2007 Sierra Denali Roadtest (part Ii)

[Dutch_holland]

After Part 1: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=64225

now PART II

 

 

Of course, there’s more to the 2007 GMC Sierra Denali than off-the-line, road-eating performance from its 403-hp V8. On the highway it’s an ideal sports touring truck that potently blends high capacity hauling capabilities with full attention to driver and passenger comfort.

 

Speeds of 65 to 75 miles an hour roll by effortlessly and quietly in the vehicle. The improved aerodynamics of the vehicle work to considerably dampen the intrusion of wind noise into the cabin over the previous generation Sierra. Only the tenor of the truck’s throaty exhaust consistently entered the interior, aurally reinforcing the perception of the readily available power contained in the right pedal.

 

If you’re shopping for a near $50K luxury pickup, then gasoline sipping frugality probably isn’t in your top ten list of buying criteria, but if you’re interested the Denali carries EPA ratings of 13-mpg around town and 19-mpg on the highway. These figures aligned fairly close with my own hydrocarbon usage. Daily driving to and from relatives' homes, grocery stores, strip malls, and train stations over stoplight controlled tarmac yielded a 13.4-mpg rating according to the Denali’s trip computer.

 

I zeroed out the trip computer on the Jersey Turnpike, when the truck was doing about 70, to see if I could hit the max highway mpg for a consistent period in the real world. This avoided any mileage penalty accelerating the near 3-ton Sierra from a stop. Even with two overdrive gears at the top of its six speed gearbox, the best I could attain was 18.7-mpg before the fuel economy meter began spiraling downward to 17.9-mpg, as long as the speed was held within a tight band of 65 to 70. Want to pass slower traffic and still maintain good gas numbers? Fuhgedaboutit. Dab the accelerator the least bit aggressively and the numbers quickly decline to the 15s and 16s. But keep the speed steady, and the numbers will slowly climb upward. Overall, this truck did better than past Denali’s I’ve driven, which only attained numbers in the low 12s. The entire trip returned a 13.9-mpg average score.

 

 

Other GM full size pickups should see their mileage numbers improve once the six speed transmission rolls out to the rest of the light duty haulers, but this won’t occur until the 2009 model year at the earliest – a fact confirmed during and after the New York International Auto Show by GM’s product and communications staff.

 

There was no opportunity to test the truck with a trailer or heavy payload, though you could count the three overpacked suitcases I threw in the Sierra’s bed containing the full wardrobes of my wife and kids for this one week trip eastward from California. If any of this luggage could have held more mass we would have had a singularity on our hands.

 

Manufacturers and buyers both want their limited edition trucks to sport visual cues that set them apart from standard workday pickups. Otherwise, what good is paying a premium of several thousand dollars if others don’t know you’re driving a special model? And when it comes to looks I divide these trucks into two classes – professional and professional wrestling. For example: Lincoln Mark LT – professional. Dodge Ram SRT-10 – professional wrestling. The Sierra Denali falls in the MBA camp, with looks that are way more Donald Trump than Jesse “The Body” Ventura.

 

 

Craig Bierley, GMC product director, walked me around the Sierra Denali that was stationed on the show floor at the New York International Auto Show to point out the major upgrades and differences between this and a standard Sierra.

 

“Where it differs most from the regular Sierra is the signature Denali chrome billet grille. It’s the most prominent in the Denali line (which also includes the Yukon and Envoy Denali SUVs). The front fascia and foglamps are also unique, with a lower grille that accents the upper. The Denali also gets body colored mirrors and chromed door handles. 20-inch chrome wheels are optional,” described Bierley.

 

Buyers have a choice of three exterior colors: black, white, or silver. Personally, I think the truck looks best in black. The chromed grille, door handles and molding, stacked headlamps, and amber reflectors are nicely offset by the truck’s deep ebony surfaces. Squared shoulders above the front and rear wheels also help balance out the brightwork.

 

Yes, you’ll attract attention in this truck but it’s like the difference between seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger as the ‘Governator’ instead of as Conan the Barbarian. Prominent but professional.

 

 

 

nside the Sierra Denali shares its 'low and forward' instrument panel with GMC’s full size SUVs. Bierley pointed out its upscale Denali wood grain and signature Denali leather, which is softer and more nuanced than the leather you’ll find the up-level SLT trim available on the standard Sierra. And it gets an optional heated steering wheel ($150) that warms up quickly when you press the wheel mounted controls for it – once you decipher the mysterious glyphs on the wheel’s buttons (see picture below).

 

As I mentioned in a first drive review of the Heavy Duty Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado, the updated interior in GM’s new pickups is first class. All the gaps are tight and the plastic and rubber materials have nice surface textures and tactile feel. Even my father-in-law, a converted import car fan after losing faith in the domestics during the 1970s and 80s, was won over by the inside of the Denali, repeatedly comparing it to Lexus in quality and fitment.

 

 

The Sierra Denali also came with an optional audio and navigation system with DVD. It’s probably the best navi I’ve used in a pickup. The display was large and bright, and rendered maps nearly as well as what you’ll find online. Its touch screen also provided large buttons to quickly swap between geographic views and radio controls. When parked, the navigation screen also doubled as a movie screen to play DVDs. Once the truck was in motion, DVD video transferred to the rear ceiling mounted video display and rear entertainment center, so the kids could watch flicks on the go.

 

Word to the wise about using satellite assisted navigation, if, say, you’re ever in the situation where you were born and raised in Arizona but you’re on a trip to New Jersey where your wife grew up. You’ll hear from your spouse AND the truck’s lovely female voice about which turns you missed and the best way to get back on track. Throw in an OnStar operator for those really sticky spots and you’ll be cookin’ with gas!

 

 

So, is a truck like the Denali worth almost $50K? It depends how fat your wallet is, of course, but this is a very good value in this segment.

 

Relative to the recently tested 2007 Ford F-150 King Ranch, both pickups have near identical price tags and configurations. However the Sierra Denali adds all wheel drive, a six speed transmission, 100 more ponies, and better fuel economy for only $3600 more dollars. And compared to its corporate cousin, the Cadillac Escalade EXT, the Sierra Denali is also a luxury pickup but with a traditional box, higher towing capacity, and cheaper price tag. Both Sierra Denali and Escalade EXT share the same 6.2-liter V8 with identical horsepower and torque ratings.

 

GMC has a winner in the Sierra Denali. It’s unique, very capable, and good looking. Expensive – yep, but this is a special edition pickup that’s meant to provide that extra reward and satisfaction to buyers willing to pay its premium. Owners are going to love driving this rig.

[mcaje]

And I even like the color!

[jbstx]

Are you sure about the 6 speed transmissions not being available on other GM full size pickups until 2009 ?

I was told that they should be available in the 2008 models.

Is there any way to find this out for sure ?

 

"Other GM full size pickups should see their mileage numbers improve once the six speed transmission rolls out to the rest of the light duty haulers, but this won’t occur until the 2009 model year at the earliest – a fact confirmed during and after the New York International Auto Show by GM’s product and communications staff.