- The GMC Sierra EV Denali is not an ideal candidate to be a range king, with huge dimensions and an 8,800-pound curb weight.
- Yet on a sunny, chilly day in California, it blasted past its EPA range figure of 460 miles, covering 507 miles on a single charge.
- The Lucid Air Dream Edition still has the highest EPA range of 520 miles, but the Sierra EV went farther in real-world conditions.
The Lucid Air has been the undisputed EV range king in the U.S. ever since it went on sale in 2022. No EV has really come close—until now. The GMC Sierra EV Denali narrowly edged out the Air in a real-world range test, even getting close to beating the Air’s EPA-rated figure.
In an independent test conducted by car-buying and research firm Edmunds, the Sierra EV clocked 507 miles on a full charge, narrowly beating the Air Dream Edition, which managed 505 miles in a previous test. That’s an impressive feat for a truck tipping the scales at roughly 8,800 pounds and riding on 24-inch wheels.
Why does this matter? Well, the average American EV driver doesn’t need more than 500 miles of range on their EV. The daily driving distance in the U.S. averages just 42 miles. But tests like these demonstrate how far along EVs have come in their road-tripping capabilities and help quell range anxiety, which has been a roadblock for broader EV adoption. Plus, if you’re towing, your real-world range will decrease dramatically. Having extra battery capacity for those days may help win over hardcore truck owners.
Edmunds conducted the test with a 60-40 mix of city and highway driving at an average speed of 40 miles per hour. Drivers stayed within 5 mph of posted speed limits while the weather was sunny and a mild 58 degrees Fahrenheit.
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On paper, the Air is still the range king, with an EPA-rated range of 520 miles. The Sierra EV, on the other hand, gets an EPA range of 460 miles, thanks to its 200-kWh plus Max battery pack. But it blasted past its EPA rating, delivering an extra 47 miles of range. That’s huge considering the median range of EVs sold in the U.S. in 2024 was about 283 miles. That figure is the highest it’s ever been and it’s poised to increase in the coming years.
General Motors now produces two electric trucks that are range monsters. The Chevy Silverado EV RST, which shares its Ultium underpinnings with the Sierra EV, also outperformed its rated EPA range figure in independent testing. It’s rated to go 450 miles on a single charge but covered 484 miles in Edmunds range test.
There’s one problem, though. The Sierra EV could have gone even further if it was efficient.
Photo by: Tim Levin/InsideEVs
2024 Breakthrough Award Nominee: Lucid Air Pure
The GMC delivered an abysmal efficiency of 48.1 kWh per 100 miles, or 2.0 miles per kWh. The Lucid Air, on the other hand, gulps far fewer kilowatt hours to cover a similar distance. Its measured consumption was 28.3 kWh for 100 miles or 3.5 miles per kWh. (Additionally, last year, a Lucid Air Pure achieved an industry-best 5.0 miles per kWh last year in Lucid’s own testing; while that may be tough to replicate in the real world, it shows what can be done when the focus is on proper energy use and aerodynamics instead of battery size.)
I guess that’s the trade-off with electric trucks. They’re huge, expensive, inefficient and cost a lot to recharge, given their massive battery packs. But the extra range and weight is necessary to enable towing and hauling. Still, don’t expect the Sierra EV to hold onto its crown for too long.
There are a ton of new EVs in the pipeline, and a more efficient sedan should be able to topple the new king. But the EV truck race is just getting started.
Have a tip? Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
