Would you buy a 2023 Chevy Silverado High Country in the 1500 series or the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate, both top trim levels from GM trucks? One is Chevy, and one is GMC. I had the same question, and a couple of months ago, I got a GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate as a press loan. I get these vehicles for a week, did a review on it, and thought it would be interesting to review both these trucks on my blog for you guys. Let’s do a couple of caveats, though, to make sure we clear some things up.
Why I Chose the Chevy Silverado?
The reason I bought the Chevy over the GMC was basically business. Chevy gets more clicks than GMC does. It just does. People are searching for Chevy more often, and so that’s the truck I went with.
Number two, these are both expensive trucks and are not really middle-class trucks anymore at this type of trim level. You have to go way down trim levels to get more of a true blue-collar middle class. It’s a different customer, and I’m curious what that customer thinks because this is someone who really wants a lot more comfort as far as seats and overall comfort.
These High Country seats are much better than the base seats. They want more technology, more luxury; it’s just a different customer. Let’s go and talk about this. I’m going to hop outside and throw it back to myself a couple of months ago with the GMC Sierra, show the outside, the interior, and give you some driving impressions on both. Let me get your thoughts. Let’s go and check out the outside.
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Price Comparison
First, let’s take a look at the pricing. The base price for the Denali Ultimate is $95,300, while the Chevy High Country starts at $72,200—a substantial difference of $23,100.
However, it’s essential to note that the Denali Ultimate comes standard with the Duramax diesel engine, which adds nearly $10,000 to the cost. In contrast, the High Country allows for a 6.6-liter gas engine with a 10-speed Allison transmission as a standard option, offering more flexibility depending on your driving needs.
Exterior of the 2023 Chevy Silverado High Country
Okay, this is the exterior of the 2023 Chevy Silverado in the High Country trim. This does have the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel engine. It has the same Duramax Diesel that’s in the GMC Sierra 1500, the new LZ0 diesel. Pretty good fuel economy, not much more in price.
I’d love to tell you what I’m getting in fuel economy right now, but I idle it so much, it’s not really fair. Let me do some fuel economy testing and give you a better number. We have 20-inch machine aluminum wheels with charcoal pockets. We have a dark ash metallic exterior with Chrome accents.
I also have the diesel block heater hooked up with a little cord in the back. Plug it in, boom, heats up your vehicle or the truck when it’s cold out, which has been a lot this winter. It’s been a brutal winter. I have running boards, not powered, permanent running boards.
I do have the really nice foot insert with the stake pocket to grab hold of. There’s the rear with dual exhaust. I did not get the multi-flex tailgate, which you’ll see on GMC. The reason for it was that I couldn’t order it, it wasn’t available.
I have tie-downs as well, a plug here, and a USB with a real plug-in. I have LED lights to light up the bed. I just got done washing it, you can see the soap back there. This side profile, I really like this line. You can see this body line right here going through; I think it’s a sharp-looking truck. I’ve been really happy with it so far. I have Chrome tow hooks and Chrome on the door which I do like. I know people don’t like Chrome; you can black that out, but I think it looks pretty good. I’m a big fan.
Exterior of the 2023 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate
Okay, now let’s check out this GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate. Here we go. It’s a sterling metallic color. I thought it was more of a tan, but it’s actually silver. Just got it freshly washed. We have Chrome tow hooks in the front, the GMC badge, and the Vader Chrome. It’s just cool, nothing else to say. We have larger tires, either 20s or 22s, and an engine block heater for the diesel.
Coming around the sides, there are the Wheels, the Denali badge, and the Ultimate badge. We have the multi-pro tailgate with the KICKER system. Let’s see, the stereo, you can kick it out here or in the countryside or at the lake. Just use USB, connect it to the truck, and boom, it goes up. We have the carbon Pro bed, which is incredibly strong. I’ve seen them try to break it, but it’s incredible how strong it is.
It has a handle that pops up, dropping down to a step for easy access in and out of the truck. Tons of tie-down spots; GMC does this really well. Tie-downs are cheap, so why not have 14 of them?
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Interior of the 2023 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate
Let’s talk about the inside. The Alpine umber is the name of the interior color. You see the Denali topographic map in the front. Really nice leather material, love the double stitching and cross-stitching. The fake wood is a nice touch.
In the back, it’s all carried through with a secret pocket for smuggling your moonshine, storage, connectors for towing, and heated seats in the rear, but not in the middle. There are air vents in the middle. Let’s hop in the front and check it out. Again, the same topographical map of Mount Denali on the ultimate badge with the GPS coordinates. Controls are there, seat buttons, auto four-wheel drive, two-wheel drive, four low, and four high. Heads-up display, info screen, nice handle wrapped in leather, and cross-stitching. Closing the solid doors, GM went with triple-sealed doors.
Here is your startup screen on the truck. Starting it up, you have a digital display behind the steering wheel. The all-new screen is a 13.4-inch horizontal display that blends in nicely. HVAC controls, typical Lane departure, parking sensors, auto start-stop, drop tailgate, hazard lights, traction control, downhill assist control, and the button to open all four windows.
Shifter and trailer brake controller are also there. It has a wireless charging slot, but according to my sales sticker, it has been not equipped with wireless charging. There are cup holders and a little tray for sunglasses, Kleenexes, and USB ports.
I wish it had a sunglasses holder up top. It does have a rear camera using a digital camera to see what’s behind you. Double glove box with Mount Denali badge and storage. Center console with USB ports, a 110-volt inverter, and more storage.
Interior of the 2023 Chevy Silverado High Country
Now, let’s hop into the 2023 Chevy Silverado High Country. This is the interior of the High Country trim. We’ve got a black interior with dark ash wood trim, which looks pretty sharp. We have the High Country badge on the seats, and these seats are very comfortable with nice leather and great stitching.
Moving over to the door, we have some nice materials with more wood trim and chrome handles. There are controls for windows, mirrors, and memory seats. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather with the High Country badge on the bottom. We also have a digital display behind the steering wheel, similar to the GMC, with all the information you need.
The infotainment screen is also large, but it’s not the 13.4-inch screen you get in the GMC Denali Ultimate. It’s still a good size and works well with GM’s system. HVAC controls are right below, similar layout with lane departure warning, parking sensors, auto start-stop, tailgate release, hazard lights, traction control, downhill assist control, and window controls. The shifter is on the console, and we have cup holders and a wireless charging pad. There’s also a center console with USB ports and lots of storage space.
Rear Seat Comfort and Features
In the back, we have more of that comfortable leather seating with heated seats for the rear passengers. There are also air vents and USB ports in the back. The seats fold up easily for more storage space if needed.
The back of the truck features the Multi-Flex tailgate with the KICKER system, making it easy to access the bed and use the tailgate as a step or even as a workbench.
Driving Impressions
Driving impressions for both trucks are very similar. The 3.0-liter Duramax diesel engine in both the Chevy Silverado High Country and the GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate provides plenty of power and excellent fuel economy.
The ride is smooth, and both trucks handle well on the road. The interior comfort and technology in both trucks are top-notch, making them a pleasure to drive.
Additional Features
GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate
The GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate is equipped with a heads-up display, a rear camera mirror, and a power sliding rear window. It also features a premium Bose sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The truck includes advanced safety features like lane keep assist, forward collision alert, and automatic emergency braking.
Chevy Silverado High Country
The Chevy Silverado High Country offers a similar suite of features, including a heads-up display, a power sliding rear window, and a premium Bose sound system. The infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Safety features include lane keep assist, forward collision alert, and automatic emergency braking.
Conclusion / My Thoughts
In summary, both the 2024 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate and the 2024 Chevy Silverado High Country offer significant updates and luxurious features. The Denali Ultimate stands out with its premium interior finishes, standard diesel engine, and additional luxury options. On the other hand, the High Country provides more flexibility in powertrain options and a slightly lower base price, making it a solid choice for those looking for a premium truck without the added cost of a diesel engine.
We hope this comparison helps you decide which truck suits your needs best.
