2wd Crew Cab 143.5 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2019 GMC Sierra Denali Drivers' Notes Review | Half measures

Associate Editor Reese Counts: This truck feels a full generation behind the competition. It's a half measure that feels more like a mid-cycle refresh than a whole new truck. There are a few high points: the 6.2-liter V8 is great (if thirsty) and the bed is wider than anything else in the class. The tailgate, too, is nifty, though some might write it off as a novelty. I also dig the tech, particularly the infotainment system and heads-up display. Ram might brag about its giant touchscreen, but I think I actually prefer the GMC's user interface. The rest can be summed up with a series of shoulder shrugs. The Sierra finally looks different than a Silverado, but I wouldn't call it handsome. The interior is spacious, but I'd knock the design and materials in a $45,000 truck, much less one approaching $70,000. It's not Toyota Tundra levels of terrible, it's just plain, cheap, and not nearly as space efficient as the Ram. It feels like GM's not even trying to move the needle with this truck. The more time I spend behind the wheel, the less I like it. Assistant Editor Zac Palmer: I got to spend a lot of seat time in this 2019 GMC Sierra Denali, and I came away generally unenthused by GM's most luxurious truck. We harp a lot about how expensive pickup trucks are these days, and this one's near $70,000 price tag is just the same. When you step inside a similarly-specced Ram, it feels like it's worth its price. When I step out of a Silverado and into a more expensive Sierra, I want to feel like it's money well spent. This Sierra Denali does not. Beyond the leather seats and a few small pieces of wood trim, it's hard, black plastic galore. What makes it all the more frustrating is that GM has most of the tech and features it needs (solid infotainment, 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging and the rear camera mirror is genuinely awesome). The presentation just comes off as dated from the start. It's a shame, because I have a strange affinity for how this truck looks from the curb. The sharp angles, brash styling and "tough truck" attitude is appealing to me. I like stomping on the gas and letting the 6.2-liter torque monster under the hood loose. But man do you pay the price for using that engine. Over a few hundred miles of driving I ended at a dismal 15 mpg reading on the trip computer — the saddest part of this was knowing these were mostly highway miles.

Satisfaction with dealer service rises, Lexus and GMC are tops

During the economic downturn, many car dealerships counteracted their slowing income by focusing on things that would set them apart from competition - things like the quality of customer service they provide. When the economy picked up and more sales and service followed, many also first invested those funds back into the business, improving their dealership facilities and service centers.
It looks like those investments are paying off, as J.D. Power and Associates' latest Customer Service Index Study shows that overall consumer satisfaction with dealer service has increased to 797 (on a 1,000-point scale), up from 787 in 2012 and 29 points higher than the score in 2011. The study also finds that people are more satisfied with the service they get at dealerships compared to independent service providers, despite the much higher average out-of-pocket cost per visit ($118 vs. $44).
Note, however, that this study only looks at how people are treated by a dealer's service department during the first three years of ownership (the survey is based on responses from 91,000 owners and lessees of 2008 to 2012 model year vehicles), so we're talking about the experience had when bringing a car in for repair or maintenance work, most likely under warranty. In fact, maintenance work is increasing in share and accounted for 77 percent of service visits (up from 72 percent in 2012 and 63 percent in 2011). This helps explain why customer satisfaction has also risen, since a properly maintained car is one that's less likely to require a dealer visit for an unexpected repair.

GMC looks to space with the Hummer EV Omega Edition

The Hummer EV is nothing if not outlandish. Everything about it is over the top, from its size to its weight, but the folks at GMC felt it needed something more to stand out. Enter the 2024 GMC Hummer EV Omega Edition, an enormous matte blue vehicle with unique features and an exclusive price tag. The special edition builds on the 3X truck and SUV models with a unique Neptune Blue Matte paint color and black exterior trim pieces. It also brings an off-road package, exclusive 18-inch wheels, the MultiPro tailgate with a Kicker audio system, unique interior carpeting, and a transparent roof. In addition to the wheels and 35-inch mud-terrain tires, the off-road package brings underbody skid plates and additional off-road camera views. GMC said it took inspiration for the Hummer EV from the “endless expanse of space,” which is likely true since the vehicle is about as efficient as a Saturn V rocket. Interestingly, the automaker is using the Miami Grand Prix as the launchpad for the EV, offering 0-60 sprints to invited attendees at the event. The Hummer EV Omega Edition Pickup gets a 24-module battery and starts at $149,995, while the SUV gets a 20-module battery and a $139,995 starting price. The hard-to-get EV is exceedingly rare in its standard form, and the Omega Edition is only available to existing order holders, so itÂ’s unlikely any of us will see the unique blue 'ute anytime soon. Despite its ridiculousness, the Hummer EVÂ’s wait list extends into multiple years for some buyers. GMC took thousands of orders and only built 1,000 units in March, so you can see how wait times quickly pile up. That said, production nearly doubled between February and March, giving hope to impatient order-holders. ItÂ’s not possible to place an order at this time, so if you donÂ’t have a reservation already, it might be time to look at a different EV. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.