2023 GMC Sierra AT4X Review: Understated

Trucks keep getting bigger, don’t they? At some point, one might start to believe that the trend to continually embiggen America’s most favored form of individual transport is further fueled by the trend in media to demonize trucks and their drivers. After all, we’ve seen an overwhelming distrust in and outright hostility to most forms of mainstream news reporting in the past decade, haven’t we? It stands to reason that perhaps some of the engorgement of trucks is in outright defiance of the pearl-clutching screed of the month.

At times, I’ll admit to privately feeling a bit of that disgust at lifted pickups, especially whilst in a drive-thru in my Miata when some yahoo with chromed suspension and wheels nearly drives over me. I don’t know that I personally have a need for something as large as the current batch of full-size half-ton trucks like this 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X. But for now, we live in a world where personal choice and personal responsibility are still mostly the law of the land, and for that, I’m grateful that those who need and want this size and capability can sign a foursquare for it.

That AT4X nomenclature is pretty new, having been introduced for the 2022 model year. The AT4 had been the top-trim choice for Sierra buyers who preferred a butch style rather than the bling of a Denali, but now X gon’ give it to ya with even more off-road capability. The big changes are 32” Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac M/T tires, a two-inch lift, and Multimatic DSSV dampers front and rear. 

Those dampers are something special. They’re speed-sensitive, allowing the hulking truck to feel much smaller when driving quickly on twisty backroads as well as handling nasty off-road obstacles with poise. Highway manners are as good as they’re going to get with the big knobby Goodyears, too. Despite the off-road focus of the AT4X package, this is a very livable truck in the pavement jungle.

The AT4X deviates from the Denali packages visually, too, as a dark nickel finish replaces most of the chrome found on the lux trim. I still can’t call the Sierra a beautiful truck - though, in all honesty, I don’t know if there are many trucks out there to which I’d apply that label - but it’s a bit more handsome after its recent refresh. 

Yes, I know that it’s June and there is snow in these photos. We had a weird spring, and I’ve been busy.

GMC has done a nice job updating the interior of the Sierra, too. For those who care, yes the plastics on the lower half of the dash and around the transmission tunnel are hard. I don’t really have a problem with that here, as they might hold up better to the abuse brought on when clambering in and out while clad in either work boots or hiking boots. But the controls are well labeled, and the shift lever is intuitive. It's a comfortable place to be, front or rear. I appreciate that the trailer brake controller falls readily to hand immediately behind the shifter because when you need it you need it NOW rather than pawing all over the dashboard while trying to manage trailer sway.

There’s plenty of yank for that trailer here, as the AT4X is exclusively offered with the 6.2-liter V8 giving 420 horses and a lovely growl. Fuel economy suffers, with the 15mpg EPA combined rating seeming about right. The turbo sixes and hybrids offered elsewhere are a bit more appealing at the pump, but it’s hard to argue with the tried and true pushrod bent eight here when considering likely longevity. The standard ten-speed transmission also impresses, as it never feels like it’s hunting for a gear - it’s always seemingly in the right ratio and shifts seamlessly when called upon to do so.

With the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X, I’m thinking that GMC has targeted the buyer who might otherwise look at the aggro Raptor or TRX. They haven’t done anything about the horsepower - this 420hp V8 can be had in a number of trims. But this is plenty of power, and the look here is much more understated than the two rivals. I’m sure the aftermarket will provide should firebreathing power be needed, but for those who’d like to stay a little bit beneath the radar whilst negotiating the worst the backcountry can dish out, this is appealing.

[Images: © 2023 Chris Tonn/TTAC]

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