Choosing between SLT and Denali..

2016 Sierra Owner · October 12, 2016

Having just bought an SLT back in July. You can get the vented seats in them to. Mine has them. As stated by others above if money is not the problem. I'd go with the Denali!

Willyone · October 12, 2016

Get the Denali....way more widgets and gadgets to fail or break. Just think of all the fun LOL

Havvkeye · October 12, 2016

both have pros and cons.

Slt has all the bells but is still missing some of the whistles. It is harder and obviously more expensive to mod a Denali ie) if you put on a RC lift on a denali you are jut asking for it. expect to spend premium on all your mods too.

IMO if you plan to drive it stock the denali would be better but if you plan to work on it or mod SLT.

What does the Denali offer that the SLT does not except badges, fancy grill and magnetic ride suspension?

What the hell are you talking about? There is NO difference in mods for an SLT or Denali. They're the same truck mechanically.

When lifting and lowering you need to relocate the magnetic ride sensors, which makes it more difficult and more expensive (and less reliable most likely).

There is a big difference with suspension mods but not with other modifications.

For me it came down to price and suspension. I got a fully loaded SLT so the only things I don't have are the magnetic ride and denali grill/badges. I got a decent manufacturer rebate that was not being offered on the Denali so my price difference was about $6k and it made it an easy decision.

Personally I liked the Z71 suspension more than the magnetic ride from a few overnight test drives of each vehicle.

truckguy82 · October 12, 2016

Perfect truck imo 51k slt + headers, exhaust, intake, msd intake manifold, amp motorized steps, nice tune, decent remote resevior shocks, hellwig rear sway.

Looking at about $6-7k for all that, but i'd much rather have a nice riding, nice handling, 500hp slt with robot steps then a denali for close to the same price.

Denali and slt are just too similar IMO.

geektoad · October 12, 2016

What does the Denali offer that the SLT does not except badges, fancy grill and magnetic ride suspension?

When lifting and lowering you need to relocate the magnetic ride sensors, which makes it more difficult and more expensive (and less reliable most likely).

There is a big difference with suspension mods but not with other modifications.

For me it came down to price and suspension. I got a fully loaded SLT so the only things I don't have are the magnetic ride and denali grill/badges. I got a decent manufacturer rebate that was not being offered on the Denali so my price difference was about $6k and it made it an easy decision.

Personally I liked the Z71 suspension more than the magnetic ride from a few overnight test drives of each vehicle.

Yeah, completely forgot about the magnetic suspension in the 1/2 ton Denali, my bad.

bassJAM · October 12, 2016

I'm in the same boat, wanting the 6.2 and not a Chevy so I'm limited to the SLT and Denali. To me, the Denali doesn't offer anything extra I want besides the larger dash screen (which can be added to an SLT later). Cooled seats are available on both. I want the console, which both offer. Lane departure on the Denali is cool, but just a gadget. LCD screen in the back is worthless in the age of iPads. I don't really care one way or the other for the magnetic suspension over traditional. So buying new, the SLT is a no-brainer for me. If I end up buying something used I might try to find a Denali but I certainly won't turn down and SLT for the right price. Both are VERY nice trucks.

People might say a Denali holds its value better, but I don't find that to be true. I've been searching the country on Autotrader and Truecar for SLT and Denali trucks 2015 and newer. Once they hit the used market, it doesn't cost that much more to upgrade to a Denali.

BlueCrayon · October 12, 2016

I was pretty much in the same dilemma back in June....I had basically convinced myself over a year ago that I will have a Denali, but when the time arrived I just couldn't justify the almost 10k difference for the suspension and a few other options. All I really wanted for sure was the 6.2L/8 speed, 20" wheels, upgraded sound system, leather and running boards so I just built my own SLT exactly as such.

leddySS98 · October 12, 2016

I know you can get the vented seats in the SLT... but it comes with the bucket seats only... I found the bench seat to be more comfortable over the bucket seats, but you cant have cooled seats without getting bucket seats...

Havvkeye · October 12, 2016

I'm in the same boat, wanting the 6.2 and not a Chevy so I'm limited to the SLT and Denali. To me, the Denali doesn't offer anything extra I want besides the larger dash screen (which can be added to an SLT later). Cooled seats are available on both. I want the console, which both offer. Lane departure on the Denali is cool, but just a gadget. LCD screen in the back is worthless in the age of iPads. I don't really care one way or the other for the magnetic suspension over traditional. So buying new, the SLT is a no-brainer for me. If I end up buying something used I might try to find a Denali but I certainly won't turn down and SLT for the right price. Both are VERY nice trucks.

People might say a Denali holds its value better, but I don't find that to be true. I've been searching the country on Autotrader and Truecar for SLT and Denali trucks 2015 and newer. Once they hit the used market, it doesn't cost that much more to upgrade to a Denali.

My SLT has lane departure so that is available on both as well.

Donstar · October 12, 2016

I know you can get the vented seats in the SLT... but it comes with the bucket seats only... I found the bench seat to be more comfortable over the bucket seats, but you cant have cooled seats without getting bucket seats...

I believe the front seats are the same whether they are called bench or bucket. The center seat section on the bench seat models can be removed and replaced with a console. The comfort level should be the same but the availability of cooling/heating option is probably different.

Doobs41378 · October 12, 2016

My SLT has lane departure so that is available on both as well.

Mine also

redwngr · October 13, 2016

What the hell are you talking about? There is NO difference in mods for an SLT or Denali. They're the same truck mechanically.

Denali has magnetic ride control to work around, so not the same mechanically.

leddySS98 · October 13, 2016

On the gmc build page where I priced out the two trucks... I removed the max trailering package from the SLT.. and that shaved 1200 bucks off the price. I don't have a camp trailer or anything, and really don't plan on buying one so I really wouldn't need the tow package.

As for my experience with the seat... when I sat down in the truck with the bench seat it just felt more comfortable... Maybe the center console is a different height... different kind of foam/padding in the seats... I just noticed it first thing when I sat in the truck that it felt more comfortable. I noticed it right off and I got out walked across the lot and got back in the Denali... and it just wasn't as comfortable... oh crap... It just came to me that the truck I sat in with the bench seat was actually a Chevrolet = (. I'm sorry, maybe they have different seats??

I don't have any plans for lifting or lowering the truck

redwngr · October 13, 2016

Surprised no one mentioned the Denali dash.

leddySS98 · October 13, 2016

On the gmc build page where I priced out the two trucks... I removed the max trailering package from the SLT.. and that shaved 1200 bucks off the price. I don't have a camp trailer or anything, and really don't plan on buying one so I really wouldn't need the tow package.

As for my experience with the seat... when I sat down in the truck with the bench seat it just felt more comfortable... Maybe the center console is a different height... different kind of foam/padding in the seats... I just noticed it first thing when I sat in the truck that it felt more comfortable. I noticed it right off and I got out walked across the lot and got back in the Denali... and it just wasn't as comfortable... oh crap... It just came to me that the truck I sat in with the bench seat was actually a Chevrolet = (. I'm sorry, maybe they have different seats??

I don't have any plans for lifting or lowering the truck