From Capable to Luxurious: Your 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Trim Guide

Here in Iowa, you don’t have to look too hard to find a driver who appreciates the benefits of a well-built pickup truck. With its hardy construction and high towing capacity, a full-size truck like the GMC Sierra 1500 can help you tackle hard work, whether at home, at a construction site, or out on the farm. But you can also use a truck to let loose off-road with a thrilling day of driving or relax comfortably, either on the drive home at the end of the day or at a tailgate party where the bed easily transforms into a fun social space.

As your GMC dealer near Humboldt, we here at Kemna Auto of Fort Dodge understand all of the different things that a truck can be. That’s why we’re proud to offer the 2024 Sierra 1500, which has several different trim levels for you to choose from. Not only do these trims cover a wide variety of price points, so you can find something that’s right for your budget, but they also have different features that make this model extremely versatile. Whether you’re interested in an affordable, stylish, rugged, or luxurious truck, there’s something in this lineup that’s perfect for you.

The Pro: Affordable and Ready for Work

With the Pro trim, you get all the basics you need without paying extra for bells and whistles. If you don’t prioritize modern tech or features that are purely for style, then this trim is worth considering. It comes standard with a TurboMax engine that can crank out 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque, allowing you to tow up to 9,400 lbs on a properly equipped truck. That’s plenty for those who want to tackle weekend renovation projects or bring a boat down to the Des Moines River for a relaxing day on the water, and plenty of professionals will be able to work within that weight limit, too. If it’s not enough, though, you also have the option to upgrade to the more powerful 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine, upping your maximum available towing capacity to 11,200 lbs, which is more than enough for big construction jobs or bringing a large trailer up to the Humboldt County Fair Campground that gives you all the comforts of home.

Like all trims above it, the Pro comes standard with a push button start, which lets you keep your keys safely in your pocket as you enter and exit your truck. It also has driver assistance features from GMC’s Pro Safety suite, like forward collision alert with Automatic Emergency Braking, Following Distance Indicator, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and IntelliBeam Automatic High Beam Headlights. On a long drive on Highway 169, these features can help you keep track of your surroundings, so you’ll have a helping hand if you’re feeling tired or distracted after a long, hard day.

The SLE and Elevation: Practical Upgrades Inside and Out

If you want to get a few extra features without raising the price too much, consider upgrading to SLE or Elevation. Both of these trims also come standard with the base 310-horsepower engine, like the Pro. But unlike the Pro, two powertrain options are available if you want to upgrade: the 355-horsepower 5.3L gas engine or the 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel engine. The diesel powertrain produces 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, unlocking the maximum towing capacity of the Sierra 1500: 13,200 lbs on a truck that’s properly equipped.

Both the SLE and Elevation feature the GMC MultiPro Tailgate as a standard feature. While a normal tailgate just has one big panel that goes up and down, the MultiPro has an interior cutout that can be pulled into different positions for a variety of features. You can create a working surface that’s at a more comfortable height than the floor of the bed for taking measurements out on a worksite, create a backstop to support cargo that’s too long to fit in the cargo box and fold down a step that runs the full length of the back of the truck, which can be used for easy access or as a footrest so you can get comfortable as you cheer on the Wildcats at the next Humboldt Athletic Booster Club tailgate party.

The Sierra’s trailering package, which is available on the Pro, comes standard on the SLE and above, giving you the equipment you need to tow your extra cargo. The elements that separate the SLE from the Elevation are largely about style. The Elevation is only a little pricier than the SLE, and that markup will get you cool exterior features like body-color bumpers and a gloss black finish on the wheels and mesh grille insert.

The SLT: A Powerful V8 Engine and More

The powerful 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine comes standard on the SLT, giving you 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque to play with, so you can tow up to 11,200 lbs with the right configuration. Along with that powertrain, you’ll get an external auxiliary transmission oil cooler and an external engine oil cooler, so your powerful engine will keep working well, even if you’re driving fast for hours on a hot Iowa summer day. Standard perimeter lighting lets you look around if you bring your truck to a campground or drop a screw while loading it up after dark, and Rainsense automatic wipers mean that you don’t have to fiddle with your settings manually when the weather changes.

The AT4 and AT4X: Leave Roads Behind With Rugged Capability

If you want to sling some mud down at Gypsum City OHV Park or need access to other rural, unpaved areas around Humboldt County, the AT4 and AT4X trims have all the equipment you’re looking for. Both feature a factory-installed suspension lift for extra height, protective underbody skid plates, and front seats with built-in heating and ventilation so you can tackle the great outdoors no matter what the thermometer says. You’ll also get the 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel engine as the standard powertrain on both trucks, giving you 305 hp and, more importantly, an impressive 495 lb-ft of torque to help you climb over boulders with ease and conquer all kinds of terrain. Active thermal management keeps it at a perfect temperature no matter how hard you work or play.

The AT4X builds on the capability of the AT4 and takes things even further with specialized features that are designed with hard-core off-roaders in mind. Multimatic DSSV dampers are ready for the rockiest of roads, and exclusive front and rear e-locking differentials give you the traction you need in sticky situations. The AEV-stamped steel front bumper is capable of supporting a front winch, and an AEV-stamped boron steel front approach skid plate can stand up against rocks that would otherwise block your path.

The Denali and Denali Ultimate: Powerful and Luxurious

Humboldt has all kinds of drivers, and we know that some of them appreciate the finer things in life. With the Sierra, you can have your cake and eat it, too, with a tough and capable truck on the outside and a lush interior that makes you feel like a million bucks. The Denali comes standard with the 5.3L V8 engine, an automatic locking rear differential, chrome vertical recovery hooks, and a heavy-duty battery with rundown protection, all of which make it ready to tackle all kinds of jobs. Inside, you’ll be able to get comfortable thanks to a continuous damping system with adaptive ride control that keeps your ride smooth, heated and ventilated front seats, and a wireless charging pad that lets you keep your phone handy without getting tangled up in a mess of cords. Forge perforated leather seat trim, open-pore wood, and patterned aluminum trim add a touch of class to the cabin.

The Denali Ultimate gives you all that, plus a standard 6.2L V8 gas engine that produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to enable a maximum towing capacity of 13,000 lbs. This engine pairs with a ten-speed automatic transmission and features a dynamic fuel management system. The Ultimate also has a premium Bose sound system with twelve speakers for a full surround-sound experience, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with a built-in massage function, and exterior accents in Vader Chrome that give it a bold appearance.

Get Your Sierra 1500 Today

Whichever trim you prefer, you can get it here at Kemna Auto of Fort Dodge. These trim levels help you get a truck that’s perfect for driving in Humboldt and for your particular needs. We didn’t even mention other customization options, like the different available cab and box sizes, drive trains, and packages you can use to truly make your Sierra unique. Whether you know exactly what you want or still have questions, take the trip down Highway 169 to visit us and get behind the wheel of your dream truck today.

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