GMC Sierra - SLT vs Denali

powerhaulic · June 28, 2017

I Have a '17 SLT 6.2 Max, MSRP was 58,900, paid $52,000

My mother just got a '17 Denali ultimate, $64,200 (I negotiated for her) paid $52,200

The only thing I actually like better on hers is the look of the seats (sit the same), and the dash.

The MRC and LED lamps are not an improvement to me (mine has intellabeams with HID)

The LCD dash is sweet!!

The power board are slick, but for NY salt............Mom lives in Fla.

Both have sunroof

I have the lane assist and auto braking, so there is next to no difference in equipment.

So i believe my ride is about as close to Denali as you can get, which is what I wanted as I desired Max Tow not MRC.

Edited June 28, 2017 by powerhaulic

Havvkeye · June 28, 2017

Ok, our SLT doesn't have the 6.2, moonroof, or auto running boards, we have the 5.3. with fixed running boards but we do have everything else, ours is the off-road package with 22" wheels and 9,000 lb towing capacity.

I am just chuckling at the Offroad package and 22" wheels.

I picked the SLT over the Denali as it was ~5k difference for me and the additional features just didn't do it for me. Wasn't super impressed with MagRide personally.

powerhaulic · June 28, 2017

I am just chuckling at the Offroad package and 22" wheels.

I picked the SLT over the Denali as it was ~5k difference for me and the additional features just didn't do it for me. Wasn't super impressed with MagRide personally.

The other thing that made me giggle is every Ultimate i looked at had $200 upgrade(?) to more aggressive tires. make the Michelin Premiers std. on that level of truck..........

Dnt · June 28, 2017

If I wanted a base or a LT or SLE or SLT or whatever truck I would have bought that. My 2009 SLT 5.3 was a good truck except for a oil burning issue. My 2014 SLT 5.3 was a good truck and I liked it. My 2016 was a Denali 6.2 and it was very enjoyable but this 2017 Ultimate can only be described as AWESOME LOL. All in what you like and what coin you have to throw away on a new truck. Always going to be something nicer but like I say get what you like if you can afford it, who really cares what other think about your choice? If you like it, I like it. As far as the difference between the SLT and Denali it is more styling than substance. lots of people hate the Denali grille/Denali dash/TriFold side steps/Denali HD leather with custom stitching/LED headlights/Magnetic ride control/factory spray in bedliner with Denali logo at front of bed/6.2 engine with 8spd trans that gets over 20 mpg/sunroof/22" ultimate wheels/ and the Denali theme song. LOL I hope that i never see another stone metallic blue ultimate in my area. I get sick of looking at this thing (lying)

SWOYER · June 29, 2017

Denali has Burnished Color interior, im in the process of swapping out my silver if anyone wants to help me out with part numbers for the middle section around the radio, all the part numbers say without heated seats...

fbachman · June 29, 2017

I have an SLT "Premium Plus" (so-called) which, it is my understanding, is essentially as loaded a truck as you can get short of the "Denali-Only" features.

AS indicated above, once you are in a Premium Plus, the list of features different between the two has shrunk considerably.

I believe the biggest hitters were the magnetic ride, the upgraded Denali seating, the digital gauge cluster, a different looking grill, and, maybe a few additional smaller items. At the time I purchased mine, I didn't find myself in an incentive-rich environment, and the cost difference between the premium plus and Denali was more than I was comfortable with versus what "more" I would actually get for the extra money.

And, of course, mine is a 5.3 8-speed versus the 6.2 8-speed.

Personally (and I say this without having any experience with 6.2l, which is probably an obscene rocket, given that the 5.3 is no slouch itself), I am extremely pleased with my truck and like it very much. AS I am one of the folks that uses my truck as a car 95% of the time, and a truck 5% of the time, I felt the 6.2 was overkill for me, but, in the premium plus, I got all of the blinky-blinky-lights and buttons I wanted, and, really don't miss the other stuff. The digital dash would have been cool, to be sure, but knowing myself, I probably would have delightfully played with it for a few months, then set it up a certain way and probably never messed with it again (just my nature).

Not sure if this clarifies anything more, but that's my $0.05.

BTW, glad you are liking your truck.

Doobs41378 · June 29, 2017

Where are pictures of this new truck?

BlueCrayon · June 29, 2017

I struggled with the very same question last year.....decided that the Denali had just a few too many options I didn't want for an extra 10k. I ended up building my own SLT premium plus (package adds 7 speaker Bose with sub, running boards and 20" wheels).....the SLT comes with just about every other option and I added the 6.2L and 8 speed. Msrp was 54 and I think I only don't have sunroof, retractable running boards and MRC.

StillOffshore · June 29, 2017

I have the denali....it's nothing more than a name and mrc. Coming from a tahoe, I really don't notice the suspension being that much better, but it's there. It operates like a suspension. I think I've said it before, I bought it because I've always wanted a black on black denali. Since they first came out. I just so happened to be in a position to purchase one at a decent price when I was in the market for a new vehicle. I think the SLT decked out is just as nice. Hell, the lower trim trucks are leaps and bounds nicer than my first truck...I'm sure most of us are driving a truck that is nicer than our first truck regardless of the trim levels.

fbachman · June 29, 2017

...I'm sure most of us are driving a truck that is nicer than our first truck regardless of the trim levels.

Boy, no kidding on that statement.

When I think back, my first new truck I ever had was a '91 F150 XLT Lariat (RC/LB), the nicest one you could get at the time, My '16 Sierra Premium Plus makes that '91 F150 look no better than a work truck now-a-days, even though "back in the day" the Lariat was considered a pretty plush for a truck....

It had the real fake wood trim around the (almost perfectly square) center stack... LOL and a PLUSH, I say PLUSH, cloth velour-like bench seat with a (wait for it) FOLD DOWN ARM REST.... who-da-thunk....

On another note, it DID have one thing that is a thing of the past.... It had Dual Tanks on it, LOVED IT. 40 gal total fuel capacity. Wish I could still get that today. Only thing I really miss...

Edited June 29, 2017 by Grumpy Aero Guy

wesd · June 30, 2017

Yes, the 6.2 is a rocketship if you're burning 93. Need to factor in the 30-50c/gal premium for premium fuel.

The SLT All-Terrain package is where I'd want to be in a truck - with the 5.3.

jernatety · June 30, 2017

I am just chuckling at the Offroad package and 22" wheels.

I picked the SLT over the Denali as it was ~5k difference for me and the additional features just didn't do it for me. Wasn't super impressed with MagRide personally.

It was purchased used with 12k already on it. I'm not too concerned with the decision the original owner made, It also has the chrome package and we got it for a steal. This truck is awesome and awesome looking.

jernatety · June 30, 2017

Where are pictures of this new truck?

jernatety · June 30, 2017

Boy, no kidding on that statement.

When I think back, my first new truck I ever had was a '91 F150 XLT Lariat (RC/LB), the nicest one you could get at the time, My '16 Sierra Premium Plus makes that '91 F150 look no better than a work truck now-a-days, even though "back in the day" the Lariat was considered a pretty plush for a truck....

It had the real fake wood trim around the (almost perfectly square) center stack... LOL and a PLUSH, I say PLUSH, cloth velour-like bench seat with a (wait for it) FOLD DOWN ARM REST.... who-da-thunk....

On another note, it DID have one thing that is a thing of the past.... It had Dual Tanks on it, LOVED IT. 40 gal total fuel capacity. Wish I could still get that today. Only thing I really miss...

We bought ours used, it's also a 16, the salesman said, "your're really going to like this, I think it's an 8 speed too". He didn't know because we bought it from a dealership called "Carsense", they buy up off lease vehicles and resell them, most of the sales guys don't have any clue what they're selling. How would I know if this is an 8 speed, there's nothing in the manuals.

truckguy82 · June 30, 2017

We bought ours used, it's also a 16, the salesman said, "your're really going to like this, I think it's an 8 speed too". He didn't know because we bought it from a dealership called "Carsense", they buy up off lease vehicles and resell them, most of the sales guys don't have any clue what they're selling. How would I know if this is an 8 speed, there's nothing in the manuals.

Put the drive selector in M, then you can put it in m1, m2, m3, m4, etc with the +/- buttons on the shifter.

If it goes past 6, you have an 8 speed

When in M mode, it just means whatever gear you select is the highest gear it will go in. It's not like typical +/- paddle shifter that will shift on demand like a wanna-be sequential

Edited June 30, 2017 by truckguy82