GMC has been building trucks since the earliest days of General Motors. The General Motors Truck Company was formed in 1911, and the GMC name appeared soon thereafter. Over the decades, the badge has appeared on everything from work trucks and buses to military vehicles and motorhomes, but pickups have always been at the heart of the brand. The Sierra name began as a trim level before becoming GMC’s full-size pickup nameplate in 1988. Since then, it has evolved from a straightforward working truck into something that can haul lumber during the day and impersonate a luxury hotel sitting area at night.
GMC’s move into electric trucks began with the HUMMER EV [which I’ve previously reviewed], followed by the far more practical Sierra EV, introduced for the 2024 model year. The 2026 Sierra EV AT4 Max Range brings off-road hardware, four-wheel steering, Super Cruise, and an estimated 478 miles of range between charges. It also starts at around $90,000 before options are added. That makes it both an impressive glimpse of the electric-truck future and a reminder that you'll need excellent credit to participate.
EV demand has cooled from its early surge a few years ago, and as a consequence, GM has broadened its strategy to include plug-in hybrids and extended-range electric vehicles alongside these full battery-electric trucks. I expect that the next few years will be less of the overnight EV revolution some had predicted and more of an increasingly crowded truck dealer lot, with gasoline, diesel, hybrid, extended-range, and fully electric trucks all competing for the same buyers.
As EV technology has matured, electric vehicles have also expanded into just about every imaginable form factor, from Formula 1 race cars and compact commuter cars to fire engines, heavy construction equipment, and full-size luxury pickup trucks. When GMC offered me a week behind the wheel of the 2026 Sierra EV AT4 Max Range, I was unquestionably curious to see how well those last two categories could coexist. It turns out they get along remarkably well. In fact, this is one of the nicest vehicles I’ve driven in quite a while. My test truck arrived finished in Thunderstorm Gray with a Forest Storm interior, a combination that gives it serious curb appeal, even when there’s no curb:
Before going any further, a brief explanation. AT4 is the trim level, indicating that the truck is designed for off-road use. The Sierra EV is also available in Elevation and Denali trims. Depending on the model, buyers can choose from Standard Range, Extended Range, or Max Range battery packs. The AT4 is available with either the Extended Range battery (390 miles) or the Max Range battery (478 miles). By comparison, the more affordable Elevation Standard Range is rated at a much more modest 283 miles. GMC doesn’t publish curb weights for every configuration. Still, it’s reasonable to assume the larger Max Range battery adds roughly 500 pounds to what is already a vehicle tipping the scales at around four tons.
Like many automakers, GMC’s designers have tried to make the Sierra EV fit in with its internal combustion brethren, hence the mock grille. The red hooks below it are recovery hooks, of course, useful if the truck gets stuck in snow or mud and needs to be pulled out. This is not a vehicle you’ll be towing behind your RV, however. Speaking of towing, the AT4 Max Range can pull an impressive 10,200 pounds and has a maximum payload of 1,500 pounds.
The Sierra EV doesn’t lack screen real estate. In fact, the main infotainment screen is larger than many laptops, measuring 16.8 inches diagonally. The lower portion includes fixed buttons and controls, including the volume knob and the row of toggle switches that form the heart of the climate control system. It’s also worth noting that GMC vehicles do not support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, instead offering their own Google-powered infotainment system. While it was a bit tedious to enter destinations separately for navigation rather than simply using my phone, the overall experience was smooth, with Bluetooth handling audio from my phone along with incoming message notifications and other connected features.
The center console is a bit of a wonder too, with two sliding trays. One tucks beneath the infotainment system and includes a reliable Qi wireless charging pad for phones. The other slides beneath the wide armrest and reveals two cupholders. Move those out of the way, and there’s a deep storage compartment that’s perfect for stashing a purse. Not enough storage? There’s yet another deep compartment beneath the armrest.
The steering wheel controls are familiar GMC fare and highly symmetrical. Very pleasing! I found them easy to use for cruise control and various infotainment adjustments, though the volume and next/previous track controls are hidden behind the horizontal spokes, a layout I don’t like much, as I’ve shared previously. Notice also in the photo above the gear selector on the right side of the steering column. A simple flick is all that’s required to shift between Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive. Easy enough, but it’s a long way from the floor-mounted gearshift and clutch pedal of a classic GMC truck, and for sure a 1911 truck buyer would be completely baffled by this design. 🤠
The heated and ventilated seats are upholstered in CoreTec, GMC’s leather-like seating material, and they’re quite comfortable, even on hot days. The Forest Storm interior gives them their distinctive color, while the horizontal stitching adds a bit of visual interest to an otherwise understated cabin. Also notice how large the center console is in the photo above. Not only are there slide-away cupholders for the driver and front passenger, but there are also two more cupholders for rear-seat passengers.
Going back to the dashboard, it’s a pleasantly futuristic display, and at night you’d be excused for suspecting that you’re piloting a spaceship rather than a multi-ton pickup truck. Notice here that with the battery at 67% charge, I still had an estimated 358 miles of range.
Finally, no tour of the interior is complete without highlighting the fairly epic panoramic glass roof:
The only downside is that there’s no way to block it with a shade if you’d prefer a more enclosed cabin. However, it does incorporate a fairly aggressive tint that kept the interior from feeling overly warm, even in the middle of a sunny afternoon.
It's no surprise in a truck this size that the front legroom is excellent, but what I found surprising was that the rear legroom is also quite good, certainly enough for a full crew of five adults to travel in comfort.
This model had an optional hard folding bed cover by RealTruck Advantage that was both attractive and quite secure with the tailgate closed. It also featured GMC’s MultiPro Tailgate, allowing the inner section to fold down into a convenient step. While the bed isn’t enormous for heavy hauling, it’s just a smidge shy of six feet long and 65.4 inches wide. All told, it offers 57.5 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for most Home Depot or Costco runs with room to spare.
All told, this is a beautiful truck with the effortless acceleration of powerful electric motors, the comfort of a high-end luxury vehicle, including the excellent Super Cruise self-driving system, and enough range that I never once worried about finding my next charger. The future of electric trucks may be less certain than it appeared a few years ago, but that uncertainty has more to do with the market than the vehicle itself. Judged on its own merits, the 2026 Sierra EV AT4 Max Range is one of the most impressive trucks I’ve driven, regardless of what powers it.
2026 GMC Sierra EV AT4 Max Range. BASE PRICE: $89,600.00. Options included: Floor liner and hard truck bed cover package, premium paint, GM NACS DC Adapter. AS DRIVEN: $94,715.00.
Disclosure: GMC loaned me the Sierra for a week in return for this candid write-up. This article was originally published on PlanetDave.com with the title The 2026 GMC Sierra EV AT4 Max Range is a Beautiful Truck and is reproduced here with permission of the author.
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