Expensive luxury pickup trucks like the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate may not make sense at first glance, but they are actually pretty impressive when you dive deeper into how much value they pack. Consider this: the Sierra Denali Ultimate has more legroom in both rows than a BMW 7 Series; it gets similar fuel economy figures to the Mercedes S-Class Hybrid; it comes with hands-free driving; and it has a price tag that is well under $100,000, even fully loaded.

DrivingOnRoad tested a Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate with the optional Duramax engine, one of the few diesel trucks left on the market now that Ram killed the EcoDiesel and Ford no longer offers the Power Stroke in the F-150. In our opinion, this engine is the perfect companion to an already excellent luxury truck, making this one of the better ‘luxury’ vehicles in America right now. If you need a truck that can take you anywhere in the country comfortably, the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate earns its status as the ‘ultimate’ luxury truck.

Exterior: Bling My Ride

GMC’s Denali-branded vehicles are known for being more ostentatious than the rest of the lineup, and the Sierra 1500 is no exception. The Denali Ultimate trim level was added for the 2022 model year and builds upon the regular Denali with larger 22-inch wheels (up from 20-inch), Vader chrome exterior accents, and more standard features. It’s worth noting that GMC has more wheel pattern options on the standard Denali, whereas the Denali Ultimate only gets the seven-spoke bright machined ones pictured here. They do look pretty cool to our eyes, so it’s not much of a loss.

The color palette is a little bland here, including Onyx Black, Sterling Metallic (pictured here), Titanium Rush Metallic, Downpour Metallic, and White Frost Tricoat. Despite being the most expensive trim level in the Sierra lineup, all of these colors cost $495 except for White Frost Tricoat, which is $1,095.

If you want the Denali Ultimate, be prepared that this trim level only comes as a Crew Cab with the short bed that measures 69.9 inches. Any other configuration requires a different trim.

Interior: Ultimate Luxury

Before the Denali Ultimate, the Sierra Denali felt like it lacked the premium features necessary to compete with the most expensive trucks from Ford and Ram. Not anymore. This trim level comes in a single interior color called Alpine Umber, which is a gorgeous brown that makes the cabin look upscale. Those seats are not only heated and ventilated up front, but also include a massage function for long road trips. Soft touch materials throughout the cabin mixed with real wood trim on the dash makes this truck feel worth its price tag.

Not only does everything feel expensive inside, GMC also equipped the Sierra with all of the best GM technology. SuperCruise is available for $2,200, making road trips even more serene with hands-free driving. A 13.4-inch touchscreen comes standard and includes a built-in Google assistant that can answer your questions on-the-go. That screen ties into a 12-speaker Bose audio system that really cranks. If we had to nitpick, the only missing feature is a panoramic moonroof, which is available on the competition.

Practicality: Big Short Bed

GMC’s decision to only offer the Denali Ultimate as a Crew Cab with the short box makes sense, as this is the type of truck that should prioritize passengers over raw hauling capacity. This is the truck that the supervisor drives to the construction site, not the one that carries brick and mortar all day long.

Rear seat legroom is extremely generous with over 43 inches of legroom and the amenities include heatedrear seats, under-seat storage, in-seat storage, USB ports, and many cupholders. Admittedly, the Ram 1500 packs about two more inches of legroom, the ability to recline the rear seats, and the option for ventilated rear seats. If you want the most luxurious back seat in the segment, the Ram wins on that front.

The Sierra’s short bed measures 69.9 inches with 62.9 cubic feet of storage space. This compares favorably to the competition from Ford and Ram. The Ford F-150 shortest bed measures 67.1 inches with only 52.8 cubes while the Ram 1500’s shortest option is 67.4 inches with 53.9 cubes. On the Denali Ultimate, GMC’s MultiPro tailgate comes standard, including a built-in Kicker audio system for tailgate parties.

Performance: Outstanding Efficiency

Lower Sierra 1500 trims have access to as many as four engine options – a 2.7-liter four-cylinder, 5.3-liter V8, 3.0-liter turbo diesel, or 6.2-liter V8. The Denali Ultimate only has the latter two engines as options. The 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 is standard, netting 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque going out to rear-wheel-drive or optional four-wheel-drive via a 10-speed automatic transmission. We tested the optional engine, the 3.0-liter turbocharged Duramax diesel inline-six. Outputs are 305 hp and 495 lb-ft. Any sluggishness from this powertrain was eliminated with the tweaks made to it for the 2023 model year, and it feels nearly on par with acceleration from the V8.

The V8 will still be quicker, but we highly recommend getting the Duramax to enjoy its class-leading fuel economy. With RWD, the Sierra 1500 is rated at 23/29/25 mpg city/highway/combined, meaning you can go around 600 miles between fill-ups, making it the perfect road trip truck. Those numbers go down a bit to 23/27/24 with 4WD (and a range of around 576 miles), but that’s still excellent for a full-size truck. By comparison, the V8 Denali Ultimate with 4WD will only get 15/19/16 mpg and around 384 miles on a full tank.

Driving Impressions: Truck Bliss

All Denali models get a more comfortable Denali Premium Suspension with Adaptive Ride Control, using electro-magnetism to change the fluid property in the damper and improve the ride. We’d say the ride is on the upper end of comfortable pickup trucks, but the Ram 1500 with four-corner air suspension still wears the crown for plushness.

The GMC holds other advantages, including the availability of Super Cruise hands-free driving. This latest version works even while towing, so long as it’s activated on an eligible highway. We tested the system on sections of Florida’s I4, the infamously winding (and dangerous) connecting highway between Orlando and Tampa, where the system kept us centered in the lane. There were several short stretches where the system deactivated with plenty of warning, but we could quickly resume hands-free driving after a few minutes. We particularly love the automatic lane change feature, which will detect slower traffic and maneuver into the left-most lane to pass it.

This truck is extremely quiet on the highway, meaning you can sit back and enjoy the amenities such as the massage seats, Bose audio system, and Super Cruise. There are very few other vehicles we’d prefer for a long drive.

Pricing & Verdict: A Lot Of Truck

Sitting at the top end of the 2024 Sierra 1500 lineup, the Denali Ultimate has a substantial price tag, starting at $82,500 before options, destination, or adding 4WD. Seeing as the new Ram Tungsten trim level can hit $90,000, while the 2024 Ford F-150 Platinum breaches the $80k mark. This puts the Denali Ultimate’s MSRP within the bounds of its competitors, of these, it’s the only one to offer a long-range diesel engine. The electric Ramcharger with the gasoline range extender will be the only truck to match the Sierra Denali Ultimate with its nearly 700-mile range – but we still have no idea how much it will cost.

If you need a pickup truck that can eat up a huge number of miles in total comfort, the GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate is currently the best option on the market.