GMC might be a more upscale truck and SUV manufacturer than Chevy, but its pickups still offer the rugged capability and raw power expected in heavy-duty vehicles. The GMC Sierra 3500HD forms the top of the automaker’s heavy-duty truck lineup and offers towing of up to 36,000 pounds in some configurations.

What’s New for the 2024 GMC Sierra 3500HD

GMC introduced a host of upgrades for the 2024 Sierra HD, including an exterior styling refresh with a new front fascia and available headlights. The truck gains a new, ultra-luxurious Denali Ultimate trim for 2024, which mirrors the plush Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate with a top-tier interior and flashy exterior accents. Elsewhere, the available diesel engine got more power, increasing the towing capacity.

Design

If there were a way to carve a pickup truck out of a block of stone, the Sierra 3500HD would be it. The upright grille, coated in chrome in some configurations, forms a wall-like front end, and the truck’s slab sides give it an imposing curb presence. GMC offers a range of trim and exterior accents, and wheel designs vary by configuration.

Powertrain

The Sierra 3500HD is available with two engines in 2024. The base powertrain is a 6.6-liter V8 making 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque. It comes with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission and can be configured with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). GMC’s updated Duramax 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8 now makes 470 hp and 975 lb-ft of torque and also pairs with the Allison gearbox.

Interior

The 2024 HD trucks got an interior glow-up that brought unique cabin styling depending on the trim. The top Sierra HD Denali Ultimate adds full-grain leather upholstery and door panels, etched speaker grilles, 16-way power and massaging front seats, and a microsuede headliner. It also gets a power sunroof, open-pore Paldao wood trim, and a look that rivals the interior finishes of some luxury cars.

Technology

The base 2024 3500HD gets an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but higher trims step up to a 13.4-inch touchscreen with Google Built-In. The tech brings Play Store features, Google Assistant, Maps, and more. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also grace the larger display, and the top Denali system adds a Bose 12-speaker stereo, a 15-inch head-up display, and a rear camera mirror system.

Safety

Heavy-duty trucks don’t get the same crash testing and scrutiny that regular passenger cars do, but GMC equips a solid number of standard advanced driver aids on the 2024 Sierra 3500HD. The list includes automatic high beams, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, Buckle to Drive, and Teen Driver Mode. Available tech includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, a head-up display, rear-seat reminders, and a rear camera mirror system.

Pricing

The base GMC Sierra 3500HD with a single cab and long bed starts at $48,595, which includes a steep $1,995 destination charge. The top Denali Ultimate trim gets the more expensive diesel engine as standard, and starts at $98,295 after destination.