It’s been three months since Hurricane Isaac moseyed across southern Louisiana. I’ve repaired the damage that the slow-moving storm wreaked on my house, but Isaac’s winds also toppled a couple of trees that I’ve been unable to replace — mostly because my everyday vehicle can’t haul anything much bigger than a rosebush. Thankfully, I’m testing out the 2013 GMC Sierra Denali this week, so that’s about to change.

Size queens, take note: the Sierra is big. The crew cab is huge, with plenty of room for full-size passengers — or in my case, three friends that I’ve corralled into helping me at the nursery. It also comes with a big bed, which many larger trucks are missing nowadays. The Sierra can easily handle a dozen more more full-size plants — no need to buy twigs and wait (im)patiently for them to grow!

This particular Sierra is also flashy, as you might expect a Denali model to be. Thankfully, there’s not too much bling on the outside, since my own style is a little restrained. The tinted glass, fog lamps, and 20″ chrome aluminum wheels draw attention but not stares — a distinction that’s subtle but appreciated.

Open the door, though, and things get a bit swankier. The front leather seats are heated and cooled, so long drives are a breeze. To make that breeze literal, there’s a large power sunroof. And for tunes,  you’ll find a seriously kickin’ Bose sound system within arm’s reach.

Attached to that sound system, however, is an infotainment system that I’m a little less psyched about. On the one hand, I love that it’s clean and simple, but there’s a fine line between “simple” and “underdesigned”. Compared to the rest of the Sierra Denali, the center stack looks a tad unfinished. Ultimately, though, my quibbles are purely aesthetic: the infotainment system is intuitive and easy to operate, and really, that’s what counts.

On the road, the Sierra offers miles of smooth sailing, thanks to the powerful 6.2-liter (yes: 6.2!) V8 engine, cranking out 403 hp and 417 ft-lbs of torque. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts effortlessly as we float over bumps in the road — though if our trip were longer, we’d find ourselves pulling over a good bit thanks to the Sierra’s fuel economy: 12/18 mpg city/highway. (That said, your own fuel costs will vary, since this model can handle E85.)

Two hours and several orders of catfish later (I figure I at least owe my friends lunch), we pull up in front of my house, with several six-foot sweet olives in tow — and as if that weren’t awesome enough, they’re in bloom. One more hour, and they’re in the ground: Miller time.

With a starting price of $48,635, the GMC Sierra Denali isn’t the truck for everyone. But if you’re looking for a big vehicle to haul stuff in style, put it on your short list.

2013 Sierra Denali 1500 AWD
Powertrain: 6.2-liter V8, with 403 hp and six-speed automatic transmission
Fuel: Gasoline or E85
Fuel economy: 12/18 mpg city/hwy
Base price: $48,635
As-tested price: $53,694