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2019 Sierra Elevation: First Real-World Pictures

When GMC officially announced the 2019 Sierra Elevation in June, it released only one (rather doctored) picture of the new truck. Luckily, we were able to catch up to a prototype of the new Sierra Elevation while it was going through final validation testing completely free of camo, and snapped a glut of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

This particular 2019 Sierra Elevation is coated in Deep Mahogany Metallic (paint code G2X), though we’re sure some might be misled into thinking that the color is black – which it is not. The truck is also equipped with 4×4, but does not have the optional X31 Off-Road Package, as we will discuss shortly.

During the aforementioned June announcement, GMC said that the new Sierra Elevation would be available in the Double Cab body style. But as we can clearly see, the model seen here is a Crew Cab, making this sighting particularly noteworthy. Until we have a better explanation, we will chalk this one up to the tester being a pre-production model… though the possibility of GMC offering the Sierra Elevation in Crew Cab form doesn’t sound all that bad.

2019 GMC Sierra Elevation - Deep Mahogany Metallic G2X exterior - July 2018 006

Front End

The Elevation edition brings a body-color grille surround and a high-gloss black mesh grille insert. The bumper is finished in the primary body color, while the toe hooks and roof-mounted communications antenna are black.

The front also features standard LED reflector headlamps, GMC’s signature LED Daytime Running Lamps with C-shaped “light blades”, as well as incandescent turn signals. LED fog lamps are also standard.

2019 GMC Sierra Elevation Double Cab release photo - zoomed

Typically, the 2019 GMC Sierra Elevation is equipped with black mirror caps, as seen in this press photo of the truck

Typically, the Sierra Elevation ships with black mirror caps, as seen in the original press photo above. However, the model pictured here is wearing chrome mirror caps. This is because it’s equipped with the Driver Alert Package I, which includes various active safety features while also swapping the black mirror caps for those finished in chrome.

Side Profile

The 2019 Sierra Elevation features blacked-out side window trim and 20-inch wheels and body-color door handles. The only bright piece on the truck (besides the chrome mirror caps) are the ELEVATION badges on the bottom, fore-most part of the front doors.

The fender badge just ahead of the exterior mirrors is blanked out, indicating that this model is powered by the new inline four-cylinder 2.7L turbo L3B engine making 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of twist. Had this unit been powered by the other available engine in the 2019 Sierra Elevation (the 5.3L L84 V8, which is part of the EcoTec3 engine family), it would have proudly displayed a 5.3L V8 emblem in the place of the black blanking piece.

2019 GMC Sierra Elevation exterior zoomed - July 2018 - 003

As with the 2019 Sierra AT4, the side view of this Sierra Elevation in Crew Cab form shows just how long the wheelbase of the new T1 platformed Sierra really is. The space between the wheels is u to 3.9 inches longer when compared to the previous-generation K2 Sierra, while keeping roughly the same sized truck from a general footprint standpoint. Also common to the all-new Sierra is the integrated “bill-style” spoiler mounted at the rear-most part of the cabin.

The 2019 Sierra’s new wheel wells are also present and accounted for on this truck. The rear portion of the wells has a (roughly) 90-degree bend, while the front part features a shape made up of two distinct curve points (at roughly 150 degrees each).

2019 GMC Sierra Elevation exterior zoomed - July 2018 - 005

Rear End

This particular 2019 Sierra Elevation is equipped with the innovative GMC MultiPro tailgate. Interestingly, order guides for the all-new 2019 Sierra 1500 do not list the MultiPro tailgate as an option for the Elevation trim, instead stating that the model is only available with the standard tailgate. Like the cab configuration, let’s chalk this up to the model being a pre-production unit.

The body-colored rear bumper features improved CornerStep cutouts, while the single exhaust tip tell us that the model seen here is not equipped with the X31 Off-Road Package, which adds:

  • Dual outlet exhaust (not true dual exhaust)
  • Off-road suspension with Rancho shocks
  • Locking rear differential
  • Hill Descent Control
  • Protective underbody skidplates
  • Heavy-duty air filter
  • Two-speed transfer case with low-range gearing
  • All-terrain tires
  • X31 hard badge

A large GMC logo and bright Sierra brand plate below lets everyone know exactly what it is that you’re driving. The Elevation badge resides on the lower corner of the tailgate, on the passenger side.

Finally, the 2019 Sierra Elevation is supposed to be equipped with LED taillights and stop lights, along with an incandescent reverse light – all as standard equipment. However, it would appear that this this model features regular incandescent taillights. Let’s count this one as being the result of a pre-production model as well.

Under The Hood

The 2019 Sierra Elevation will be offered with three engines, as follows:

  • Standard: all-new 2.7-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine (RPO code L3B) paired with an improved eight-speed automatic transmission delivering 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque.
  • Optional: updated 5.3-liter V-8 EcoTec3 engine (RPO code L84) mated to the same eight-speed automatic transmission delivering 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The engine uses a new Dynamic Fuel Management system that enables the engine to operate on one to eight cylinders, depending on demand, to optimize power and efficiency.
  • Optional: all-new 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six-cylinder engine (RPO code LM2) mated to the new GM 10-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain combination will become available in early 2019 and power/torque ratings have not yet been released.

Pricing & Availability

Slotting between the 2019 Sierra SLE (3SA) and SLT (4SA), the Sierra Elevation (3SB) is essentially an SLE with various appearance improvements. Pricing for the new model has not yet been announced, but is expected to remain similar to the 2018 model, which started at $42,640.

The 2019 Sierra Elevation goes on sale in the fall of 2018.

GMC Sierra Resources & Info

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GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

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Comments

  1. That mahogany? Looks pretty black. Figured the Deep Mahogany was a rich brown colour

    Reply
  2. That truck is begging for a 1″ lift. Nothing crazy, just a little more…elevated.

    Reply
  3. They are really trying to separate Sierra from Silverado to the point that Z71 is no longer called Z71, rather X31. I find it rather interesting…

    The exterior parts binning has dropped even more as the T1 twins share (that I can tell) only the cab structure, rear bumpers and minus the Carbon Pro box, the inner box structure. Every other inch of sheetmetal is totally different. Kudos on them spreading the gap further yet.

    Now if only they’d change up the interiors a bit more between the two other than just GMC getting real aluminum/wood…

    Reply
    1. Ironically the k2s used about as many different exterior parts, they only looked extremely similar. Seemed silly to do everything different but make them look almost identical.

      Reply
  4. This may be one of my favorite specs. Only thing throwing me off on all the sierras are the badge placing on the tailgate. I think the Sierra emblem should be on the bottom left corner.

    Reply

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