Holy cow! Is this the best-looking truck on the roads in 2016? Definitely in the top three — the Sierra Elevation Edition is back on the refreshed GMC half-ton truck books with dark and premium looks, top-shelf tech upgrades, and pricing that is far more do-able than the loaded Denali.
We love the blacked-out styling tweaks, the new lighting front and rear, plus the HID bi-xenon projectors for the first time in a GMC pickup. New DRL designs in white LED appear on all 2016 Sierras, but few are going to turn heads as often as the Elevation edition.
GMC promises showroom arrivals in Q1’2016 as a 2016 model year, so look out for this clean and on-trend badass pickup to hit showrooms around February with a base price in the mid $30s.
2015 Sierra Elevation Edition
2016 GMC Sierra ELEVATION Edition
GMC Updates Sierra Elevation Edition for 2016
Sport appearance wears new front-end design, latest connectivity technologies
DETROIT – The popular GMC Sierra Elevation Edition returns for 2016 with the styling enhancements and other features new to the entire Sierra 1500 lineup – including revised front-end styling with new, high-intensity discharge projector-beam headlamps and GMC Signature LED lighting.
The Elevation Edition – available on Sierra double cab – has a street-smart stance, thanks to body-color moldings, door handles, mirror caps and a body-color grille surround, as well as body-color bumpers. It also rolls on 20-inch black-painted aluminum wheels and is further enhanced with new Elevation Edition badging.
“The Sierra Elevation Edition offers a boldly styled pickup for customers who want a truck that looks as good as it performs,” said Duncan Aldred, U.S. vice president, Buick and GMC. “With its muscular design details, inherent truck capabilities and premium technology features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, Sierra Elevation improves on an already comprehensive package.”
Inside Sierra Elevation Edition, the latest technology helps drivers stay connected at all times. A new radio with a 7-inch-diagonal screen incorporates CarPlay and Android Auto phone integration capability, which gives drivers the ability to make calls, send and receive messages and control music from the IntelliLink touchscreen. Additionally, OnStar 4G LTE and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot allow continuous connectivity for up to seven personal devices.
All Sierra Elevation Edition models include remote keyless entry, remote locking tailgate, outside heated power-adjustable mirrors, a 110-volt AC power outlet, black recovery hooks, a six-speaker audio system and more.
A standard 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 engine delivers 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque with a highway fuel economy of 24 mpg. An available 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8 produces 355 horsepower – and offers up to 9,400 pounds of trailering capacity (2WD). Customers can choose two- or four-wheel drive and the Eaton locking rear differential is standard with both.
All-terrain tires, a Rear Vision camera system, trailering equipment and XM Radio are available on all models.
The new GMC Sierra Elevation Edition goes on sale in the first quarter of 2016.
2016 GMC Sierra
GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902, with innovation and engineering excellence built into all GMC vehicles. The brand is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover. GMC’s highest-volume vehicle, the Sierra pickup, is the most powerful light-duty pickup on the market, and the first full-size pickup to receive the highest-possible five-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration changed its New Car Assessment Program for the 2011 model year. Details on all GMC models are available at http://www.gmc.com/, on Twitter at @thisisgmc or at http://www.facebook.com/gmc
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.