Driven: 2026 GMC Sierra EV Proves Twins Aren't Always Alike
| Engine | Electric |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive |
| Horsepower | 510 HP (Base) |
| Torque | 490 lb.-ft. (Base) |
| Make | GMC |
| Model | Sierra EV |
| Segment | Full-Size Pickup Truck |
General Motors launched its Ultium series of electric vehicles in the boldest, most ostentatious way possible: by resurrecting Hummer. The move grabbed headlines, but a steep \$110,295 price tag offered limited appeal to traditional truck buyers. A similar problem emerged with GM's second electric truck, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, which launched as a single-trim RST First Edition costing \$94,500. This one had better range, more usable space, and a more traditional shape, but poor build quality and a cheap interior made it tough to justify the price. A few years have passed, so has GM ironed out some of the kinks with its electric trucks? We spent a week with the 2026 GMC Sierra EV in the rugged AT4 trim to find out.
Pros
- Huge range and fast DC charging
- More affordable trims for 2026
- Interior is far nicer than the Silverado EV
Cons
- Price is still much higher than a gas truck
- Missing some features from Sierra 1500
- Long charge times at home
The Sierra EV joined GM's full-size electrified pickup truck lineup for the 2025 model year, but it was only available in the luxurious Denali trim level. For 2026, the lineup is far more comprehensive, now including the Elevation, AT4, and Denali with three different battery sizes. On paper, the Sierra EV shares its architecture and mechanical setup with the Silverado EV, but having spent time in both, we can definitively say they are not the same truck with different badges. One of these trucks is leaps and bounds better than the other.
Exterior Looks: More Familiar
Strengths
- Looks more like the gas Sierra
- Illuminated logo looks great
- More trims for 2026
Weaknesses
- AT4 could be a bit meaner
- Nearly every color costs extra
- 24-inch wheels are silly
The Chevy Silverado EV caught some flack because it looked completely different from the gas-powered model. Though the Sierra EV doesn't look exactly like its ICE counterpart, it does have more "conventional" styling that traditional truck buyers should be more willing to accept. Chiseled headlights and a blacked panel that mimics a grille (except on the Denali) give the appearance of a gas truck. Unlike the Chevy, GMC does not offer any Work Truck variants of the Sierra EV. The base Elevation trim comes nicely equipped with 18-inch wheels, and 22-inch black wheels are available as part of a \$2,695 Elevation Dark Package.
| Dimensions | Length | Wheelbase | Height | Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra EV | 233.42 inches | 146 inches | 78.05 inches | 83.8 inches |
| Sierra 1500 Crew Cab (Short Bed) | 231.92 inches | 147.44 inches | 75.49 inches | 81.24 inches |
Upgrading to the AT4 brings different 18-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires, a light-up GMC logo, and red tow hooks on the front bumper. The Denali returns as the most luxurious trim, riding on 22-inch wheels or optional massive 24-inch wheels, and differentiated with a body-color grille. Speaking of colors, GMC offers seven of them, but our tester's Summit White is the only no-cost option. Most of the hues are only \$495, but Magnus Matte costs \$3,995.
Interior & On-Board Technology: Doing It Almost Perfectly
Strengths
- Far nicer than the Silverado EV
- Midgate feature is nifty
- Google tech works great
Weaknesses
- Missing some luxury features
- No CarPlay or Android Auto
- Glass roof doesn't open or close
We hate to keep beating this drum, but the Silverado EV dropped the ball on interior quality. It didn't feel like a \$50,000 truck, let alone a \$94,000 one. The GMC Sierra EV fixes those complaints. It's difficult to believe the Sierra is only marginally more expensive than the Silverado because it feels twice as nice inside. We wouldn't go so far as saying this cabin lives up to the Sierra 1500 AT4X or Denali Ultimate, but it is easily one of the best interiors you can get in an electric truck.
| Seating Capacity | Five People | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1st Row | 2nd Row |
| Headroom | 43.85 inches | 38.65 inches |
| Legroom | 44.85 inches | 44.32 inches |
| Cargo Space | Front | Behind 2nd Row |
| Cargo Volume | 11 ft³ | 57.3 ft³ |
This is also one of the most spacious and practical trucks on the market as well, thanks in part to the available midgate. You can create a passthrough from the bed into the cabin, extending it from nearly six feet to just under eleven feet (including the MultiPro tailgate). There is also an 11 cubic foot front trunk for additional storage space.
The Elevation trim includes After Dark (black) CoreTec leatherette seats; the AT4 receives a unique Forest Storm theme, while the Denali upgrades to the real stuff in After Dark or Desert Dune (brown) with a more premium stitch pattern. 10-way heated power seats with lumbar come standard on the Elevation trim, as does a heated steering wheel and a sliding wireless phone charger. The upper trims add ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a head-up display, and an available fixed panoramic glass roof.
We wish GM offered an option to close the glass because the only other option is a \$150 accessory sunshade that looks like it came from AutoZone. Some of GMC's most premium features, like massage seats, are reserved for the gas-powered trucks.
Infotainment: Google Is Good, CarPlay Is Better
All Sierra EV trims come standard with a 16.8-inch portrait-style touchscreen, rather than the landscape-style one in the Silverado EV. It's powered by Android Automotive with built-in Google technology, meaning you have access to Google Maps and Voice Assistant. The system works extremely well for most tasks, except for text messages, which are clunky and annoying to read aloud on the system. GM does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on any of its new EVs, a baffling decision that we disagree with. The camera system on this truck is great, but the turn blind spot view takes over the entire infotainment screen, which is annoying when you are relying on the navigation system and the image looks blurry when stretched on such a big display.
The Elevation trim gets a six-speaker audio system, while the AT4 and Denali trims upgrade to a seven-speaker Bose system that sounds OK, but far off the 12-speaker setup available in the Denali Ultimate gas truck. This is yet another example of GMC reserving the better technology for gas trucks.
Performance: More Choice Than Ever
Strengths
- Range is unbeatable; more battery sizes
- Super-fast charging
- Rear-steer makes it easier to park
Weaknesses
- Huge battery may increase charge times
- Quick AC charging is a costly add-on
- 24-inch wheels hurt the ride
After launching its electric trucks in single-trim, huge-battery-only configurations, the 2026 Sierra EV is now available with three different battery sizes and power outputs. All three are linked up with two electric motors powering all-wheel-drive. Both the AT4 and Denali trims come with four-wheel steering with CrabWalk to make it easier to maneuver, while the Denali trim is the only one to get standard Air Ride Adaptive Suspension. While all Standard Range models (Elevation and Denali) produce the same output, the Denali Extended Range produces a bit more torque and the Denali Max Range produces more power and torque.
| Specs | Standard Range | Extended Range | Max Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Dual Electric Motors | ||
| Transmission | Single Speed | ||
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel-Drive | ||
| Power | 605 hp | 645 hp | 725–760 hp |
| Torque | 605 lb-ft | 765–785 lb-ft | 775–785 lb-ft |
| Battery Size | 119 kWh | 170 kWh | 205 kWh |
| Range | 283 miles | 390–410 miles | 478 miles |
Performance Impressions
Launching a pickup truck from a standstill is likely not a practical use case for most owners, but it could demonstrate how well the vehicle gets up to speed while towing a heavy load. The Sierra EV AT4 manages a rather impressive 4.37-second run to 60 mph, which is just behind the 2024 Silverado EV RST's time of 4.30 seconds. The Chevy had slightly more power and more road-focused tires, which explains the small difference. To achieve the quickest possible launch in the Sierra EV, you need to activate Max Power mode, which unlocks the full output of the electric motors that is typically dialed back for normal driving.
This truck is immensely powerful, but it doesn't squirm on launch like the Silverado did, nor does the front end jump towards the sky like the Hummer EV. The Sierra EV can tow up to 10,000 pounds, which matches the Ford F-150 Lightning, but the GMC's larger battery should help it tow much further distances.
Ride and Handling
The Elevation and AT4 trim levels do not come with Adaptive Air Ride suspension, which is available on the Denali Extended Range as part of an \$11,580 Denali Reserve package or standard on the Denali Max Range battery model. We thought the air springs might be missed, but with smaller 18-inch wheels and thicker tires with more sidewall, they were not needed. Large impacts are felt minimally, though small road imperfections are transferred into the cabin. GM's air suspension is outstanding, but it's offset by the massive 24-inch wheels, which bounce around horribly over rough surfaces and can not be swapped out if you want the Denali Max Range.
Small complaints aside, this is easily the most well refined of the Ultium truck vehicles, though the Cadillac Escalade IQ is still more comfortable and quieter on the highway. Road noise in the Sierra EV is lower than its Silverado counterpart, and there is no annoying pedestrian hum that's audible when you are sitting in traffic. Super Cruise is available on most trims, taking full advantage of the truck's impressive range to make highway driving a joy. Even tight parking maneuvers are simple thanks to four-wheel steering on AT4 and Denali trims.
Efficiency, Range and Battery Info
The GMC Sierra EV is the king of electric truck range, though it shares that title with the Chevy Silverado EV. It also requires a massive battery to do so, meaning it can take a long time to charge it at home. A Standard Range model with the 119 kWh battery can go 283 miles on a charge, which is decent but far from class-leading in this segment. Bumping up to the 170 kWh Extended Range battery brings the Sierra EV to a hugely impressive 410 miles, or 390 in the AT4 trim. With the 205 kWh Max Range battery, both the AT4 and Denali trims are rated for a class-leading 478 miles, besting the F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T, though some independent tests have seen the truck clear 500 miles.
The Sierra can charge at speeds of up to 350 kW using its 800-volt architecture, meaning it can add about 100 miles in 10 minutes. At home, it can charge at up to 19.2 kW, among the fastest of any EV, but it requires a \$1,999 GM Energy Powershift Charger accessory plus an 80-amp outlet at your house.
Verdict & Pricing: Slowly Getting More Affordable
After previously being available only as a fully-loaded Denali Edition One model, the Sierra EV is far more affordable for 2026 thanks to the addition of two more trim levels. You can now purchase a Sierra EV Elevation Standard Range starting at \$64,495. That's more expensive than an F-150 Lightning Pro (\$54,780), but it's nearly on-par with the more similarly-equipped XLT trim (\$63,345), despite having superior range (283 miles versus 230). The Standard Range is also available in Denali guise for \$71,795.
If you require more range, the Extended Range battery is available in all three trims: the Elevation (\$72,695), Denali (\$79,995), and AT4 (\$81,395). The Max Range limits your options to two: AT4 (\$91,695) or Denali (\$100,695) but includes nearly every available feature as standard without the need for pricey add-ons. The Chevy Silverado EV is significantly cheaper, starting at \$54,895, but that's only because it's offered as a watered-down Work Truck trim that isn't available on the GMC. If you compare the two GM trucks evenly, the Chevy is only about a \$3,000 difference between them, though it changes depending on the trims. In our opinion, the GMC is easily nice enough to be worth that cost.
| 2026 GMC Sierra EV Pricing | Standard Range | Extended Range | Max Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevation | \$64,495 | \$72,695 | N/A |
| AT4 | N/A | \$81,395 | \$91,695 |
| Denali | \$71,795 | \$79,995 | \$100,695 |
The GMC Sierra EV took all the features we liked about the Silverado EV – huge range, fast charging, the midgate, and Super Cruise – and packaged them into a better truck with a nicer cabin and superior styling. It is now one of our favorites in this segment.
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