- GMC is adding two off-road specific trim levels to its 2024 Sierra 2500HD pickup truck lineup, with deliveries slated for this fall.
- Known as the Sierra 2500HD AT4X (above) and the accompanying AT4X AEV Edition, GMC is adding a factory lift kit, Multimatic DSSV dampers, and model-specific steering components to boost off-road performance.
- New connectivity is also present in this luxury truck, with a 13.4-inch infotainment touchscreen in the full-leather and wood-grain trim interior.
If Range Rover can pull it off, so can GMC. We're referring to the blend of off-road capability and luxury amenities, a concept the folks at Jaguar Land Rover and full-size pickup truck manufacturers have leveraged for decades. Now, it's GMC's turn to provide customers with a rock-crawling, butt-massaging model, as the company launches the 2024 Sierra 2500HD AT4X.
Sharing the platform with the Chevrolet Silverado, the GMC Sierra is General Motors' full-size pickup with a luxury twist. But the GMC Sierra 2500HD AT4X adds a specific set of off-road chops, with an even more hardcore AEV Edition joining the lineup as well.
Specifically, all AT4X models will feature a factory-installed 1.5-inch suspension lift, Multimatic DSSV dampers, and a rear e-locking differential—all in the name of increased suspension travel and loose surface traction. Goodyear is supplying the rubber, with 35-inch Territory tires equipped as standard on every model, while GMC has also installed model-specific front upper and lower control arms as well as steering knuckles to increase maneuverability and durability.
To keep all these new pieces protected, the company adds a steel transfer case skid plate and front aluminum skid plate. A new off-road package with throttle progression modes and antilock adjustability is also standard equipment.
These parts alone make up a competent off-road machine, but GMC also recognizes that America is home to some extreme buyers. If you plan on hitting some single-track trails in your GMC Sierra, look no further than the Sierra HD AT4X AEV Edition. With a set of stamped steel bumpers including integrated recovery points and front winch capabilities, this extreme version also hosts additional steel skid plates for the transfer case and a set of unique 18-inch Salta wheels. Though the AEV version isn't mechanically different, it's probably the one to get if you plan on getting stuck, which we will all do at one point.
Departure angles are shared between both the regular AT4X and AEV models, at 25.7 degrees, but the approach and breakover angles do differ between the models. Curiously, the AT4X has a slightly sharper approach angle than the AEV (31.6 versus 29.8 degrees), while the AEV's breakover angle is steeper at 22.6 degrees versus the 21.2 degrees on the AT4X. Ground clearance between the two is 0.1 inches difference, at 11.6 inches for the AT4X and 11.7 inches for the AEV.
Powering these new editions is GM's tried and true 6.6-liter gasoline V8 or the potent 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V8. While the gas engine provides 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque, the turbodiesel churns out a whopping 470 hp and 975 lb-ft of torque, though both engines are mated to an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. The turbodiesel variant makes for a maximum towing capacity of 18,500 pounds, while the gas engine provides an acceptable 16,000-pound capacity.
Even if these are off-road-specific trucks, the GMC nameplate suggests a level of luxury above the sibling Chevy Silverado. And the brand delivers power massaging front seats and full-grain leather-wrapped seats as well as wood-grain interior trim and a 12-speaker Bose Premium Series audio system. Connectivity tech includes a new 13.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 12.3-inch configurable driver information center, and a 15-inch head-up display. GMC is also providing additional eyes for a truck of this size, as the Sierra HD AT4X comes with 14 available camera views, including the hitch, bed, and rear side, with a trailer length indicator.
Deliveries of these beasts are expected by the fall of 2023, and GMC has yet to reveal pricing details for these models. With the 2023 model-year Sierra 1500 AT4X priced at $83,545, we suspect this heavy-duty brute will start around $90,000. After all, full-size trucks now double as luxury items and workhorses, bolstering the bottom line for GMC, as well as Chevrolet.
Would you choose the gasoline V8 or the turbodiesel V8? Please share your thoughts below.
A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a 2003 Honda Nighthawk 750 street parked in his South Brooklyn community.
