2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab Review

A robust 6.6L V8 with 397 horsepower, rugged 4WD, and spacious crew cab, this heavy duty Denali is the ultimate executive pickup for those seeking a high dose of luxury.

Some may find the idea of a luxury, heavy-duty truck a bit peculiar—almost an anomaly. But here in truck-country Alberta, the more the merrier, where merging the Denali brand’s opulence with the Sierra HD’s work ethic only makes sense. Hence, for the first time, feast your eyes on the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 HD pickup, a gorgeous-looking machine with a cabin that almost rivals a luxury sedan without compromising big balls to get the job done. Hey, heavy-duty trucks need love, too.

2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD Review
2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab. Photo: Amee Reehal

Granted, I’m not a ‘truck guy.’ I don’t tow a trailer or haul stuff like they do in the commercials. But I fall in love every time the opportunity to test a pickup presents itself, and so do my friends, many of them with new one-ton trucks. Mainly when it’s as stunning as this 2011 Sierra Denali (and mainly when it’s minus 30 degrees Celsius for a week straight). Hovering above the commoners, passing them by on the road, gives this sense of entitlement. And despite not hauling stuff, I take comfort in knowing that I can, especially in an $80,420 MSRP guise. It’s all a little narcissistic and totally against my values, but maybe that’s the idea. Either way, it’s pimp. And it’s fun. And my truck is way better than your truck…for a week.

Power from an upgraded 6.6L V8 Duramax diesel

2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD Review
2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab. Photo: Amee Reehal
  • Engine: 6.6L Duramax V8 Turbo Diesel
  • Power: 397 horsepower @ 3,000 rpm
  • Torque: 765 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm
  • Transmission: 6-speed automatic with overdrive
  • Drive Type: Four-wheel drive (4WD)
  • Suspension: Independent front torsion bar and multi-leaf rear suspension
  • Brakes: Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS
  • Towing Capacity: Up to 13,000 lbs (varies with configuration)
  • Payload Capacity: Varies with configuration
  • Fuel Economy: EPA-estimated 13 mpg city / 18 mpg highway
  • Fuel Tank Capacity: 36 gallons

The 2011 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Crew Cab starts at $59,210 MSRP. Again, my tester came loaded with over $20,000 in options, ringing in at $80,420 total before taxes/fees. Powered by the standard 6.0L SFI V8 flex-fuel engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with OD, this loaded Denali pickup finds the $9,670 upgraded 6.6L V8 Duramax diesel powerplant with a $1,445 upgraded 6-speed Allison transmission making 397-hp and a whopping 765 lb-ft of torque. The payload can carry up to 2631 lbs, and the towing capacity can carry up to 13,000 lbs with a ball hitch.

The 2011 GMC Sierra pickup is available in various trims with the three Denali versions at the top, available only as a crew cab 2500HD (as tested) with the 6.6-ft box or the larger 3500HD crew cab with a choice of 6.6-ft box or 8-ft box.

Exterior Styling

2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab front grill
2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab. Photo: Amee Reehal

First glance, the 2011 GMC Sierra Denali is bold and brawny in this Onyx Black paint scheme, flashing a little posh without going too far. The vast, chrome honeycomb front grill with a matching lower grill below the bumper flanked by a couple of integrated fog lamps looks both menacing and classy simultaneously. 18-inch polished aluminum wheels come standard, but you’ll want to opt for the 20-inch rims, as seen here, for an extra $1015.

A few other options include a power sliding rear window ($350), power sunroof ($1325), and the high-gloss hard folding Tonneau bed cover ($985). Some notable exterior standards include the Denali-specific front chrome grills and chrome door handles; fog lamps; Solar-Ray glass all around; body-coloured bumpers and mouldings; and dual-automatic halogen composite lights, including exterior lamp control with the flash-to-pass feature. From the rear, this Denali version looks similar to the non-luxe Sierra with the classic Z71 logos adorned on the rear sides; logos that add an off-road Z71 package including rear monotube shocks, off-road jounce bumpers, and stabilizer bars.

Sierra Denali Interior

2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab interior front cabin
2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab. Photo: Amee Reehal

Nearly all the press pickups I’ve been testing from various manufacturers come equipped with stellar interiors. I’ve become accustomed to this and would expect nothing less in a truck. More importantly, the customers, like my buddies, would expect nothing less. Sure, an HD pickup needs tenacity to get the job done, but unless you’re bringing those barrels of hay or bags of dirt into the cabin, there’s no reason a pickup truck is void of luxury behind the wheel.

2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD Review
2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab. Photo: Amee Reehal

Site Supervisors, Construction Managers, or truck-wannabes like myself may not require heavy-duty haulers for their daily treks from site-to-site (or coffee shop to post office, in my case). Still, they’ll undoubtedly want a truck, certainly without any compromise. The 2011 GMC Sierra Denali is definitely for those executive blue-collar dudes.

2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD Review
2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab. Photo: Amee Reehal

The list of interior standards is lengthy, including full-featured front reclining bucket seats with 10-way power adjustments with two memory buttons, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with wood grain, power-adjustable pedals, a premium instrument panel, and much more. The $4760 Entertainment package shines, adding various features including XM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth system, rear DVD setup, Bose speakers with sub; 6-disc changer with USB and auxiliary input; and Navigation with voice recognition. The rearview camera is an extra $565.

2011 GMC Sierra Denali HD Review
2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab. Photo: Amee Reehal

Takeaway and Specs

The 2011 GMC Sierra Denali 4×4 Crew Cab successfully fuses the Sierra’s proven reliability with the Denali Ritz. And while the idea of an $80k luxury truck may appear to defeat the purpose of the ‘truck,’ clearly not for the masses, this well-appointed Sierra indeed has its niche market, where most of the upgrades pertain to performance and utility (i.e., Duramax engine, tonneau cover) and less with esthetics anyway. The 2011 GMC Sierra lineup, including the Denali version, is the company’s most powerful Sierra HD yet.

CategorySpecification
Engine6.6L Duramax V8 Turbo Diesel
Power397 horsepower @ 3,000 rpm
Torque765 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission6-speed automatic with overdrive
Drive TypeFour-wheel drive (4WD)
SuspensionIndependent front torsion bar and multileaf rear suspension
BrakesFour-wheel disc brakes with ABS
Towing CapacityUp to 13,000 lbs (varies with configuration)
Payload CapacityVaries with configuration
Fuel EconomyEPA-estimated 13 mpg city / 18 mpg highway
Fuel Tank Capacity36 gallons
Wheels20-inch chrome aluminum wheels
TiresLT265/60R20 all-terrain blackwall tires
Dimensions– Length: 239.5 inches
– Width: 80 inches
– Height: 78.1 inches
– Wheelbase: 153.7 inches
Curb WeightVaries with configuration
Cargo Bed LengthVaries with configuration
Seating Capacity5 or 6 passengers
Features– Premium leather-appointed seating
– Bose premium audio system
– Navigation system
– Dual-zone automatic climate control
– Rearview camera
– Trailer sway control
– Remote vehicle start
Safety– Dual-stage front airbags
– Side-impact airbags
– StabiliTrak stability control
– OnStar with automatic crash response
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Author:
Amee Reehal
Amee Reehalhttps://www.ameereehal.com/
Shooting cars and bikes professionally since film was a thing, for over 20 years, Amee has collaborated with the major automakers and agencies, and his work has been published in various global outlets including MotorTrend, GlobeDrive, SuperStreet, Chicago Tribune, PerformanceBMW, and others. He’s an automotive writer and founder/managing editor of TractionLife.com, focusing on digital marketing & SEO for the past ten years (backed by a marketing degree, go figure). Find him travelling, spending time with his kids and family. Or golfing, poorly.