2024 GMC Sierra 2500HD vs 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

There was once a time when we expected less out of specialized vehicles. Cars were for families, trucks were for the work sites, and SUVs were for hunting lodges. That concept left decades ago. Today, we expect our vehicles to do it all. There’s no better example of this than in the full-size truck market. These are incredibly capable, powerful vehicles that are also expected to be reliable, comfortable commuting vehicles that have the latest in-car and infotainment technology.

The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is in a tough spot. The big pickup has the work-truck credentials covered, but it has some stiff competition in the refinement department. A critical update to address these issues arrived for the 2022 model year. While the exterior updates were subtle, the big changes came inside the cabin. For 2023, the Chevy Silverado 1500 receives power upgrades for the optional Duramax diesel engine. A new Silverado ZR2 Bison off-road configuration is available as well. But the real work to keep the Silverado relevant came in 2022 with those interior updates. Read on to learn if those changes are enough to keep the Silverado 1500 competitive in the perpetually evolving full-size pickup truck market.

Sitting at the top of the Sierra’s seven available trims, the Denali Ultimate is newly added for the 2024 model year and comes with nearly every available option that can be included on this full-size truck.

The Denali Ultimate trim level is offered on both the 2500 and 3500 HD models. Each provides a higher degree of towing and payload capacity than what’s available in the standard GMC Sierra 1500. To put it bluntly, the Sierra HD models are pickup overkill for anyone simply looking to tow a couple of jet skis or haul a moderately-sized camper. The “HD” in the name stands for “Heavy Duty,” and its capabilities (and price) reflect this.

Powered exclusively by a 6.6-litre turbocharged Duramax diesel V8, the HD Denali Ultimate we test drove has a maximum towing capacity of 10,200 kilograms (22,500 pounds)—an 1,800-kilogram (4,000-pound) increase versus the 2023 model. Need to tow something along the lines of construction equipment or, say, a small island? Stepping up to the Sierra 3500 HD equates to a max tow rating of 16,550 kilograms (36,500 pounds) when using a gooseneck trailer hitch.

Okay, so the Sierra HD lineup has serious chops for getting tough tasks done. But how does it stack up against the competition? Hop aboard as we take a look at every aspect of the HD Denali Ultimate, from how it drives, to the user-friendliness of its infotainment system, trailer tech, and whether this new top-of-the-range trim is worth the price.