright chrome accents and dark paint, giving it a bolder stance and a powerful silhouette. This one comes with a signature Denali Vader Chrome grille with front and rear logos, the GMC MultiPro power steps for easy access, and a power sunroof for an enhanced driving experience. Other details like body-color bumpers, LED lighting, and chrome detailing are shared with the regular Denali.
Interior Features
Moving inside, we find some notable similarities between this and the other Denali, as well as some key differences. Here, we have the 13.4-inch infotainment system and 12.3-inch Driver Information Center, but the Ultimate features standard 16-way power front seats with massage functionality. You get a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel in the Denali Ultimate, a standard head-up display, and a Bose Premium Series 12-speaker sound system with CenterPoint. The Denali Ultimate also offers exclusive Alpine Umber forge perforated leather seating, which you won’t find elsewhere.
More Options and Packages
Upgrade options and packages are much more limited for the Denali Ultimate since it already has everything most drivers could want. A Cargo Convenience Package is available that adds a console-mounted safe and rear under-seat storage, both of which are nice but not essential. A Utility Wall Package adds some functionality with latches, but again, this is far from a necessary upgrade. Overall, the Denali Ultimate lives up to its name and presents a perfected vision of the GMC Sierra 1500.
Which Truck Has What You Need?
Having looked at both of these trucks, you can see that they have a fair amount in common, but there are also some crucial differences between them. One of the biggest ones is that the Denali Ultimate is only offered with 4WD, so keep that in mind if you prefer handling a 2WD pickup or want the 5.3L V8 engine. Beyond that, the differences primarily come down to luxury features and extra touches of style and sophistication—many of the upgrades provided with the Denali Ultimate are available as optional features for the Denali, however, so you don’t have to miss out on much if you aren’t ready to take it to the next level. No matter which model you think is right for you, you’re guaranteed a remarkable truck designed to get you through the week and into the weekend with everything you need.