2024 GMC 3500: Will GMC 3500 Be Redesigned? The reception that Chevrolet’s all-new 2020 Silverado HD received upon its introduction was understandably mixed. This was primarily attributable to the truck’s divisive exterior design as well as its uninspiring interior.
Thankfully, GMC’s 2020 Sierra HD received significantly less backlash than its predecessor. Although it debuted with a significantly more attractive exterior, the interior and technology package remained uninspiring.
Move forward in time by four years to the month of last month, when Chevrolet unveiled the updated model lineup for the 2024 Silverado HD to much acclaim. With new external style that was on-point and the great new inside comparable to what first appeared on the 2022 Silverado 1500, the Silverado HD was finally what we had all been yearning for.
This just left one question: What about Sierra? Even though the idea of a revamped cabin and improved technology piqued our interest, we couldn’t help but feel a modicum of trepidation about what the future might hold for the Sierra HD’s already elegant exterior design.
Finally, GMC has lifted the veil off of the new 2024 Sierra HD, and we are relieved to announce that whatever reservations we may have had have been immediately put to rest. The new Sierra HD is even more chiseled, sculpted, and handsome than the one that came before it. This is similar to how the lead of each new season of The Bachelor gets more and more attractive. Let’s dive in.
Improved 6.6-Liter Duramax Diesel Engine
When it comes to getting things done, power is the name of the game, and the 6.6-liter Duramax diesel that comes standard in the 2024 GMC Sierra HD is ready to party with 470 horsepower and 975 pound-feet of torque. This is a boost of 25 horsepower and 65 pound-feet, respectively.
To support this increase, the L5P Duramax engine got an all-new and more efficient turbocharger, new cylinder heads with greater cooling capabilities, new pistons with revised bowls, new fuel injectors, higher injection pressure, and a new engine controller.
This resulted in not just a gain in total power but also improvements in torque over the whole rpm range, with the majority of the improvement being seen in the lower half of the curve.
This translates into improved acceleration while lifting big weights in everyday situations. The engine-braking function of the Duramax diesel has also been strengthened thanks to the addition of an actuator for the turbo vane that is more forceful and upgraded engine valve springs.
The fantastic 10-speed Allison gearbox, which was first made available for the 2020 model year, acts as a supporting component for the Duramax diesel engine. When the year 2024 rolls around, the gasoline V-8 engine that displaces 6.6 liters from GMC will also be equipped with the same transmission.
Moving from the previous six-speed automatic to the Allison allows for lower “steps” between gear ratios, which will help the gasser to stay closer to its peak output (401 hp and 464 lb-ft) for longer. This will result in a more assured sensation of strength when the driver is behind the wheel, whether the vehicle is empty or pulling a trailer. We have firsthand experience with the gains in drivability that can be achieved for a pickup by just installing more gears, and this one has us rather thrilled.
More Towing Where It Matters Most
Word on the street suggests that the ratio of sales of 3/4-ton models to sales of 1-ton models is somewhere in the range of 75:25, with the 3/4-ton trucks, unsurprisingly, enjoying a greater degree of popularity than the 1-ton models.
However, no manufacturer is willing to divulge the precise breakdown of these numbers. The maximum trailer weight that the GMC Sierra HD is capable of towing has been raised for the 2024 model year, but in an unexpected spot. Sierra 2500 HD crew-cab towing capability improves to a best-in-class 21,900 pounds, and it goes further, to 22,500 pounds, with an optional Max Tow package.
The maximum trailer weight of 36,000 pounds with a regular-cab, short-bed, dually remains the same. It is only natural that regular-cab and extended-cab trucks should come with a better tow rating; but, with this, GMC is not simply making a claim on paper; rather, they are deliberately aiming for the center of the market.
In addition, the ability of all Sierra 3500 HD dual-rear-wheel trucks to pull in excess of 30,000 pounds will continue to be a standard feature.
Updated Exterior Styling
The grille, front bumper, and fascia region of the 2024 Sierra HD pickup have received the lion’s share of the outward upgrades for this model year, and each trim level has its own distinctive approach to the styling of the vehicle’s front end.
In addition, the Denali and Denali Ultimate trims are equipped with a one-of-a-kind crossbar design that is achieved by using the practical hood scoop on Duramax diesel engines. Even though the front end of the Sierra HD received most of aesthetic attention, the back end of the vehicle has upgraded taillamps.
When you go close to the vehicle, start it up, or use the turn signals, the new lights will trigger brand-new dynamic lighting sequences. New wheel choices, including rolling stock with a diameter of 22 inches, are now available for the SLE, AT4, and Denali models.
Even models with dual-rear wheels are getting in on the wheel fun with a new bigger wheel that measures 18 inches. There are now six new colors available, and they are as follows: Titanium Rush Metallic, Sterling Metallic, Volcanic Red Tintcoat, Redwood Metallic, and Meteorite Metallic. Downpour Metallic is also available.
A Modern Interior
Before this update, the outside style and drivetrain capabilities of the GMC Sierra HD were much more advanced than the interior design and technology suite of the vehicle. Everything will be different in 2024.
Designers at GMC came up with all-new and distinctive interiors for the SLE and SLT trim levels, in addition to distinctive premium interiors for the AT4, Denali, and Denali Ultimate trim levels. The inside of the basic model of the Pro series Sierra HD has been carried over from the model that will be discontinued in 2023.
The new infotainment screen in the Sierra HD is the biggest in its class at 13.4 inches diagonally, and it runs Google Built-In in addition to giving wireless connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This screen serves as the highlight of the upgraded interior in the Sierra HD.
Also available is a digital instrument cluster measuring 12.3 inches and a huge head-up display measuring 15 inches and displaying full color. This results in a total screen area of more than 40 inches, making the Sierra HD an excellent choice.
GMC has finally incorporated adaptive cruise control into the Sierra HD for 2024, and it is compatible with having a trailer hitched behind the vehicle. In addition to that, there is a complete set of standard safety features that come with the vehicle.
These include an automatic emergency braking system, front pedestrian braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic high beams with Intellibeam, and the following distance indicator. Rear cross-traffic braking and trailer side blind zone warning are both available as add-ons with the Pro Safety Plus package’s optional features.
Towing Assistance Technology
The array of cutting-edge technology that comes standard on the 2024 GMC Sierra HD isn’t limited to only the areas of entertainment and safety; it also extends into the arena of towing, thanks to the availability of GMC’s ProGrade Trailering System.
The foundation of the system is comprised of a staggering 14 distinct camera perspectives, some of which include bed view with zoom, bed hitch guidance for fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers, and rear side view with trailer length indication.
Also brand new is something called GCW Alert, which makes use of acceleration data to notify the driver if the gross combined weight rating of the vehicle is exceeded by the truck and trailer (GCWR). Last but not least, an improved version of the remarkable Transparent Trailer camera feature that GMC has developed is now available for the 2024 Sierra HD.
This function is now compatible with the gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers. Transparent Trailer makes use of a camera that is mounted on the back of the truck in addition to an accessory camera that is mounted on the back of the trailer. It then combines the two images to create a view of the area behind the truck as if the trailer were not there. This provides the driver with the ability to virtually “see through” the trailer.
