GM's Innovative Midgate Is Truly One of the Top Reasons to Purchase an EV Truck.

      Andrew P. Collins

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      During a seven-day test drive of the 2026 GMC Sierra EV Denali Max Range, covering hundreds of miles, I gained a deep understanding of the truck’s strengths and weaknesses (which are outlined in the linked review). While I was impressed by its performance and luxury features, my favorite aspect had nothing to do with the powertrain—it was the MidGate Pro, the fully removable back wall of the cab.

      This feature is present in both the GMC Sierra EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV. It functions by allowing the rear glass and back wall of the cab to retract, enabling you to either transport very long items or simply enjoy fresh air from a partially open cabin.

      Some of you may recall that older GM models, such as the Chevrolet Avalanche and Cadillac Escalade EXT, had a similar feature. I must admit, I didn’t think much of it during those vehicles' original release. However, now that it has returned, I’m genuinely excited.

      An electric truck is particularly suited for this feature since the cab and bed form a continuous structure (in traditional body-on-frame trucks, they are separate). Additionally, with zero emissions, there’s no concern about monoxide leaking into the cabin.

      GM EV Truck MidGate

      Now that you understand what a MidGate is, let me quickly outline why GM’s design is impressive.

      - Very simple, one-person operation: Clearing any clutter from the truck’s back seat takes longer than securing the MidGate.

      

      - Foolproof: A small catch-nub securely holds the glass during the release, making it user-friendly.

      

      - Self-contained: The seatback includes a pocket for the rear glass that fully encloses it, so you can store it safely and don’t have to leave it behind.

      Drawback: cumbersome tonneau cover: The aspect I disliked the most about the Sierra EV is the heavy, hard tonneau cover over the bed, which must be removed to operate the MidGate and is quite unwieldy.

      GM EV Truck MidGate Tour

      The best video demonstrating how to use the MidGate is available here, showing exactly how to operate the system:

      For those interested in a closer look, I’ll provide annotated details:

      You can see how and where the MidGate separates.

      There's a clever hook to keep the rear seatbelts out of the way.

      First, you fold the seat bottoms forward. Then the seatbacks drop down from this position.

      That indentation is where the rear glass will be stored.

      These two large latches are what release the glass. The small nub catches the glass as it falls, and you simply push it to fully remove the glass.

      These tabs will click down to secure the glass.

      This latch also keeps the glass in place.

      These buttons operate the rear wall of the cab.

      As shown here, there’s a practical hard-shelled floor, but you can actually fit even longer items.

      Andrew P. Collins

      Real-World Cargo Capacity

      Taken from the review—here are the actual measurements I recorded, not just claims from the spec sheet:

      Truck bed length, tailgate closed:

      70″

      Truck bed length including tailgate as cargo floor, tailgate down:

      95″

      “Practical max length,” midgate open, from the frontmost hard floor to the back of the bed, tailgate closed:

      95″ (the usable cargo floor length obtained by opening the midgate is equivalent to the tailgate length)

      Same, but tailgate down:

      119″

      Utilizing all space behind the driver’s seat, through the midgate, to the end of the bed, tailgate closed:

      110″

      Same, but tailgate down:

      134″

      Longest item you could carry safely without causing inconvenience to the driver or front passenger, or hanging off the edge of the tailgate (item resting on the center console):

      160″

      Would you find the midgate beneficial?