GMC Sierra 2500HD vs Toyota Tundra

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.

Toyota has been trying to crack the full-size pickup truck code for over 30 years. The company’s first try was the T100, followed by three generations of Tundras that got bigger and more capable with each redesign. The 2024 Tundra is a massive Texas-built truck, but it still can’t match the towing and payload capacities of the segment leader, and it bests only the Ram 1500 when it comes to towing a trailer. The Tundra also lacks the diversity of configurations you’ll find at the Chevy, Ford, and Ram stores.

Verdict: When you talk to longtime Tundra owners and recent converts, the common theme is reliability. We can’t tell you if the current third-generation Tundra is reliable after many years of service, but Toyotas are well-known for their dependability. So if you like the 2024 Toyota Tundra and it can serve your needs, help it to pull up a chair to the big boy's truck table.