Henry Payne: GMC Sierra EV pickup expands its offerings
Published in Business News
The electric GMC Sierra pickup lineup is picking up.
Battery-powered vehicle sales growth has slowed to a crawl in the United States, but General Motors Co. is full-speed ahead on its transition to an all-EV maker — especially in premium segments. Cadillac has completed its full EV lineup from Optiq to Escalade IQ, and now GMC is expanding its electric truck lineup beyond the $92k Denali model introduced last year to cheaper trims.
With deliveries this summer, the 2026 GMC Sierra EV will be available in entry-level $64,495 Elevation trim and as an $81,395 AT4 off-road model. The Denali sub-brand alone sold 1,788 units in 2024 and will expand its offerings for the new model year.
The Sierra EV lineup is aimed at upscale truck buyers and its model walk parallels trims available for the internal-combustion-engine Sierra lineup. However, Sierra EV does not include entry-level work truck grades Pro and SLE, which start at $39k with ICE powertrains. Typical of electrics, the well-contented Elevation EV trim will start about $13k above the comparable Elevation ICE product.
“With these additional trims and customer options, the Sierra EV is positioned right in the heart of the premium truck market,” said GMC/Buick Global Vice President Jaclyn McQuaid. “The combination of Elevation, AT4 and Denali represent the most popular expressions of Sierra, accounting for more than two-out-of-three of all Sierra light-duty sales.”
GMC sits above Chevrolet as the General’s premium truck brand and it was first to jump on the electric pickup bandwagon with the 2022 Hummer EV.
Chevy followed with a 2024 Silverado EV before the Sierra Denali EV was rolled out. All three trucks are based on the same Ultium battery platform. Like Sierra, the Silverado EV lineup expanded last year, building on its entry-level $57,095 Work Truck and top-line $97,896 RST.
GM’s bullish moves on EVs come as crosstown rival Ford Motor Co. has pulled back on production of its Lightning EV pickup in the face of cooling demand. Even EV pioneer Tesla Inc. — which anticipated production of 250,000 units a year of its Cybertruck pickup – has seen sales fall short at 38,965 units delivered in 2024.
Sierra ICE pickups offer multiple drivetrains, and the expanded Sierra EV lineup will feature three battery options: Standard Range, Extended Range, and Max Range battery.
The Elevation trim will be available with a Standard or Extended Range battery, while the off-road oriented AT4 offers Extended or Max Range battery. The Denali trim will offer all three battery options. GMC said range estimates would be announced closer to launch, but expect range to track that of the Silverado EV series, which boasts 408 miles for the Extended Range 170 kWh battery and up to 496 miles for the 205 kWh Max battery.
The 2026 Sierra EV Elevation starts with signature GMC features including a 16.8-inch console touchscreen, front trunk (so-called eTrunk), versatile MultiPro Tailgate and 18-inch wheels. Options include hands-free Super Cruise drive assist and a removable MultiPro MidGate, which enables hauling, say, boards up to 11 feet long.
Like its Canyon and Sierra ICE siblings, Sierra EV adds a dirt-kicking AT4 model to its tree-hugging resume.
The big, off-road focused EV builds on Elevation trim specs with a lifted (by two inches) coil suspension and 35-inch all-terrain tires. It will also feature a trim-exclusive Terrain Mode, designed, GMC says, “to provide maximum maneuverability, torque, and precise control off-road, and integrated with one-pedal drive and automatic braking.”
Key to that maneuverability are tools seen on the Hummer like four-wheel-steer and Crab Walk mode that help the truck navigate tight spots.
AT4 will come standard with Super Cruise driving-assist capability and can tow up to 12,300 pounds. Tests by TFLTruck.com indicate the Ultium platform can tow with about a 50% range loss that is comparable to gas-powered trucks — though the Sierra EV’s charging gain of 100 miles in 10 minutes pales compared to a fuel pump.
AT4 options include a 10.2 kW onboard power system that feeds 240-volt and 120-volt bed outlets.
Outfitted with the Standard battery, the top-drawer Sierra EV Denali starts at $71,795 — significantly below the $92k 2025 model that was only available with a Max battery.
True to the Denali’s reputation, the interior gets the royal treatment with standard heated/ventilated seats and Super Cruise. Extras include four-wheel steer, pillow-soft air suspension and a panoramic sunroof.
Sierra EV color choices grow, too, including Summit White, Glacier White, Coastal Dune, Deep Bronze, Magnus Matte, Onyx Black, Deep Ocean, Dark Ember, and Thunderstorm Gray. You’ll know the AT4 by its illuminated red front badge.
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