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- Exterior Looks: More Familiar
- Interior & On-Board Technology: Doing It Almost Perfectly
- Performance: More Choice Than Ever
- Verdict & Pricing: Slowly Getting More Affordable
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.
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
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.
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
Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
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.
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.
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
