2007 GMC Sierra Denali Road Test Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published September 25, 2009

3:2 min

The 2007 GMC Sierra Denali it the most powerful production pickup you can buy. And the great sound comes as part of the deal. This is GMC�s attempt to pull off the tough mix of luxury and truck utility. This isn�t an SUV, but a real pickup with a leaf spring suspension that accommodates big loads and easy towing. It has a real cargo box ready to swallow 1818-pounds of toys, tools, and crud. And if that�s not enough, it can tow another 8800-pounds. That�s the truck part. The luxury part is announced by the big shiny grille� And these optional 20-inch wheels and tires. But the interior is where the luxury takes its form. This is basically the interior GMC uses in the Yukon XL Denali, and it�s simply the best interior GM has ever installed in any pickup. The dash is elegant and trimmed with the best fake wood ever. All the gauges are easily read and logically placed. The switches work with precision and the leather upholstery is perfectly stitched. GM says its getting better at quality and the Sierra Denali is the best evidence of that yet. And this Crew Cab truck is roomy too. If your kids aren�t comfortable back here, they should be living on their own by now anyhow. With 403 horsepower on tap and a simply outstanding six-speed automatic transmission feeding that power, it�s no surprise that this is a quick truck. The trip from 0 to 60 only takes 6.5-seconds and the quarter mile flies by in 15.0-seconds at 92.1 mph. That�s not quite as quick as the new Toyota Tundra, but it�s mighty swift for a 5309-pound two-wheel drive truck. But it is a truck. The tires are big enough that there�s lots of adhesion, but when the limits are met, there�s plenty of understeer. In fact during our testing, the Sierra Denali got just out of shape enough for the on-board computer to trigger a call to OnStar to make sure we were okay. Real trucks ride like, well, trucks. And the Sierra Denali is no different. The combination of a leaf spring rear suspension and low-profile tires on 20-inch rims makes for some high impact drama over road divots. That�s the price you pay for combining real truck ability and stylish wheels. With a price tag starting at nearly $40,000, the Sierra Denali comes loaded with luxury equipment. And it�s a fundamentally sweet natured, good-looking vehicle. But it doesn�t come with a bedliner� Or a rear window that slides open� Or a chrome tip for the exhaust. And it should.