GMC Sierra 2500HD vs Chevrolet Colorado

Sitting at the top of the Sierra’s six available trims, the Denali Ultimate is newly added for the 2024 model year and comes with nearly every available option that can be included on this full-size truck.

The Denali Ultimate trim level is offered on both the 2500 and 3500 HD models. Each provides a higher degree of towing and payload capacity than what’s available in the standard GMC Sierra 1500. To put it bluntly, the Sierra HD models are pickup overkill for anyone simply looking to tow a couple of jet skis or haul a moderately-sized camper. The “HD” in the name stands for “Heavy Duty,” and its capabilities (and price) reflect this.

Powered exclusively by a 6.6-liter turbocharged Duramax diesel V8, the HD Denali Ultimate we test drove has a maximum towing capacity of 22,500 pounds—a 4,000 pound increase versus the 2023 model. Need to tow something along the lines of construction equipment or, say, a small island? Stepping up to the Sierra 3500 HD equates to a max tow rating of 36,500 pounds when using a gooseneck trailer hitch.

Okay, so the Sierra HD lineup has serious chops for getting tough tasks done. But how does it stack up against the competition? Hop aboard as we take a look at every aspect of the HD Denali Ultimate, from how it drives, to the user-friendliness of its infotainment system, trailer tech, and whether this new top-of-the-range trim is worth the price.

Midsize trucks are having a moment. Rugged, off-road-ready lifestyle pickups and SUVs are all currently in vogue. In the past few years, we’ve seen redesigns for the Ford Ranger, the Nissan Frontier, and, long-awaited, the Toyota Tacoma. General Motors has joined the party with a redesigned GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado.

Smaller trucks' popularity has ebbed and flowed through the decades, but based on all of these redesigns, automakers are convinced that there are sales to be made. One way these trucks have evolved is by pivoting from downsized work vehicles offering weekend-warrior and lifestyle-off-roader versions, to focusing specifically on those weekend warrior and lifestyle shoppers.

Verdict: The Colorado has evolved from merely offering more content and upgraded versions to focusing on well-equipped, upgraded trims catering to recreation more than work.