2019 GMC Sierra 1500s Land in the Build & Price Playground; SLT Crew Cab Starts at $48,195

General Motors’ truck division decided to release its revamped 2019 Sierra 1500 line in dribs and drabs, starting at the high end. That goes for both vehicle arrival dates as well as information.

While we’re pretty familiar with the top-of-the-line Denali by now, GMC is slowly pulling away the curtain, with the upper-middle-range SLT being the latest to come (literally) online.

The brand’s build & price tool now shows the 2019 Sierra 1500 in SLT and Denali trim, the former of which starts at $48,195 after a $1,495 destination fee. For this price, buyers receive a rear-drive crew cab outfitted with a 5.3-liter V8 and eight-speed automatic. Expect to be greeted by 355 familiar ponies, along with 383 lb-ft of torque.

On basic SLTs, wheels are 18 inches in diameter (machined aluminum), with up to three snug occupants sharing the standard 40/20/40 bench. Until GMC starts rolling out less popular configurations, your only choice of cargo carrier right now is a 5’8″ short box.

Standard SLT kit includes a traction select system, ProGrade Trailering System, and GMC’s novel MultiPro Tailgate, although the basic “standard” safety features listed by GMC during a first-drive event in Newfoundland last week now appear as a $940 option. (Hmmm…) Regardless, adding the Driver Alert Package I brings aboard front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Your only no-cost colors are black, white, and Cardinal Red. Every other shade is an additional $395.

If four-wheel traction is a must, bringing the front wheels online means a sticker of $51,495. GM’s beloved 6.2-liter V6, generating 420 hp and 460 lb-ft, can only be had in four-wheel drive guise, which brings the price for that configuration to $53,990. The only transmission offered with the 6.2L is GM’s smooth 10-speed auto.

Adding the SLT Premium Package inflates the sticker by $3,060, and with it you’ll receive ventilated front buckets, heated outboard rear seats, a power sliding rear window, 20-inch wheels, and side steps. USB ports appear, along with GMC’s Universal Home Remote. For the same markup, a Texas Edition Premium Package adds these things, plus, what else — Texas Edition badging.

Going for the Premium Plus package further adds: wireless charging, all available driver assist features (Driver Alert Package I and II), IntelliBeam headlights, spray-on bedliner, Bose audio, and an 8-inch infotainment system with navigation. All of these goodies carry a price of $5,875, and the Texas Edition version runs the same.

Naturally, buyers can pick and choose between individual appearance, safety, and tech content packages for far less than these bundles. A Max Trailering Package, for example, which bumps up the truck’s towing capacity by roughly 3,000 pounds, is an $850 option.

If heading into the wild is part of your future plans, the X31 package, which adds a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, skid plates, off-road suspension, high-flow air filter, and dual exhausts, can be added to a SLT 4×4 for $850. Think of it as an AT4 “Light.” By the way, there’s still no price tool for that Sierra variant, though (hopefully accurate) literature handed to me last week shows the crew cab 4×4 AT4 going for $54,69 after destination.

Because GMC started production on crew cab models first, we’ll see lower-volume extended cabs (Double Cab, in GM parlance) trundle along shortly. Some of the option packages points to that bodystyle’s eventual availability in SLT trim, as well as looming SLE and Elevation Double Cabs. Right now, only the Denali has made it to dealer lots, but that could change any minute.

Speaking of which, the crème de la crème of Sierras retails for $56,195 after destination in 2WD/5.3L guise. Our loaded tester last week brought the price tag to $67,595, though it’s possible to option it up to just over the $70k mark.

[Image: General Motors]