Designed to deliver class-leading capability with enhanced comfort and smarter technologies, the new 2015 GMC Sierra HD lineup advances a 111-year legacy of professional heavy-duty trucks.
Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD models – including Sierra Denali HD – feature bold, new styling and all-new, better-connected interiors. They are also offered with the Duramax 6.6L turbo-diesel engine all Allison 1000 six-speed transmission powertrain combination – a proven combination with more than 1.5 million sold since its introduction in 2000.
Trim levels include a Sierra base model, as well as SLE, SLT and Denali. The distinctive Sierra Denali HD, which accounts for more than one-third of Sierra HD crew cab sales, is offered exclusively as a crew cab, matching do-it-all capability with an exclusive package of design and upscale interior amenities.
"Sierra HD trucks are engineered without compromise to deliver not only the capability today's heavy-duty truck customers demand, but the quality and refinement that inspire confidence with every task," said Tony DiSalle, vice president of GMC Marketing. "We've been doing this for more than a century, and nobody knows trucks like GMC."
The Sierra HDs' new styling and an all-new, more comfortable and technology-infused interior are carried forward from the 2014 Sierra 1500, including new double cab and revised crew cab body styles. Larger rear doors on each, along with new seat designs, enable easier entry and exit from the rear seat and two inches of additional legroom on crew cabs.
The new interior is also designed to help drivers and passengers whether they're on the job or on a weekend getaway, with easier-to-reach, more intuitively located controls, more storage compartments, more plug-ins for electronic devices and next-generation GMC IntelliLink – with an eight-inch-diagonal color touch screen.
OnStar with 4G LTE enables greater connectivity than ever before, along with available built-in Wi-Fi hot-spot (available in September 2014).
"Forget the notion that heavy-duty trucks are basic trucks with a trailer hitch," said DiSalle. "The 2015 Sierra HD trucks can haul the heaviest load with unmatched comfort and technology that make the job easier."
Regular, double cab and crew cab models are offered across the lineup. 2500HD and 3500HD regular cab models are matched an 8' box, while 2500HD double cab and crew cab models are available with 6'6" or 8' boxes. Sierra 3500HD double cab is offered exclusively with the 8' box, while 3500HD crew cabs are available with the 6'6" and 8' boxes. Dual-rear-wheel configurations are also available on 3500HD.
Gas and Duramax diesel powertrains are offered across the lineup, including an expanded bi-fuel option that allows the gas engine to run on compressed natural gas. The Duramax has been developed to operate for at least 200,000 miles (322,000 km) on a rough-duty cycle without the need for a major overhaul.
The powertrains contribute to the new Sierra HDs' greater payload and towing ratings than previous models, including the segment's highest conventional trailering rating – 19,600 pounds. The maximum fifth-wheel/gooseneck trailering rating increases to 23,200 pounds.
Additional new and enhanced features for the 2015 Sierra HD lineup include:
- Standard CornerStep rear bumper, EZ Lift and Lower tailgate (standard on SLE, SLT and Denali), standard locking tailgate, standard upper tie-downs and other features that make cargo handling easier
- Standard StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control on all models, including 3500HD dually
- Integrated cruise control, auto grade braking and diesel exhaust braking, for greater driving control and reduced brake wear on grades
- Enhanced cooling airflow, which enables the Duramax turbo diesel and 6.0L gas engine to better maintain full power, even under heavy loads and high ambient temperatures.
All models are backed by GMC Pro Grade Protection, with two years of scheduled maintenance – including diesel exhaust fluid – a three-year/36,000-miles bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Sierra Denali HD details
The distinctive Sierra Denali HD features a signature Denali chrome grille, unique interior decorative trim, a polished stainless steel exhaust outlet (gas models) and body-color front and rear bumpers. Complementing the soft-touch instrument panel trim and aluminum trim are Denali-specific interior details, including script on the bright door sills and embossed into the front seats.
Sierra Denali's high-tech interior also features an exclusive eight-inch customizable driver display that can show relevant settings, audio and navigation information in the instrument panel. Sierra Denali's standard eight-inch Color Touch navigation radio with IntelliLink serves as the main hub for Bluetooth-connected phones and portable devices connected through five standard USB ports.
Other features standard on Sierra Denali include projector-style headlamps with light-emitting-diode (LED) signature daytime running lights, a Bose audio system, heated and cooled leather front bucket seats, a heated steering wheel and a power sliding rear window with defogger.
Sierra HD design and exterior features
Sierra HD trucks have a new face that conveys GMC's professional grade aesthetic with greater technical precision, including an all-new headlamp and grille design, power-dome hood – with specific badging on Duramax-equipped models – and a one-piece chrome bumper (body-color bumper on Denali). SLT and Denali models feature GMC's signature LED daytime running lamps within the headlamp housings.
The new exterior design backs up its bold, advanced styling with greater refinement and functionality. Tighter body gaps allow the trucks to slip through the air with reduced wind noise, while the new grille design supports enhanced engine-cooling performance. It enhances efficiency and ensures Sierra HD delivers optimal performance under the toughest conditions, such as towing on a mountain grade.
New inlaid doors, which fit into recesses in the bodyside, help reduce wind noise for a quieter cab, and – like the 2014 Sierra 1500 – a new double cab body replaces the previous extended cab. It features longer, front-hinged rear doors with outside pull handles at the rear, for improved access in tight parking spaces.
New 6'6" and 8' boxes are stronger and more durable, easier to use and offer greater cargo flexibility. They come with a two-tier loading design and offer more than four feet of loading space between the wheel houses, allowing standard 4' x 8' sheets of plywood to stack flatly on the box floor.
The new CornerStep rear bumper – also introduced on Sierra 1500 – is standard. It features integrated steps at each corner designed to accommodate large boots, with textured pads for sure-footed grip. The EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate is standard on SLE, SLT and Denali models, along with LED cargo box lighting. A factory-installed spray-in bed liner is available.
Intuitive, integrated interior
The 2015 Sierra HD lineup benefits from interior introduced on the 2014 Sierra 1500. Premium materials, greater attention to detail and purposeful technologies define the passenger space, with soft-touch materials and available aluminum trim providing premium accents to an interior designed to be a productive, easy-to-use environment.
Sierra HD's seats use dual-density foam designed to stay comfortable over long hours and continue to look great after years of use. Leather-appointed and cloth seating are offered, and Sierra's new high-wear cloth is designed to last longer and resist staining.
Available IntelliLink connectivity uses a customizable eight-inch color touch screen with an intuitive layout and easy-to-read icons that control audio features, a Pandora app, Bluetooth phone features and available navigation with all-new map displays. Many of the system's features can be controlled by Natural Language Voice Recognition, allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Heavy-duty foundation and enhanced vehicle control technologies
All Sierra HD models feature fully boxed frame assemblies – 18 different assemblies that accommodate more than 150 possible vehicle configurations across the lineup.
A short-long arm/torsion bar front suspension features forged steel upper control arms and precision-machined cast iron lower control arms. Five different torsion bar rates support five different front gross axle weight ratings to help stabilize the range of trim heights of various models under load – including snow plows – while enhancing appearance, handling, durability, tire wear and alignment.
At the rear, an asymmetrical leaf-spring design minimizes axle hop and enhances traction control efficiency. A two-stage leaf-spring design is used on 2500HD models and three-stage design is employed on 3500HD model.
Sierra HD's advanced vehicle control technologies are designed to make tough jobs easier and more comfortable, while also contributing to a safe driving experience, particularly when hauling cargo or towing a trailer.
StabiliTrak electronic stability control is standard on all single-rear-wheel models and – new for 2015 – 3500HD dual-rear-wheel models. It incorporates trailer sway control and hill start assist. Additionally, available cruise control, auto grade braking, and diesel exhaust brake features help the vehicle maintain a set speed up and down grades, even when towing a heavy trailer.
With the diesel exhaust brake feature, the turbocharger is used to smoothly and quietly create additional backpressure in the engine to help slow the vehicle. The combination of the exhaust brake and the automatic transmission downshifts helps the driver maintain the desired speed, even on steep grades.
A rear-vision camera system is standard on SLE, SLT and Denali, providing a view of items behind the vehicle. It can also assist with lining up in front of a trailer.
Source: GMC
