The first GMC truck to bear the top-rated Denali name made its debut this week.
What’s in a name, Shakespeare once asked? And so did we when we heard GMC would be spreading the “Denali” nameplate around in 2011.
We’ve just had a brief drive in the brawny, sexy new 2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD, which marks the first use of the exclusive Denali name on a heavy-duty GMC pickup, a truck which makes its world debut this week.
We immediately recognized the new model, thanks to the trademark Denali four-bar chrome grille with round air inlets that distinguish the Sierra Denali HD on the outside, along with body-color bumpers, chrome door handles, chrome accents and 18- and 20-inch polished forged aluminum wheels. The exterior is offered in three colors: Black, Stealth Gray and White.
Designed to compete against the Ford F-250HD King Ranch and Dodge Power Wagon models at the top of the heavy-duty pickup ladder, the new Denali we drove is powered by the 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8 delivering 397 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 765 foot-pounds of torque down at 1,600 rpm, with a heavy-duty Allison 1000 6-speed transmission.
The 2011 GMC Sierra Denali features the distinctive grille shared with other Denali models.
The Denali name brings with it more than just the familiar grille. The cabin décor includes Denali-specific brushed aluminum trim, power-adjustable pedals, a Bose premium surround audio system and 12-way power seats. Along with an optional heated steering wheel, heated and cooled leather-appointed seats are optionally available.
GMC takes the heavy-duty designation seriously. The 2011 Sierra Denali has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds, a payload capacity of 2,959 pounds and a maximum trailering rating of 15,600 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch. The maximum conventional hitch trailering rating is 13,000 pounds.
It’s rated at a maximum towing capacity of 15,600 pounds. The Sierra Denali HD comes exclusively on the 2500HD chassis, in a 4WD crew cab standard box configuration. A Vortec 6.0-liter gas V-8/six-speed automatic powertrain is standard, with the new Duramax 6.6L turbo diesel/Allison 1000 six-speed transmission powertrain combination we drove offered as a heavy-lifter’s option.
Just because you're a heavy-hauler doesn't mean sacrificing create comforts.
The GMC Sierra Denali comes ready to play. The frame has increased cross-section and uses more high-strength steel for durability, towing capacity and ride and handling. The front sections are hydroformed so that the bending and beaming stiffness of the frame is increased 92 percent and 20 percent, respectively, with the fully boxed sections enhancing torsional stiffness by five hundred percent. Larger engine and transmission mounts, coupled with the stiffer front frame structure, hydraulic body mounts and access holes to the rear frame section to enable easier installation of fifth-wheel/gooseneck-style hitches have been added.
Not that the average buyer needs to know this, but a redesigned independent front suspension system offers up to a 25-percent greater front axle weight rating, up to 6,000 pounds, so a snow plow can be used on all 4WD configurations with the available snow plow prep package. Sierra’s signature short-long arm/torsion bar front suspension now features new, forged steel upper control arms that are stronger and lighter than their predecessors.
The 2011 GMC Denali boasts a huge payload capacity but can also handle a large plow up front.
The new lower control arms are made of precision-machined cast iron to handle the greater loads. The Sierra HD front suspension now uses two urethane jounce bumpers on each side, instead of one, for improved load management; and there’s a new upper shock mount attachment that’s directly connected to the frame.
The rear suspension features a larger asymmetrical leaf-spring design that contributes to improved ride and handling characteristics. The 2500HD models feature a two-stage leaf-spring design, while 3500HD models have a three-stage design. All models feature 3-inch-wide (76 mm) leaf springs that are 20-percent wider than previous models.
New shocks are specially valved to support new, higher weight ratings, and a revised steering system supports the greater front gross axle weight rating. It includes a new, larger steering gear, power steering pumps and linkages. The pumps reduce steering effort in low-speed and parking maneuvers.
Standard four-wheel disc brakes have been completely revamped to deliver smoother performance. Four-wheel, four-channel ABS is standard on all single-rear-wheel models and a three-channel system is standard on dual-rear-wheel models like the new Denali. The front and rear rotors are larger in diameter, now 14 inches, to support their increased capacity, weight ratings and trailering ratings, while the calipers are stiffer and stronger. The hydroboost brake booster calibration is revised for reduced pedal effort, and pedal travel is reduced. Larger wheel hub and bearing assemblies complement the new brake system, and the rear rotors attach to the wheel hubs for easier servicing.
The 2011 GMC Sierra Denali boasts a maximum trailering rating of 15,600 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch.
A trailer sway control system senses trailer sway and intervenes with braking and/or reduced engine power to bring the trailer under control and keep it on its intended path. The system uses electric trailer brakes when a trailer is plugged into the standard wiring harness of the truck and requires no input from the driver. The hill start assist system is automatically engaged when sensors detect the vehicle is on a grade of about 5 percent or greater. It holds the brakes for about 1.5 seconds or until the gas pedal is pressed, preventing rollback, giving the driver time to switch from the brake pedal to the gas pedal without rolling.
The GMC Sierra Denali will start at $45,865 plus $995 destination and delivery, for the gasoline version. The diesel engine and Allison transmission package will add $8395 to the bottom line.