There’s something so viscerally attractive about a pickup truck. The combination of rugged resourcefullness with comfort and chrome makes today’s pickup trucks so appealing.
My tester for the week certainly fits that mold. The 2013 GMC Sierra Denali 1500 crew cab combines a handsome stature with a utilitarian vibe, with enough chrome to maintain its masculine stature.
The distinctive chrome grille and side moldings separate itself from other trucks on the road, including other General Motors trucks (like the Chevy Silverado). Adding to the distinction are
20-inch chrome-accented wheels and chrome-accented door handles.
With the crew cab, you lose a little space in the bed, but I found the Sierra up for the task of hauling some lumber from the hardware store. It’s definitely a weekend warrior that can help expedite that honey-do list.
And while you’re out running errands and hauling things, you can enjoy an interior that is luxuriously appointed. Some features that bring unexpected luxury to the Sierra are a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, and a sunroof.
All these luxuries are nice, but if you’re going to be a weekend warrior, then you need a big-boy engine, right?
The Sierra delivers with a 6.2-liter V8 engine. Pair it with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and this truck powers its way through that to-do list, with time left over to play.
With all-wheel drive, an integrated trailer brake, and a 7,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating, the Sierra can handle off-roading, towing and everything in between.
The Sierra drives very much like a truck. Stiff steering and controlled braking are in order. And thanks to a high performance suspension package, the Sierra offers a smooth ride — smoother than most pickups in fact.
As expected, fuel economy in the Sierra is low. Rated at 12 city and 18 highway, I squeezed out about 16 MPGs in a week’s worth of driving, mostly on the highway.
The Sierra Denali 1500 has an MSRP of $48,635. With extra options like navigation, chrome assist steps (much needed) and the power sunroof, my tester came in at $53,694. The Sierra Denali caters to the pickup truck crowd that wants a little more from their weekend warrior.
Despite its luxurious amenities and bigger price tag, the GMC Sierra Denali is not a hoity toity pickup truck. It just has a little refined ruggedness, and what’s wrong with that?
Jimmy Dinsmore is the Wheels editor at the Dayton Daily News and may be reached at (937) 225-2115. Follow him on Twitter @wheelseditor