GMC has done wonders with the 2019 models of the Sierra. The time has come where it finally frees itself from the clutches of the Fords, and the Rams, and the Chevys, and creates its own identity. Sounds too dramatic, right? Well, that's because the Sierra's story has been nothing short of wonderous. A truck that played second fiddle to the Chevy Silverado has finally managed to put itself shoulder-to-shoulder with the competitors, and there seems to be no stopping it. After the revamped and the reloaded models, GMC has introduced a CarbonPro Edition for Sierra 1500 trims. Now, this is a big deal because carbon fiber is something that supercars and hypercars dress in. Will this be a unique selling proposition for Sierra moving forward?

Exterior

Denali is the top-of-the-line trim in the Sierra series, and just when we thought that we have seen it all, GMC decides to come up with something outside the box; inside the box, rather. But before we get to that, let's talk about the GMC Sierra Denali CarbonPro Edition's face.

Upfront, the Denali looks different from the other trims. The XL-sized headlights house the C-shaped LED daytime running lights. This trim also comes with a fully functional hood scoop that helps pass cool air to the gruesome powerhouse underneath the bonnet. The muscle lines on the hood further enhance the monstrous appeal of the truck. The GMC Sierra just cannot be ignored due to its sheer size and presence. The Sierra Denali CarbonPro Edition is a lot richer, a lot more detailed, and a lot more blingy than its counterparts! I honestly think the term 'Denali' needs to be proposed as a new word in the Oxford Dictionary which means "oodles of chrome". It's not just the grille; there's the chrome window sill, chrome bumpers, and chrome fog light surroundings. Wait, we're not done yet. There are chrome wing mirror caps, and elements of chrome on fenders as well.

The best part about it is the 'CarbonPro 6.2L' badge that it proudly wears on the front fenders. The squarish wheel arches are covered with black plastic cladding. As for the wheels, GMC has offered a plethora of options to choose from, but it rides on 20-inch rollers as standard. But given how big the truck is, even 20-inch wheels look puny on it. If I were to pick, I would configure my truck with the 22-inch wheels. Why make a beast look tame when it is out there to conquer the world?

The rear is where all the action lies. Other than the carbon fiber bed, GMC has installed its famous MultiPro tailgate in here. The six-mode tailgate can work as a standing desk or can be folded down to create a step into the bed. It is basically two tailgates - inception of sorts - wherein a fold-out stopper can be deployed from the inner tailgate. It can be operated at a push of a button or the key fob. The MultiPro tailgate can support up to 375 pounds, and has two buttons for operation. Ram has the equally talented Multifunction tailgate, but we don't want to start a rumble here by picking sides. Other than this, the rear is fairly simple. It wears the Denali badge proudly on the tailgate, under the GMC moniker, and comes with integrated dual exhaust setup finished in silver that looks stunning on the black body.

What makes the CarbonPro Edition Special

The reason why this is such a big deal is because the material is known to be literally unbreakable and is very light. We have seen hypercar manufacturers use this as well. But in the Sierra, GMC has used it for a different reason altogether and by the looks of it, the automaker has hit the bull's eye. GMC took the development tests to the limit to check the actual strength of the bed. Cinder blocks where dropped from various heights, 450-pound steel drums, and 1800-pound gravel and water-filled steel barrels were dropped into it, and the company even had a 250-pound man drive a snowmobile into the bed and go full throttle, but the carbon fiber soaked it all up without breaking a sweat. The bed survived it all with hardly a scratch!

The CarbonPro bed's grained surface has increased its durability and it doesn’t need a spray-in bed liner or rear wheelhouse liners, which further helps in saving weight. GMC has provided special cutouts and indentations - two smaller ones on the corners for dirt bikes, and a large one in the middle for a street motorcycle with wide tires. Two tie-down hooks are also in place to help hold the bikes in place. This reminds me of the Jeep Gladiator Flatbill Concept that marked its debut at the 2019 Easter Jeep Safari. GMC says that it will launch the CarbonPro Edition trucks in limited numbers this year, but you can expect it to enter large scale production in 2020 should demand be high enough.

The manufacturing process of the Carbon fiber truck bed is quite interesting. The bed starts off as a flat sheet of thermoplastic carbon fiber. The sheets are then heated in a large oven to soften them up before getting stamped by a 3,600-ton press. The smaller bits are shaped by a 1,000-ton press. Post this, water jets are used to cut holes, create slots for hooks and lights, and trim off any rough edges, Once this is done, all the parts are joined with a heat-cured adhesive. GMC does not let the little carbon fiber bits go waste. They are gathered, heated, and shaped into smaller pieces of the truck bed.

Interior

Gone are the days when only sedans defined luxury inside the cabin. Trucks, which were considered as haulers and had the most basic cabins ever, now come with premium cabins that could give the luxury cars a complex. Being the top-of-the-line trim, the GMC Sierra Denali not only reeks of quality all around, but it also has the best-in-class front headroom and legroom in the Crew Cab models. To justify its high price, it is offered with exclusive materials to distinguish it from other trims, like premium leather seats and dark-finish aluminum decor. It is precisely why more than half of Sierras sold are in Denali trim.

To add a little spice, GMC has offered the 15-camera setup as an optional accessory on the Sierra 1500 Denali. It comes as standard in the 2500 and the 3500 Denali trims. For people who like to haul thousands of pounds on the truck's ass, it becomes inevitable for them to know what's going on behind. It is quite surprising that we had not seen this on other trucks before. These 15 cameras help you see what’s around the truck and the trailer. The Sierra Denali CarbonPro, with this optional setup, lets you see right through a trailer by stitching together footage from a camera mounted on the tailgate and a footage from an accessory camera that needs to be installed on the back of the trailer. This makes navigating parking lots, merging into traffic, making tight turns, or backing in a trailer a breeze. Did your life just become easier?

It also comes equipped with the iN∙Command control system that provides the ability to monitor and control select functions of equipped trailers through the myGMC mobile app. For instance, if it’s a camper, you can use the app to turn on the A/C or the water heater, check the water level, and check the generator’s fuel level. With a second app called "Trailering", you can also verify the trailer’s tire pressure, whether the lights work, and access a pre-departure checklist. Apart from this, the GMC Sierra CarbonPro Edition also comes with features like:

-* An Infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Compatibility

-* 15-inch-diagonal head-up display

-* Park Grade Hold Assist

-* Auto Electric Park Brake

-* Hill Start Assist

-* Hill Descent Control

-* Trailer Sway Control

Drivetrain

The Denali trim is offered with two engine options. It is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The torque is sufficient to pull the truck easily even with cargo in the back. The Denali trims feature an exclusive Adaptive Ride Control that helps keep the suspension composed over all types of pavement. It monitors the road and adjusts the damping rates within milliseconds, so even rough roads don't feel very bad. The other one is a 5.3-liter, V-8 that develops 355 horses and 383 pound-feet of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Both of these engines can be paired to a two-wheel or four-wheel drive setup. Being a light duty truck, it does not benefit from the 6.6-liter engine that has 445 horses and a massive 910 pound-feet of torque.

When compared to the competition, both of the engines fall short in terms of refinement and smooth ride quality. But thanks to the responsive steering wheel, the Sierra 1500 Denali is fun to drive. The Sierra Denali CarbonPro Edition is a thirsty vehicle. The four-wheel-drive setup delivers 19 miles per gallon with the smaller 5.3-liter engine, whereas the 6.2-liter mill returns up to 17 miles per gallon. Unlike the Ram 1500 which comes with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, the Sierra Denali relies on 17 cylinder-deactivation combinations that work silently on the fly. This means that, depending on the surface you're driving on and the power needed by the machine to drive smoothly, the engine deactivates cylinders to conserve fuel.

The Sierra 1500 Denali ProCarbon Edition can tow up to 12,500 pounds. The Ram beats it by 200 pounds, but the Sierra easily beats the Ford F-150's 11,400-pound capacity. As for the payload capacity, it can haul up to 2,030 pounds. If you need a higher towing and payload capacities, you can opt for the Heavy Duty versions of the same; so, a minimal difference in the rating should not be a deal breaker if you're shopping in the light duty trucks segment.

2019 GMC Sierra Denali drivetrain specifications

Pricing

Pricing for the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali CarbonPro Edition is not yet revealed officially, but we expect GMC to charge approximately $3,000 extra for the carbon fiber bed. The standard Denali trim starts at $54,700, so the CarbonPro Edition could be priced around $58,000 before optional packages. Spec it to its limit, and you will find yourself shelling out in excess of $70,000.

Competition

Ford F-150

The Ford F-150 is most popular truck of the segment and squares off against its American counterpart. What makes it the people's champ is the fact that it is available with six engine options! From a 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine to a 5.0-liter V-8 engine, you have a whole palette to choose as per your requirement. The engines are smooth, refined, and will keep you happy when driven without trailers attached to its derriere. As is the norm in this segment, the Ford F-150 also comes with a huge chrome grille slapped on its face.

On the inside, the truck is a typical Ford - large, comfortable, and utilitarian. The top-trim comes with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, leather upholstery, power-adjustable pedals, and heated and cooled seats, to name a few. The cabin is not a tech-head's dreamland by any means, but there is enough electronic shenanigans to keep him sane. The F-150 is comfortable and spacious enough to keep you from complaining. As is with any Ford truck and SUV, there is not dearth of customisation. Right from spoiling yourself with creature comforts, to mechanical, Ford has made sure you can build this truck as per your convenience. However, if you are a thrifty spender, this Ford truck will make you lighter by more than $80,000.

Read our full review on the 2018 Ford F-150

Ram 1500

Undoubtedly, the Ram 1500 comes with the biggest mouth amongst the three. There is enough silver to deflect sun rays to other objects on the road while driving. Just like the Sierra, the Ram 1500 also shifted gears recently and has proven its worth in the market. It is available with a 3.6-liter, V-6 engine and a 5.7-liter, V-8 Hemi engine. When speced properly, the Ram 1500 can tow up to 12.700 pounds, making it the winner in the American trio-fight.

Unlike the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali and the Ford F-150, Ram has focused on the mechanical rather than the interior. The Ram 1500 does not feel as plush as the two, but the quality of materials used will last a lifetime. The truck does not scream budget from any angle. Ram has managed up to 12 smart storage solutions for you. You can hold bigger items like tablets in it now. The base trim comes with a five-inch infotainment system, while the higher trims can be availed in 8.4-inch or 12-inch screen. It also comes with five USB ports, three 115-volt plugs, and wireless charging docks.

Read our full review on the 2019 Ram 1500

Final Thoughts

The biggest positive for GMC is that the Sierra sells more than half its examples in the Denali trim. Almost every car, in any segment, sells the most in the mid trims as they are affordable and the customers can equip them with their choice of goodies and shun out the extras that they don't require. But the Sierra Denali has struck gold here despite its premium pricing. Features like the 15-inch head-up display, 15 camera setup, its compatibility with apps, and a multi-mode tailgate make things a lot more interesting in day-to-day use. With the CarbonPro Edition, GMC has upped the game and the benchmark for the competitors to match. There is no denying that the carbon fiber material makes this truck the most abuse-friendly truck on the market today.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2019 GMC Sierra Denali.

Read our full review on the 2020 GMC Sierra HD.

Read our full review on the 2019 GMC Sierra.