Sierra Slt Or Denali?

colz2003 · January 26, 2010

Hey everyone,

So I've toured these forums quite a bit and found them quite useful so I thought I would sign up to get some advice.

Here is my dilemma, I am currently looking at purchasing a brand new truck for myself (first new vehicle) and cannot deny that my heart lies with gm. After much searching I've narrowed my selection down to two vehicles, a sierra SLT or a sierra denali. I priced out both vehicles identically with the options I wanted. The only thing that I can't decide on is whether to get the sierra so I have 4wd or denali which is awd.

I know the 4wd/awd debate has been over done and I have a rough idea of the differences between the two, I am more just looking for personal opinions. I live in Saskatchewan, grew up on a farm but there are enough farm trucks around I probably wouldnt have to use it that often. The extent of my off-roading is mainly with hunting in the fall and odd trips to the mountains for snowboarding.

So if you were in my shoes, what would ya do?

Thanks!

BruceW · January 26, 2010

I bought my SD Dec 31st 2009. Since then it has driven on icy roads, a little bit of snow and quite a bit of mud. The AWD system has handled all of that well. It also has been great driving at high speed on the interstate.

My previous truck was an AWD Dodge Dakota. I sought out the Denali specifically for the AWD.

I am sure that I will find times that I miss the 4 Low option that I had on the Dakota but I would miss the AWD on the highway much more.

I really like always having the traction. And when the weather is bad I can let my wife take it to work without having to explain how to use 4WD.

I have also towed a 3000 pound equipment trailer over 150 miles. Could hardly tell it was back there.

Raymond Lowe · January 26, 2010

Hey everyone,

So I've toured these forums quite a bit and found them quite useful so I thought I would sign up to get some advice.

Here is my dilemma, I am currently looking at purchasing a brand new truck for myself (first new vehicle) and cannot deny that my heart lies with gm. After much searching I've narrowed my selection down to two vehicles, a sierra SLT or a sierra denali. I priced out both vehicles identically with the options I wanted. The only thing that I can't decide on is whether to get the sierra so I have 4wd or denali which is awd.

I know the 4wd/awd debate has been over done and I have a rough idea of the differences between the two, I am more just looking for personal opinions. I live in Saskatchewan, grew up on a farm but there are enough farm trucks around I probably wouldnt have to use it that often. The extent of my off-roading is mainly with hunting in the fall and odd trips to the mountains for snowboarding.

So if you were in my shoes, what would ya do?

Thanks!

You definitely want a 4WD. Saskatchewan has plenty of interconnecting gravel roads. The Z60 suspension on the Denali is suited to pavement only. Add 20" wheels and she's going to shake pretty good. And if you do go 4X4, pass on the Z71 option. You can get most of the goodies other ways without sacrificing the ride.

Bish · January 26, 2010

I would agree you want 4WD. I've driven both and for your situation I would stick with 4wd including 4lo. Can't get low in awd plus I think it is a better off-road combination.

BruceW · January 26, 2010

You definitely want a 4WD. Saskatchewan has plenty of interconnecting gravel roads. The Z60 suspension on the Denali is suited to pavement only. Add 20" wheels and she's going to shake pretty good. And if you do go 4X4, pass on the Z71 option. You can get most of the goodies other ways without sacrificing the ride.

The Z60 suspension only comes on Denalis with 20" wheels. 18" wheeled Denalis have Z85 suspension which is less stiff than Z71.

Mine has Z60. I changed the 20" wheels to 18" wheels to have more sidewall and installed Goodyear Wrangler Silentarmor all terrain tires.

I have driven it on road, off road, on dirt roads, on gravel road, through cattle fields, over rocks and through building sites. I like the Z-60 suspension. It is a little stiff for some but it works great for me. I had 3 women in the truck Sunday driving 1/4 mile through a muddy cattle pasture. I was driving faster than normal, perhaps 20 mph, through the mud and had no complaints at all.

jro909 · January 26, 2010

get what you like more, awd vs 4x4 is nothen really, hell no 4 low? kick it in 2nd....as far as suspension, to me its all marketing, z60 is a good suspension and i assume comes with great shocks just like the z71s or even 85s...they charge 2 grand for the z71 for a sticker and gas shocks, you could put your own gas shocks on for cheaper then that..most 4x4/awd have skid plates built in let alone the z71 being anything to bust a nut over, its barely there..the majority of people that really put the truck to the test off road around here(farmers) don't even know what z71 is lol

Deconstruction · January 26, 2010

if you build a fully loaded SLT with the 6.2 it will be more expensive than the Denali by about $1000 (on the website atleast)

I have an SLT up here in Alberta and the the auto 4x4 feature works fine no issues or thoughts of wanting to have the awd of the denali.

I would like to have the (imo) more complete interior of the Denali and the heated steering wheel would be nice too.

Stevens03 · January 26, 2010

When I bought my SLT, I had the denali right beside it, and at the time, the Denali was $1000 more than the SLT. And the Denali I was looking at, actually had fewer options than my SLT had. For me, I wanted selectable 4x4 and the lower gears that the denali didn't offer.

I went with the SLT

Tklei14 · January 26, 2010

I went with my slt because I wanted the option to drive in 2wd and the smaller engine for better mpg. IMO the Denali is a nicer truck if you can handle the worse mpg. The Denali has alot more little features you would not notice untill you own the truck. Denali has leather shifter, leather door cards, nicer leather seats, taillights are different, along with a bunch of other things you can notice just by looking. I have changed almost the entire exterior of my slt to look like a Denali.

KMGZ400 · January 26, 2010

Hey everyone,

So I've toured these forums quite a bit and found them quite useful so I thought I would sign up to get some advice.

Here is my dilemma, I am currently looking at purchasing a brand new truck for myself (first new vehicle) and cannot deny that my heart lies with gm. After much searching I've narrowed my selection down to two vehicles, a sierra SLT or a sierra denali. I priced out both vehicles identically with the options I wanted. The only thing that I can't decide on is whether to get the sierra so I have 4wd or denali which is awd.

I know the 4wd/awd debate has been over done and I have a rough idea of the differences between the two, I am more just looking for personal opinions. I live in Saskatchewan, grew up on a farm but there are enough farm trucks around I probably wouldnt have to use it that often. The extent of my off-roading is mainly with hunting in the fall and odd trips to the mountains for snowboarding.

So if you were in my shoes, what would ya do?

Thanks!

You definitely want a 4WD. Saskatchewan has plenty of interconnecting gravel roads. The Z60 suspension on the Denali is suited to pavement only. Add 20" wheels and she's going to shake pretty good. And if you do go 4X4, pass on the Z71 option. You can get most of the goodies other ways without sacrificing the ride.

agreed...

C. Charles Hahn · January 26, 2010

I specifically went for an SLT All Terrain because it's basically a Denali with low-range 4WD. I've had full time AWD, and frankly after experiencing both I like the extra manual control over power delivery that 4WD offers.

Bowtie2Sierra · January 26, 2010

You can't go wrong with either. Get the one you like the best. The next GM truck in my garage will be a Denali though.

BruceW · January 26, 2010

Thinking about it a simple way to explain 4WD vs AWD is that 4WD helps the truck move forward in a straight line while AWD helps the truck move forward and steer. 4WD is better in extreme off road conditions. Having a low gear ratio is better if you need greater torque. Although I am not sure when you would need more torque than the 6.2 can produce through the standard gears.