Quickies: 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
For over 25 years, it has become the focal point to attract customers to their popular half-ton full-size pickup truck.
Every year, we are presented with a pickup truck to work with. No matter the size, the power source, and the specification, we know whole heartedly that you have specific needs, wants, and desires for your next rig.
It’s been a couple of years since we had a chance to get behind the wheel of General Motors’ own lineup of pickup trucks. We were hoping for the opportunity to do so.
That opportunity came at the 2026 Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally held at Road America. It came in the guise of the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali in the crew cab and five-foot-eight-inch bed. I couldn’t think of any single pickup truck I would like to check out.
Why?
If you looked at the 2026 first quarter sales chart for GM, the GMC brand has the second most units sold in the company. The Sierra 1500 alone is the third-best selling model in the company, behind the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Equinox. While you get a lot of variety with the Bowtie badge, the Professional Grade brand offers the most luxurious trim levels. Denali just happen to be one of them.
In fact, Denali is a sort of a sub-brand for GMC. For over 25 years, that name signifies the most luxury you can get in a pickup truck or SUV. It has become the focal point to attract customers to their popular half-ton full-size pickup truck.
It is also very handsome. The Downpour Metallic is not a pickup truck color, per se, but one befitting the Denali trim. It brings out the specific chrome Denali grille, the LED lightning units, the shape of the MultiPro Tailgate, and its 22-painted alloy wheels. It’s such a gorgeous pickup truck. It is also equipped with the MultiPro power steps along the sides to make getting in and out of the cab easier.
Stepping inside, you are treated to a modern cabin befitting of the Denali name. The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, flanked by a 13.4-inch center display touchscreen. All of this is augmented by a 15-inch head-up display, which is an available feature.
The center console houses a T-bar shifter that goes back-and-forth between drive and reverse, with a push-button for Park. Everything other control is tactile and spread throughout the cabin, including the climate control.
Infotainment-wise, the 2026 Sierra 1500 Denali’s system us driven by Google Built-in and its associated apps. You can still integrate your smartphone’s operating system, although you may have a conflict between Google Assistant and Siri if you’re using your Apple device. No matter how you get your music or information, Bose supplies enough wonderful sound throughout the cabin.
While you have a choice of drivelines available for the 2026 Sierra 1500 Denali, our test vehicle came with the Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged in-line-six-cylinder diesel engine. If there is one figure you need to know about this engine, it is the 495 pound-feet of torque. That means it pulls stumps within its Gross Combined Weight Rating. A 10-speed automatic transmission sends all of that power down to all four wheels on this pickup truck.
The Duramax diesel has some upsides and a downside. The big upside is pulling power. With a payload rating of 1,870 pounds and a maximum towing rating of 9,000 pounds, Another upside is fuel economy, where the EPA rates the 2026 Sierra 1500 with the Duramax diesel at 23 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway.
If there is a huge downside, it is the current price of diesel fuel. Even though it has a maximum range of 672 miles, you still may have to pay through the nose when fueling up each time.
If that downside does not dissuade you, the 2026 Sierra 1500 Denali is a lovely pickup truck to drive. The Adaptive Ride Control made the driving experience more comfortable. Handling was soft, but you have to know where the limits are before you go into that turn.
The steering wheel is large, but very easy to use. On-center feel was fine, as was the turning radius. Brakes were solid. Pedal feel was just right, turning in good stops overall.
For 2026, GMC offers eight trim levels, along with three cab choices, three bed lengths, two final drive systems, and four engines for its Sierra 1500 pickup truck. Pricing starts from $38,300. Our Denali test vehicle came with a sticker price of $75,620.
It is worth noting that this test vehicle came equipped with the Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance feature. It is coupled with the Reserve package that adds a few more items to this pickup truck.
With everything riding on these rigs, the 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 is something to check out in this space. As a segment that commands brand loyalty and returning customers, the strength of a good vehicle comes down to what it can do for you. The Deanli trim is just the icicng on the cake.
DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by General Motors. All logistics were provided by the Midwest Automotive Media Association – our opinions are of our own.
All photos by Randy Stern