What’s the “Elevation” trim?

“Elevation” is GMC’s more accessible Sierra EV trim, positioned below the fancier AT4 and Denali versions. It skips some of the luxury frosting. I didn’t notice – it was plenty swank for me.

Looks

Visually, it is unmistakably a GMC, but with the face tightened and smoothed so you can tell by looking that it’s an EV. The grill area is mostly closed off and the truck has the upright, squared-off confidence traditional to Sierra enthusiasts. Denali versions aim for gloss, chrome, big wheels and illuminated badging, while the AT4 gets the tougher costume - 35-inch allou-terrain tires, red recovery hooks, extra ground clearance and a more trail-minded stance flavor.

Inside

Inside, the Sierra EV is a cave, and that’s a great thing. It’s roomy, quiet and properly upscale. The cabin feels pleasantly lounge-ish, with a Bose seven-speaker system. Rear-seat space is generous and GMC’s available MultiPro Midgate expands cargo flexibility dramatically, allowing up to 10 feet, 10 inches of load length when configured with the folded rear seats, removable back glass and load stop.

Motor and Mileage

Power comes from a dual-motor e4WD system. Even the base Elevation Standard Range is ferocious, rated at 605 horsepower with an EPA-estimated range of up to 283 miles – but my tester provided over 400 miles on a single full charge, a huge advantage. Depending on trim, horsepower climbs as high as 725 hp in the AT4 and, in some Max Power applications, the truck can deliver the kind of acceleration that makes a 9,000-pound pickup haul it. You’ll get from 0-60 in about 4 seconds.

Towing is serious. The Elevation and Denali can tow up to 12,500 pounds when properly equipped, while the AT4 is rated up to 12,300 pounds. Payload depends on trim and battery, but the important point is that this is not an EV meant just for supermarket runs or picking up the kids from ball practice. It is built to haul, tow and work. You’ll need a bit of horse sense to operate it smoothly, consistently and expertly.

Tech

Its 16.8-inch vertical infotainment screen with Google built-in dominates the dash Some don’t love a giant screen, but I like to see everything I need and so I loved it. It’s backed by an 11-inch driver information display. Available Super Cruise adds hands-free driving on compatible roads. Up to 14 camera views help with parking, trailering and judging the truck’s considerable footprint. Available 800-volt DC fast charging can add up to 120 miles of range in about 10 minutes with the Max Range battery.

How’s the drive?

It’s quick, planted and almost absurdly smooth. The instant torque gives it effortless launch power, while the heavy battery mass keeps it settled. When you need to be 3-4 car lengths ahead, step on it and you’re there. Just keep a grip on the wheel. It’s never not fun to drive. It also didn’t seem to pester me over the entire week. If you’re backing up against a wall, you’ll get what I called a “thump alert” in your butt through the seat. The closer you get to the wall, the more frantic the alert.
Four-wheel steering and CrabWalk help shrink the truck in tight spaces and the camera suite assists with its big hood and wide body. Braking feel in heavy EV trucks can sometimes lack the natural bite of a traditional setup, but regenerative braking here adds useful control once the driver acclimates. Visibility is good, not great. Its range means you don’t have to juice as much.

Room for improvement

The pricetag has elicited complaints. Towing will cut your range sharply. The cabin tech is impressive, but buyers who simply want a truck without a subscription-and-screen rigamarole may find the Sierra EV a lot to digest. The Bose sound system was lacking in high end and richness for what you’re paying.

Conclusion: Despite beefs, this expensive truck will light your fire for all the best reasons. Would I buy it? Yes, but on probation - 6 months to a year. We’ll have to see how things shake out over the next 5 years with the electrical public infostructure and making that as reliable and pleasant as filling up at Joe’s Garage. Not there yet.