Driving the first GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X a masculine aggressive pickup that brings out the cowboy inside you

2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X

Written by Marco Carvajal

Driving the robust and durable 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X is fun and makes you feel powerful. When you ride on a pickup truck like the Sierra you can enjoy the high altitude of this tall pickup truck. Luxury details like the 16-way power front seats with massage feature, and 12-Speaker Bose Premium Series with Centerpoint Surround Sound are standard on the Sierra AT4X.

This premium off-road trim level AT4X has a starting price of around $81K, It is a tough and expensive toy that can give you so much driving pleasure.

Push the accelerator of the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X I am test driving, and you can feel the huge 420 horsepower you have in the Sierra’s large 6.2L V8 Gas engine.

I like how the Sierra gives you lots of space everywhere, the GMC 1500 Sierra is a full-size pick-up truck, big on the inside and with a lot of space on its large bed, perfect for work, or for shopping furniture and large toys on the weekend. The GMC Sierra is similar to its brother the Chevy Silverado. Both pickup trucks have their own unique look and style but they share many of the same mechanical parts and structure.

2023 GMC Sierra

The Sierra 1500 is a versatile and flexible car, it is available in a few trim levels and formats, such as a single cab, double cab, or four-door crew cab.

Driving a GMC pickup truck means power. GMC trucks have been used during several decades in all types of scenarios, my father used to drive his strong GMC at his country farm business, where it made farm life much easier when dealing with off-roads, transporting heavy tools, and driving under difficult weather conditions.

New for the Sierra in 2023, the first-ever AT4X AEV Edition offers a unique design and more power, making it the most capable ever off-road Sierra 1500.

I am driving the gasoline model, but the new Sierra is available with an updated second-generation Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel engine that delivers 10 percent more horsepower and 7.6 percent more torque.

Some of the new updates for the 2023 Sierra version include a new steel piston design, a revised turbo compressor, new fuel injectors, and improved temperature control.

Driving a GMC truck like the Sierra not only gives you access and power to drive everywhere, in any type of terrain, but also is fun to drive on such a big truck with a masculine aggressive look that brings out the cowboy inside you.

GMC has a very good reputation for its high quality standards producing very tough and durable trucks with very attractive and aggressive design.

The GMC Sierra 1500 full-size pickup truck is very popular for its high premium features like a trailer length indicator and jack-knife alert, innovative technologies, and modern design.

Driving the first ever GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV Edition is exciting and fun, the Sierra always has been a powerful pickup truck but the Sierra AT4X AEV Edition gives you much better Off-Road capabilities, the AT4X AEV Edition is engineered to go further, delivering extreme off-road enhancements with its integration of AEV hardware, designed specifically for off-roading and overland adventuring on any type of terrain.

Sierra AT4 versus AT4X

I am driving the GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV Edition, a luxurious pickup truck with premium off-road capabilities. The Sierra is available in several trims including the Sierra AT4 and the Sierra AT4X that I am test driving. The new 2023 Sierra AT4X has very helpful features. Unlike the AT4, the AT4X utilizes a more powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine. On the road, it produces 420 horsepower and approximately 460 lb-ft of torque.

The AT4X version was presented a few years ago as an option for those looking for a pick-up with greater off-road performance and premium equipment and now in 2023, it has become available as one of the top trim-level options for the Sierra 1500.

2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X

The GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X is a powerful off-road pickup version of the popular GMC Sierra 1500 full-size pickup. The GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X is manufactured in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico. Part of the power of this Sierra model is its great towing capacity, its off-road performance, and its modern premium equipment.

The Sierra’s AT4X 1500 includes a powerful standard 6.2L V8 Gas Engine. This V8 engine delivers 420 Horsepower and 460 lb of torque. The Engine of the Sierra is enhanced with Multimatic DSSV Spool-Valve Dampers and Front and Rear E-locking Differentials.

Fuel economy can be improved, even though this car has a very large V8 gas engine. It drives 14 miles per gallon in the city, 17 mpg on the highway, and 15 miles per gallon combined.

Driving the GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X feels powerful and confident on the road, with excellent towing capacity and great cornering stability. The four-wheel drive system is also very effective in muddy conditions.

GMC is not new to the pickup truck manufacturing market, your grandparents already knew about GMC. The brand started to produce trucks since more than a century in the past, since 1902, working on Trucks for more than 100 years of its existence.

The new Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV Edition offers the luxury style, comfort, tech, towing, and payload capability you expect from a premium pickup truck. The AT4X is more premium, more luxurious and it is one of the two top trim models in the 2023 Sierra family.

Muscular Exterior Design

The New Sierra 1500 AT4X Crew Cab is offered in a 4WD configuration and is equipped with a short bed. The ATX AEV Edition includes AEV-stamped steel front and rear bumpers with heavy-duty recovery points and winch capability in the front bumper.

The unique design of the AT4X includes five hot-stamped boron steel skid plates. Race-inspired, laser-engraved 18-inch AEV Salta wheels in gloss black finish with AEV’s signature recessed valve system, very large 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. Updated front grille and fascia, gloss black door handles, and a black contrast inner tailgate.

The Sierra 1500 AT4X has a robust and muscular appearance with an imposing and aggressive appearance. It features a front bumper with a stainless steel design and a chrome grille with the GMC logo. It also features a suspension lift system that gives it a taller, stronger look.

“GMC has been a pioneer in the premium off-road space and this Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV Edition raises the bar yet again,” said GMC Global Vice President Duncan Aldred. “Our customers want an uncompromising combination of on-road technology and off-road capability. Leveraging GMC’s unwavering dedication to providing premium trucks and American Expedition Vehicles’ expertise in engineering and integrating performance-driven parts and accessories, this truck provides extreme capability, technology, and comfort.”

The Sierra has been enhanced by American Expedition Vehicles (AEV)

GMC has teamed up with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to introduce the first-ever 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV Edition, blazing a new trail in off-road capability, luxury, and technological advancements, producing luxury and off-road performance.

American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) is a world-renowned premier supplier of quality aftermarket parts and accessories for vehicles geared toward recreational driving and overland adventure travel.

AEV’s goal is to improve the vehicle’s look, functionality, and drivability on highways and trails, working in partnership with GMC for over two decades.

According to GMC, the First Ever Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV Edition is engineered for those seeking the next frontier, delivering extreme off-road enhancements thanks to a comprehensive integration of AEV hardware designed specifically for off-roading and overland adventuring, and when you drive the Sierra you realize that the end result of the AT4X has been successful.

GMC Sierra Pricing and Trims

I am test-driving one of the best top trim models you can purchase, the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X with MSRP pricing starting at $81,700, but you also can find other great trim models depending on your needs, and what you like.

There are different models with different engines available. Pricing starts at $37K for the base Sierra model, the PRO, and continues with versatile pricing up to $82K for the top-of-the-line Denali Ultimate Sierra trim, which is very similar in pricing, and some of its features, to the Sierra AT4X that I am test driving, but the Denali uses Diesel and the Sierra uses Gasoline instead. I prefer gas!

2023 GMC Sierra 1500 PRO, MSRP $37,200
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE, MSRP $50,300
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 ELEVATION, MSRP $52,000
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT, MSRP $56,000
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4, MSRP $66,800
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 DENALI, MSRP $65,800
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X, MSRP $81,700 (The new trim level that I am test driving)
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 DENALI ULTIMATE, MSRP $82,200

2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X Highlights

Standard 6.2L V8 Gas Engine Delivering 420 Horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of Torque
10-speed Automatic Transmission
MSRP Pricing Starting at $81,700
Multimatic DSSV Spool-Valve Dampers
Front and Rear E-locking Differentials, a Combination Not Offered on Any Competitor in its Class
Heated and Ventilated 16-Way Power Front Seats with Massage
Obsidian Rush Interior Featuring Full-Grain Leather Seating with Technical-Grain Leather Accents and Authentic Vanta Ash Wood
12-Speaker Bose Premium Series with Centerpoint Surround Sound
AEV Stamped-Steel Front Bumper with Front Winch Capability
AEV Hot-Stamped Boron Steel Front Approach Skid Plate
Available AEV Edition
Fuel Economy: City 14 MPG / Highway 17 MPG
Offered in a 4WD configuration
Equipped with a short bed.
Front Head Room 43.0 In.
Passenger Capacity Up To 5
Ground Clearance 11.1
Max Front Approach Angle 32.5 Degrees
Cargo Bed Volume 62.9 Cu. Ft.
Max Rear Departure Angle 23.4 Degrees
High Quality Audio System 12-Speaker Bose Premium Series With Centerpoint Surround Sound.

Interior and Technology

New car buyers and drivers are more demanding, not only do we want power and an attractive design, but now technology is a very important aspect when selecting and buying a car, and this is one of the aspects of production that costs a lot of dollars to car manufacturers. The GMC Sierras includes good technology to keep up with modern trends, keeping its name not only as a good off-road pickup truck but also modern and luxurious.

The Sierra has a nice and large interior design, the Sierra 1500 AT4X offers a comfortable and luxurious environment with a large number of comfort and technology features. The leather seats are comfortable, heated, and cooled, and the 6-way power front seats include a massage feature. The 12-speaker Bose Premium Sound System is high-quality and provides immersive sound.

The 13.4-inch GMC Premium full-color touchscreen infotainment display is easy to use, provides a wealth of useful information, and supports wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto. It also offers a navigation system and wireless connectivity for mobile devices.

With a maximum towing capacity of 12,500 pounds, it is one of the most powerful pickups on the market and features an intelligent towing system with a rearview camera for greater safety and convenience.

The Sierra 1500 AT4X has a four-wheel drive system, a self-locking differential, and a raised suspension, making it a vehicle capable of handling very difficult terrain conditions.

The Sierra has a driver assistance system with functions such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane keeping.

Award-winning Sierra made to last

The 2020 GMC Sierra has been awarded the #1 place for the Most Dependable Full-Size Truck After 3 Years of Ownership by J.D. Power.

The GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X is a luxury full-size pickup that stands out for its great towing capacity, off-road performance, and premium equipment.

Its robust and muscular exterior design, comfortable and luxurious interior, and efficient gasoline performance make it an excellent option for those looking for a high-capacity pickup truck.