GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate Sets a New Bar for Luxury Pickups

There was once a time when the concepts of luxury and pickup trucks were mutually exclusive, but those days now seem like a distant memory. Blame the SUV, which gave drivers the high-riding functionality of a pickup while incorporating many of the refined features that had long made luxury sedans so popular. Once the world got a taste of this fusion of practicality and poshness, there was no turning back, and it was only a matter of time until these luxury features found their way into the pickup world. That time is now, with almost every major automaker introducing new, top-tier trim levels that elevate their marquee pickups into a category all their own: the luxury pickup. For the first time ever, storied pickup brand GMC is getting in on the action of introducing a new Denali Ultimate trim for their popular Sierra 1500 model. This luxury pickup pulls out all the stops, incorporating every performance, technology, and appearance upgrade in the catalog to create a truck that’s so well-equipped you might struggle to get out from behind the wheel. If all this talk of luxury features is inspiring you to look for a local Chamblee GMC dealership near you, look no further than Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth. Before you pay us a visit and see all the Denali Ultimate has to offer, let’s explore some of the features that make the Sierra Denali Ultimate such a good example of this emerging luxury category and see how GMC has once again proven its pickup prowess.

Luxury Looks

Many of the changes that elevate the Ultimate edition of the Sierra Denali above its stock counterpart can be found in the truck’s interior, but GMC has also added some distinctive exterior elements as well. Some of the changes are pretty subtle: some LED lights here, some chrome there, but many of the larger elements are hard to miss. This all starts with the pickup’s black chrome grille, which goes a long way in distinguishing the Ultimate model from the rest of GMC’s Sierra lineup. The black chrome grille is accented by a blacked-out GMC badge, which ditches the brand’s usual red colorway for a more sophisticated option that matches well with the Ultimate edition’s refined styling. Also hidden behind the grille is a forward-facing camera with a small washer that helps cut the mud and grime on off-road journeys.

Speaking of off-roading, the Sierra Denali Ultimate can more than hold its own when the road gets bumpy, thanks to its 22-inch wheels and fenders that leave plenty of room for wheel travel. On a model this well-equipped, there’s room for both functionality and luxury, as evidenced by the pickup’s automatic retractable running boards. Same goes for the Sierra Denali Ultimate’s corner steps and multifunction tailgate, which makes climbing in and out of the hulking pickup easier than ever, but the best example of GMC’s ability to fuse luxury and functionality can be found in the truck’s multifunction tailgate. These six-function tailgates, which automatically lower and then break down even further to allow easier access to the bed, can be found on a number of modern pickups, but no one has done it quite like GMC. That’s because the automaker has taken it upon itself to add a seventh function to the mix: the MultiPro Audio System by KICKER. Adjusting the tailgate to its lowest position reveals a 100-watt exterior audio system with weatherproof speakers, a control panel, USB, and AUX ports, which can be run independently of the vehicle’s larger audio system. The MultiPro Audio System is also Bluetooth-compatible, meaning that anywhere the Sierra Denali Ultimate goes, the party will follow.

Upper-tier trims are a great chance for automakers to showcase those rarefied features that can’t make it onto every model, and the Ultimate is no exception. The pickup features GMC’s CarbonPro bed, a new breed of carbon fiber composite truck beds with an outstanding ability to resist dents, scratches, and corrosion. “CarbonPro is made of the same raw material found in seven-figure supercars and even aerospace applications,” says Duncan Aldred, vice president, Global GMC.

In addition to its ability to resist wear, the CarbonPro bed weighs 25 percent less than a traditional steel bed, reducing this GMC truck’s weight by as much as 60 pounds. It features a uniquely textured surface that renders bed liners obsolete and is 1 cubic-foot larger than the standard Sierra bed. GMC has done comprehensive testing to ensure the CarbonPro bed can stand up to the rigors of pickup life, loading the truck with 1800-pound loads of gravel, exposing it to extreme temperatures, running portable generators in the bed, and perhaps most convincingly, the snowmobile test. The automaker loaded a snowmobile with metal studs into the bed, piloted by a 250-pound driver who revved the engine at full throttle. The result? Hardly a scratch on the bed, proving that the CarbonPro bed can more than back up its heavy-duty claims.

Refined Interior Styling

If you had any doubts about the luxury credentials of the GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate, those will quickly be dispelled as soon as you step inside the interior. The first thing that hits you are the rich, milk chocolate-brown leather seats with distinctive white stitching. In fact, full-grain leather can be found virtually everywhere in the pickup’s Alpine Umber interior, from the instrument panel and door panels to the console lid, front and rear seats, and leather-wrapped A and B pillar handles. The rich, brown, and black leather is accented by the interior’s Paldao wood trim, giving the whole cabin an unmistakably luxurious feel.

It’s easy enough to slap a bunch of leather inside a vehicle’s interior to earn a “luxury” label, but the care with which GMC deployed the material here definitely elevates the cabin as a whole. This becomes obvious as soon as one starts to examine the interior in greater detail. For example, the leather on the bottom half of the door-mounted armrest features subtle contour lines that bring to mind a topographic map. This design extends throughout the cabin, popping back up in the wood panel above the glove compartment, the backseat, and beyond. Perhaps the most ingenious application of this pattern is on the center console’s cell phone rest, where the subtle contour lines stop your phone from sliding around in the small, recessed area. Even when it’s not serving such a practical purpose, the contour lines are simply a nice touch, bringing a little slice of the outdoor adventure lifestyle into the cozy cabin.

The Sierra Denali Ultimate already features best-in-class Crew Cab front headroom (43.0″) and legroom (44.5”), but GMC also went the extra mile in loading the pickup with additional storage space nearly everywhere you look. Underseat storage isn’t new, but the way the Sierra Denali Ultimate divides the area into distinct cubbies goes a long way in expanding its functionality. Still, it’s not even the most innovative way GMC has addressed storage in the new model. That honor goes to the pickup’s rear seat storage, located not under the rear seats but behind them. A small door opens right where a passenger’s back would normally rest, revealing an incognito square storage space. It’s perfect for keeping high-ticket items out of sight when parked, as the door virtually disappears when closed. It’s these sort of thoughtful touches that truly elevate the Sierra Denali Ultimate into the luxury category, solving problems you didn’t even know you had.

The pickup’s two front seats feature both heating and ventilation options, keeping drivers and passengers cool no matter what the conditions are. Of course, not all heated seats are created equal, and GMC has stepped up its game when it comes to interior comfort by offering heated seats with specific heating zones. Those in the front two seats can choose to heat either the entire seat or just the seatback itself, which is a thoughtful touch when you’re seeking some nice, soothing warmth on your back, but not your backside.

Cutting-Edge Tech

These days any vehicle seeking the vaunted “luxury” tag has to outdo itself when it comes to top-of-the-line vehicle technology. As the range-topping trim, the GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate knows this better than most, offering a wide array of impressive tech that elevates the truck’s interior well above the competition.

The first and most obvious metric used to judge modern interiors is the vehicle’s infotainment display, and the GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate doesn’t disappoint. The pickup features a massive 13.4-inch touchscreen which is as responsive as it is bright and easy to navigate. This might not seem like a big deal, but it cuts way back on the annoying and potentially dangerous lag that you might find in other in-vehicle infotainment systems. One of the most notable things about the infotainment system might not be what it can do but what it chooses not to do. Too often, automakers try to cram every type of control imaginable into such systems to reduce the number of buttons on the dash itself, but thankfully GMC has taken a more measured approach giving the climate control system its own set of real, tactile buttons instead of making us navigate through countless menus.

But the 13.4-inch touchscreen is only one of three displays that come standard on the GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate. The truck also features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel that can be configured to display performance metrics, GPS info, and more. As if that wasn’t enough, GMC takes it one sci-fi-inspired step further with the 15-inch multicolors heads-up display, which is projected onto the lower edge of the driver’s window to allow a driver to monitor speeds and turn-by-turn directions without ever taking their eyes off the road. This feature is as cool as it is convenient, improving driving safety and allowing us to feel like we’re piloting a spaceship all at the same time.

Topping off the list of the Sierra Denali Ultimate’s tech credentials is GMC’s Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance system. The 2022 model is the first pickup in its class to offer such an advanced autonomous driving system with the ability to safely navigate over 200,000 miles of compatible roads in the U.S. and Canada. Super Cruise uses a suite of technology, including precision LiDAR map data, real-time cameras, sensors, GPS, and an innovative driver attention system to bring a little slice of the future into the here-and-now, allowing drivers to experience the latest and greatest in hands-free driving.

The system has some built-in safety features that keep the autonomous system firmly within human control, such as a small camera hidden in a glossy black bar on the steering wheel. The infrared camera monitors the driver’s eyes to determine if they’re paying attention to the road ahead and will light up to draw their attention back to the wheel if their eyes should wander for too long. The rest of the pickup’s camera can be put to good use even when Super Cruise isn’t active, allowing drivers to inspect every corner of the vehicle, including the front wheel and truck bed, from right behind the wheel. Cameras can also stitch together a composite, bird’s-eye view of the area surrounding the vehicle, making stressful parking jobs a thing of the past.

It’s Time to Experience the Denali Ultimate for Yourself

Want to learn more about the 2022 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate? Stop by Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth today and speak with a member of our friendly, knowledgeable sales staff. We’re here to answer any questions you might have about this exciting new luxury pickup offering from GMC, as well as any other vehicle on the lot. We carry a wide selection of new vehicles from GMC and Buick, as well as a host of quality pre-owned options from some of the best brands in the industry. Drivers on a budget will appreciate our generous selection of vehicles priced under $15,000, and business owners will be intrigued by our fleet of pre-owned work trucks. Once you’ve picked out the right vehicle for your specific needs, we’ll be here to guide you through the rest of the process, valuing your trade-in, working out a financing plan, and ultimately handing you the keys to your new favorite ride. From the moment you walk into the dealership up until your last maintenance appointment, we’re here for you every step of the way at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC in Duluth. Contact us today.