There are only a handful of vehicles available stateside that have the capability to go from a dealer’s showroom floor to virtually anywhere in the continental United States without requiring modification to the suspension, powertrain, and tires. After spending some time behind the wheel of GMC’s new Sierra AT4X, I’m convinced this truck can be added to that list.
Under the hood, the Sierra AT4X features a robust 420-horsepower, 460 lb.-ft torque 6.2L V8 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing plenty of power while passing on the left on-pavement gobs of torque when you need it off-road. Ride quality is exceptional, both on and off-road, thanks to the Sierra’s use of Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers previously developed for the venerable Chevrolet ZR2 mid-sized pick-up. I can’t speak highly enough of the Multimatic DSSV and its exceptional ride quality, particularly while traversing rocks, boulders, and anything mother nature throws at you. The dampers activate on the fly, dampening the ride while providing the appropriate amount of stiffness when traversing obstacles. It’s a uniquely beautiful system that deserves high praise.
Front and rear e-locking differentials make the Sierra AT4X the only truck in the ½ ton segment with this offering, and they came in handy while I traversed the Diablo Dropoff and a variety of other obstacles while evaluating the truck at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in southern California. 18” aluminum wheels, mated to 32” Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac do a fantastic job of biting the terrain and limiting wheel spin though I’d like to see a slightly larger tire offered to at least match the 33” tires available as standard on the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Additionally, rocker guards aren’t standard on the AT4X and for a truck pushing the mid-$70ks, I feel this should be standard equipment.
The cabin is beautifully laid out and intuitive with a 13.4” Infotainment system featuring Google built-in as standard. GMC has placed all the buttons in easy to access locations with seats that are comfortable and easy to clean which is critical on long trips while on-pavement and while exploring off-road in mud, dust, etc. Additionally, I dig the floor mats and their easy to remove and keep clean footprint.
Overall performance really shines in a package that’s versatile and ready for the trail. While the truck only accommodates a 1,420 lb. payload, it can manage 8,900 lbs. of towing capacity. Depending on your use, this may or may not meet expectations. Nonetheless, the GMC Sierra AT4X proves GMC’s commitment to vehicles built to go anywhere and I’m confident it’ll get you from showroom to adventure, and everywhere in between.