GMC’s 2024 Sierra EV pickup will boast unique styling, 400-mile range and a raft of upscale features when it goes on sale early in 2024.
Sierra’s four-wheel steering also will enable the sideways-shuffling “crab walk” for maneuvers in tight spaces off road and in Montessori parking lots. Plus it comes with some special features in the area where a traditional engine once was located.
Sharing its physical architecture with the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Hummer EVs, the Sierra, like all GM’s new EVs, will use the company’s Ultium family of batteries, electric motors and controls.
GMC will initially make the Sierra EV alongside the GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV and Chevrolet Silverado EV in its Factory Zero in Detroit-Hamtramck. It will add production in the Orion plant just north of Detroit to meet expected rising demand.
Among the Sierra EV’s noteworthy mechanical features:
- Two electric motors
- All-wheel drive
- “One pedal” driving and variable regeneration settings
- Four-wheel steering
- 24-cell lithium-ion battery
- Up to 400 miles range on a charge
- DC fast charging at up to 350 kW
- 754 hp and 785 pound-feet of torque in maximum power mode
- 0-60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds
- Standard Multi Pro seven-way tailgate
- Up to 10.2 kW of power for work sites, tailgate parties or homes
- 9,500-pound towing capacity
- 1,300-pound payload
- Air suspension
- Trailer-capable Super Cruise hands-free driving system
- Up to 14 camera views
Flexible bed and cab, feature-laden interior
The Sierra EV’s bed is 5 feet 11 inches long, nearly a foot more than the Hummer EV pickup. Combined with the opening to the Sierra cabin’s flat-folding rear bulkhead and 60/40 folding seats, that creates room for loads up to 9 feet 1 inch long. With the tailgate down and its load-stop engaged, items up to 10 feet 10 inches can be laid flat.
In addition to the folding rear wall, the cabin’s rear glass can be removed and stored in the cab for bulkier loads or open-air driving.
The front trunk includes cargo tie-downs, lights, two drain plugs and a power hood.
GM calls that useful compartment — where the engine goes in a traditional pickup — the “eTrunk.” That may not be Shakespeare, but it’s infinitely better than “frunk,” the label some brands use.
The four-door crew cab is larger than the conventional Sierra pickup’s passenger compartment.
It seats five and is loaded with features befitting the Sierra Denali’s price and premium aspirations.
Amenities in the cab include:
- 16.8-inch touch screen
- Physical switches for climate controls
- 14-inch multicolor HUD display
- Open-pore wood
- Panoramic fixed-glass roof
- Newly developed “vegan” quilted upholstery
- Google search
Unique GMC styling
The Sierra shares almost no sheet metal with the Chevy Silverado EV that will be built alongside it. The hood, front fenders, front doors and rear fenders are all exclusive to the Sierra.
Google services will provide cloud-based navigation, including route planning that includes interactive charging guidance.
Other noteworthy exterior features:
- No gap between the cab and cargo box
- The solid grille panel opens upward with the power hood
- Sequential turn signals, approach and departure lights.
- Three small lights low in the front corners indicate charging
- High and low beam lights set low in the bumpers to reduce glare for oncoming traffic
- 24-inch wheels and 35-inch tires
What will it cost you?
A limited-production Sierra Denali launch edition will sticker at $107,000.
GMC’s eagerly awaited electric pickup will be positioned upmarket of the Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup, which is expected to go on sale in the first half of 2023.
Sierra EV prices will eventually start around $50,000, but General Motors’ premium truck brand is in no hurry to complete the lineup as it expects to sell tens of thousands of extremely profitable Denali models.
After a year building solely Sierra Denali Edition 1 and regular Sierra Denali pickups, GMC will add less expensive AT4 and Elevation models of the electric pickup in calendar 2024.
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.