On the NFL‘s Thursday night Football broadcast, something was waiting for the truck enthusiasts. Yes, as you might have guessed from the title, that is the announcement of the new 2022 GMC Sierra and how massive of an upgrade it will be compared to the outgoing model. We surely are pretty excited. The 2022 Sierra will receive a refresh and there will be some significant changes coming to the entire line-up. Already being quite popular among the masses, the new Sierra aims to steal the spotlight from the F-150s and the RAMs.
Not just content with just the Denali and AT4, GMC will now be adding two brand-new, high-end luxurious trims to the mix. Dubbed the Denali Ultimate and the AT4X, these two new trims will be ridiculously pricey but will also be ridiculously luxurious. Let’s start with the pricing. The AT4X is the rugged version, as we all know, and it will start at a price of $74,995. The Denali Ultimate is the true luxurious version that will come at a hefty price tag of $80,395. Yes, those are some ridiculous figures, as we already mentioned. However, they might be worth all the stuff that they are offering.
The Denali and the AT4 versions account for 45% of the Sierra’s total gross sales. Adding more trims with the same name and building upon them is actually a pretty good strategy for further improving sales figures.
The AT4X will have features such as spool-valve dampers, electronic-locking front and rear differentials, extra skid plates, and off-roading tires. As you might already know, the AT4 is the true off-roading trim from GMC. The AT4X will offer even more ruggedness and it appears to take off-roading in a pickup truck to a whole new level. 18” black wheels will be standard, but we guess that GMC will allow upgrading to better and bigger wheels. It also features a lifted suspension and higher ground clearance than the other models.
Interior upgrades are some of the most impressive and most important. The Denali Ultimate is the ultimate luxury pickup truck with a magnificent and stupendous interior with only the highest quality materials. The appearance of the interior is also gorgeous, but it does not shy away from inherently being a truck.
With all the controls being within easy reach of the driver, the interior is pretty ergonomic, and everything is well-placed. The Denali Ultimate comes with all the features that you could ask for. It really needs to since it does cost a fortune. Features such as a heads-up display, a large center console, power-adjustable steering column are all easily available. But these are the features that even the lower trims get.
What is it that truly sets the Denali Ultimate apart? Well, you are greeted by a lot of leather-covered surfaces. Almost all the surfaces you touch are covered in gorgeous leather. An abundance of soft-touch materials makes the interior of this pickup truck even more desirable. Did we mention that the Ultimate will also come with a gorgeous open-pore wood trim that looks and feels gorgeous? The front seats are 16-way power-adjustable, and they are very comfortable. Yes, the ride might not be as comfortable as some of the rivals, but it still is adequately comfy.
The seats have power lumbar support and also seat massage. GMC is known for offering excellent tailgate features. They are bringing a trick tailgate that can be opened in multiple configurations, called the MultiPro Tailgate. It can be opened in six different configurations and each of them has a specific function to perform. That is really exciting coming from just a tailgate. Oh, and that isn’t all. The cargo bed is covered with carbon-fiber-reinforced material that is exclusive to the Sierra only and it is not only lighter but also stronger than steel. You know, the power of carbon fiber.
Not only has the design and features of the interior been revamped, but the infotainment system has also been upgraded. The new trims, the AT4X and Denali Ultimate (and all the trims except the base trim) come with a massive 13.4” infotainment screen and also a 12.3” digital gauge cluster. The system will be pretty intuitive and also quite responsive. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will obviously be present, but you can also expect features such as Google Maps, an app store, voice assistant, SiriusXM radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth, etc. The Ultimate will also have a 12-speaker Bose audio system and wireless charging.
But that isn’t all. Both the Denali trims will be coming with GMC’s Super Cruise tech. It is a hands-free driving technology that works as an autonomous driving system. You can use it on a large network of roads nationwide, and it has a trailer attached. It can change lanes, slow down, and basically run on its own. Reminds us of Tesla’s Autopilot feature. It will particularly be useful when you hook a trailer to the back of the highway. However, it won’t be changing lanes when you hitch a trailer to the back.
Perhaps the most exciting change is the exterior design, which appears absolutely cutting-edge and really aggressive now. The truck’s aggression goes through the roof with a redesigned front fascia. The grille is massive and can be either blacked out or chrome, depending on the trim. The DRLs and the headlights have been redesigned, and they appear extremely cool and stylish.
The “C-shaped” DRL is retained but it has been made more aggressive with sharper edges and rectangular cuts. The large grille really complements the headlights well. The front bumper has also been pretty stylish. Out in the back, the LED taillights now appear even more powerful and outstanding and the rear bumper is wide and the dual exhaust setup looks absolutely striking.
GMC is pretty confident that their truck will sell well and that the new trims will be a success. As impressive as the new Sierra looks, we still cannot be sure unless it reaches the masses. It will do so in early 2022 and boy, the new Sierra looks fresher than ever!
