The GMC Sierra 1500 Denali has long been the benchmark for luxury pickup trucks. But as competitors like Ram and Ford step up their game, and GMC introduces even higher trims like the Denali Ultimate, where does the "standard" Denali stand?
We got hands-on with a 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali with the Preferred Package (not the top-tier Reserve Super Cruise model) to give you an honest, real-world assessment. With a sticker price hovering around $75,000, expectations are high.
Here is a breakdown of five things we absolutely love about this truck, and five things that drive us crazy.
5 Things We Love About the 2025 Denali 1500
The Denali still gets a lot right, particularly in engineering and practical luxury features that competitors haven't matched.
1. Magnetic Ride Control
This is arguably the best feature on the truck. The Magnetic Ride Control on General Motors trucks provides, by far, the nicest ride quality in the luxury pickup segment.
If you aren't familiar with the tech, the shocks are filled with a fluid containing magnetic particles. Sensors constantly monitor the road, adjusting the shocks instantaneously to manage bumps. Neither Ford nor Ram has a comparable system in their half-tons. If ride comfort is your priority, this is the winner.
2. Three Distinct Engine Options
GM remains unique in the luxury truck market by offering genuinely different powertrain choices on high-end trims. While competitors rely heavily on turbocharged V6s or have eliminated diesel options, the Denali gives you three solid choices:
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The standard 5.3L V8
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The powerful 6.2L V8
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The efficient and torque-rich 3.0L Duramax Diesel
Having two V8s and a diesel option in 2025 is a major advantage for buyers with specific towing or preference needs.
3. Available Bed Lengths on Luxury Trims
Finding a true luxury truck with a usable bed length is becoming harder. Many top-tier trims, including GMC’s own Denali Ultimate or AT4X, are locked into the short 5.5-foot bed.
On this standard Denali Preferred Package, you have a choice: the standard short bed or the highly desirable 6.5-foot standard bed. For customers who actually use their truck for truck things, having that longer bed option on a luxury trim is amazing.
4. The 6.2L V8 Active Exhaust
This feature might be controversial for some, but V8 enthusiasts will love it. On 2024 and newer Denalis equipped with the 6.2L V8, you get a factory active exhaust system.
Similar to a Corvette, it uses baffles in the exhaust piping. When you switch the truck into Sport Mode, the baffles open up. It is not a subtle difference; it sounds mean and aggressive, almost like an aftermarket Borla system, straight from the factory.
5. Center Console Phone Charger Placement
Since the interior refresh in late 2022, GM has nailed the wireless phone charger placement. Located strategically in the center console, it is arguably the best integration on the market—better than Ford, Ram, or the large SUVs. It’s the perfect spot to drop your phone, keeping it secure and out of the way while driving.
5 Things We Hate About the 2025 Denali 1500
Despite the engineering wins, GMC has made some frustrating choices with the interior materials and option packaging on this trim level.
1. Standard "Pleather" Seating Quality
For a truck costing $75,000, the leather quality in the standard Denali is disappointing. It feels like "pleather"—a plasticky imitation that lacks the premium feel of its competitors.
When you compare this interior to a Ford F-150 King Ranch, a Ram Limited, or even GMC’s own Denali Ultimate, it feels cheap. GMC knows how to do better interiors; they just chose not to put it in this specific trim level.
2. Navigation Requires an OnStar Subscription
This is a major point of frustration. The beautiful infotainment screen has built-in Google Maps, but to use it as intended, you must sign into a Google account and have an active, paid OnStar subscription (often costing $30-$50 a month).
If you don't pay the subscription, the built-in nav is useless, forcing you to rely solely on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It feels like a blatant cash grab on an already expensive vehicle.
3. Frustrating Super Cruise Packaging
Super Cruise is phenomenal hands-free driving technology. However, you cannot simply add it as a standalone option. The technology itself is worth about $2,500, but GMC forces you to buy the $7,500 "Reserve Package" to get it.
This forces you to pay for upgraded wheels, power running boards, and the rearview camera mirror just to get the self-driving tech. GMC needs to offer Super Cruise as a standalone, $2,500 add-on for any Denali.
4. Lack of Adjustable Pedals
In a luxury pickup truck, adjustable gas and brake pedals should be standard. Ford has them; Ram has them. GM stopped offering them years ago, likely for cost savings.
If you are particularly tall (e.g., 6'5") or shorter (e.g., 5'8"), being able to adjust the pedals in conjunction with the power seat and steering wheel is vital for finding a perfect driving position. It's a glaring omission in a luxury vehicle.
5. Forced Chrome (No Factory Blackout Option)
The standard Denali as it sits on the lot has too much chrome. While older demographics may appreciate the flash, younger buyers overwhelmingly want blackout packages.
Unlike Ford, which offers black appearance packages from the factory, you cannot order a standard Denali "murdered out" from GMC. You are stuck with the chrome grille and trim unless you pay a shop to wrap or paint the parts aftermarket. GMC is missing the mark by not offering a factory "Midnight Edition" on this trim.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Preferred Package is a truck of highs and lows. Its ride quality and powertrain options are unmatched, but the interior materials and subscription-based navigation model are significant drawbacks for the price.
Watch the full review video below to see these features in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USWPhN54q3A