The 2026 Sierra EV Elevation: Surprisingly Down to Earth
Let’s focus on the Elevation trim, because this might be where your average truck owner starts to take a second look.
A Truck That Still Looks Like a Truck
The design plays it cool—18-inch machine-face wheels with some gloss-black flair, and an interior that GMC calls “After Dark.” (Sounds like a cologne ad, but it looks solid in person.) Satin-chrome trim breaks up the sea of black inside, and thankfully, it still feels like a truck—not a spaceship.
But here’s the kicker: no engine means you get a front trunk—GMC calls it an eTrunk™—with power operation. It’s weird at first, but then you realize it’s a great place to stash gear, tools, or your ever-growing pile of charging cables.
Tech That’s Actually Useful (Mostly)
I’m generally wary of oversized screens and over-digitized cabins. I don’t want to reboot my truck like it’s a laptop. But the 16.8-inch touchscreen here is pretty intuitive, and it keeps the right physical controls where they matter.
The MultiPro™ Tailgate and optional MidGate™ carry over from the gas models—and yes, they still rock. Fold down that MidGate™ and you’ve got nearly 11 feet of cargo length. That’s real, usable space for lumber, ladders, or whatever your weekend looks like.
Charging-wise, the truck supports up to 300 kW DC fast charging, which basically means you’re not sitting around forever at a station. Plus, there’s an optional 7.2 kW Energy Transfer system that turns your truck into a mobile power source—great if you’re camping, tailgating, or trying to outdo your neighbor’s generator during a blackout.
But Let’s Talk Concerns (Because I’ve Got ‘Em)
My biggest beef with modern vehicles—especially EVs—is that they’re turning into rolling computers. When something breaks, it’s not a wrench-and-socket fix. It’s a “schedule a service appointment and pray the software isn’t bricked” kind of fix.
And yeah, there’s a part of me that worries: what happens when a critical component fails? Can I fix it? Can anyone fix it without voiding a warranty or needing an engineering degree?
That’s a valid concern, and I’m not brushing it off. But here’s the thing: as much as I want trucks to stay simple, the world isn’t headed in that direction. And if we’re going to embrace this shift, we might as well have EVs that are at least trying to respect what truck owners care about—functionality, durability, and capability.
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So… Is It Time to Consider One?
I’m not saying I’m trading in my gas-powered rig tomorrow. But the 2026 Sierra EV Elevation isn’t just some futuristic concept—it’s a usable, thought-out truck that’s inching closer to what people like me might actually want.
It keeps the Sierra DNA, adds real utility, and doesn’t try too hard to be something it’s not. And while I still have reservations about the long-term repairability of EVs, I’ve got to give GMC some credit. They’re not just slapping a battery in a chassis and calling it innovation—they’re actually building something that might, eventually, earn a spot in my driveway.
The road to full EV adoption is long. But if trucks like this keep improving? I might just stop dragging my boots on the way there.
2026 GMC Sierra EV Specs (specs provided by GMC)
BATTERY SYSTEM
| Type: | Rechargeable energy storage system comprising multiple linked modules |
| Batteries: | Standard Range (Elevation, Denali) Extended Range (Elevation, AT4, Denali) Max Range (AT4, Denali) |
| Warranty1: | 8 years / 100,000 miles of battery and electric components coverage |
1Limited warranty. Whichever comes first. See dealer for details.
ELECTRIC DRIVE
| Type: | Performance Torque Vectoring e4WD (Electronic 4WD) |
| Motor: | 2 motors (1 front @ 1 rear electric drive unit) |
| Power (hp): | 645 (Elevation and Denali Extended Range) 625 (AT4 Extended Range) 725 (AT4 Max Range) 760 (Denali Max Range) |
| Torque (lb.-ft / Nm): | 765 / 1037 (Elevation Extended Range) 775 / 1050 (AT4 Extended Range & Max Range) 785 / 1064 (Denali Extended & Max Range) |
CHASSIS & SUSPENSION
| Suspension: | Coil suspension Coil suspension, lifted (AT4)e Adaptive Air Ride, front and rear with adjustable ride height (Denali) |
| Steering Type: | Column-mounted electric power steering |
| Turning Circle (ft / m): | 44 / 13.41 (Elevation with 2-wheel steering) 39.1 / 11.9 (AT4 with 4-wheel steering) 42.16 / 12.85 (Denali with 4-wheel steering) |
| Brake Type: | 17-inch front and rear sliding caliper disc with DURALIFE rotors with regenerative capability. 4-wheel disc and 4-wheel antilock braking. |
| Brake Rotor Size (in. / mm): | F/R 368.6mm (14.5”) / 345mm (13.5”) |
| Wheel Size: | 18-inch (Elevation & AT4) 22-inch (Denali) 24-inch (Denali) |
| Tire Size: | LT265/70R18, all-season blackwall (Elevation) LT285/75R18, all-terrain (AT4) LT275/50R22, all-season blackwall (Denali) LT275/50R24, all-season blackwall (Denali) |
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
| Wheelbase (in. / mm): | 146 / 3700 |
| Overall Length (in. / mm): | 233.42 / 5929 |
| Overall Width (in. / mm): | 94.3 / 2394 (Elevation with mirrors) 95.7 / 2430.4 (AT4 & Denali with mirrors) 83.8 / 2129 (without mirrors) |
| Overall Height (in. / mm): | 78.05 / 1982 (Elevation) 79.93 / 2030 (AT4) 78.13 / 1985 (Denali) 78.7 / 1999 (Denali with air suspension) |
| Front Overhang (in. / mm): | 36.5 / 927 |
| Rear Overhang (in. / mm): | 51.25 / 1302 |
| Track (in. / mm): | 68.85 / 1749 (Elevation) 68.58 / 1742 (AT4) 68.70 / 1745 (Denali) |
| Ground Clearance (in / mm): | 8.07 / 205 (Elevation) 10.04 / 255 (AT4) 8.23 / 209 (Denali) 8.95 / 227 (Denali with air suspension) |
| Off-Road Approach Angle (deg.): | 32.4 (AT4) |
| Off-Road Departure Angle (deg.): | 25.1 (AT4) |
| Off-Road Break-Over Angle (deg.): | 19.2 (AT4) |
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS
| Max Headroom (in. / mm): | 43.9 / 1114 (front) 38.7 / 982 (rear) |
| Max Legroom (in. / mm): | 44.8 / 1139 (front) 44.3 / 1126 (rear) |
| Shoulder Room (in. / mm): | 64 / 1625 (front) 63.3 / 1608 (rear) |
| Hip Room (in. / mm): | 61.32 / 1558 (front) 60.84 / 1545 (rear) |
CARGO DIMENSIONS
| Cargo Box Max Volume (cu. ft / L): | 57.5 / 1628 |
| eTrunk Volume (cu. ft/ L): | 11.0 / 311 |
CAPACITIES & TRAILERING
| Max Payload (lb / kg)1 | Elevation: 2250 / 1021 AT4: 1950 / 885 Denali: 2250 / 1021 |
| Max Trailering (lb /kg)2 | 12500 / 5670 (Elevation) 12300 / 5579 (AT4) 12500 / 5670 (Denali) |
1For comparison purposes only. See the owner’s manual and the label on the vehicle door jamb for the carrying capacity of a specific vehicle.
2Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the Trailering section of the Owner’s Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow.