Rock

The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X has big 33" tires, a leather-clad interior, and a big V8 engine. It also has a big $80,000 price tag.

Whoa. Just whoa. From the features to the capabilities to the price tag, everything about this truck is big. GMC wowed us last year with the GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate as an ultra-lux construction-site workhorse and they raise the bar with this 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X.

This ready-to-shred truck shows up and shows off with rugged gear to set it apart from the (now) lesser AT4. With features like a Boron steel front approach skid plate, 33" mud-terrain tires, 2" lift, suspension tuning to allow more travel, front and rear e-locking diffs while also sporting a luxurious interior, this truck is ready to party.

But will the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X be the ideal work truck for a tuxedo-clad construction foreman with a site on top of the King Of The Hammers, or just be another attractive "look what I can do but probably won't" vehicle. We wanted to see for ourselves.

The truck category has exploded that past few years with automakers crafting all sorts of versions from even offering ultra-lux like the Toyota Tundra Capstone, and ultra powerful 702-hp Ram 1500 TRX. Thankfully, they have been paying attention to style as much as substance. Case-in-point, the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X. Our crew cab, short box, 4WD Summit White AT4X rolled up looking like The Rock after a training session. The knobby 33" Goodyear Wrangler territory mud-terrain tires showed off the extra 2" lift, the rock rails, and the bright red tow hooks instantly drew looks. We found other GMC AT4 drivers on the road eyeing our prized upgrade. It costs nearly $15,000 more for the "X" after the "AT4." Clearly, we are winning at life.

Starting up front, there are bright red tow hooks, large LEDs, and a massive grill. This unique piece of vertical art with gloss black uppers and nickel inserts puts up a middle finger to any hope of aero-effeciency. That brick design is why the window sticker predicts you'll drop about $10,250 in fuel each year! Yikes.

Badges proclaiming "AT4X" on the front grill and front doors let everyone know this is that extra-extra goodness. GMC also likes to plaster the size of the engine at the base of the A-pillar and hood--so we also shouted about the 6.2-liter V8 (more about performance later).

As we walked around toward the bed, we liked the step sides, Multipro tailgate with Bluetooth Kicker audio integrated into the last step, and the spray-on bedliner. There are also LED lights in the truck bed to illuminate your payload or the giant "AT4X" logo when it's a little dark outside. Pretty sweet.

And if for some reason the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X isn't enough rolling bravado for you, new for 2023, GMC has introduced an AEV package making the AT4X even more of a beast. It's available on most of the Sierra 1500 trims, including the AT4X. This list of upgrades brings even more off-road accessories such as AEV stamped steel bumper with winch capabilities, five (instead of one) hot-stamped Boron steel skid plates, unique grill, 18" AEV Salta wheels, and more. GMC is doubling down on the idea people will spend more than $80,000 on a rock climbing luxo-pickup. And we think they will sell like crazy because it's not just the looks that impress, but the performance.

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As automakers have leaned more into the truck segment, they have also been offering lots of variations. You can build your 2023 GMC Sierra 1500, for instance, as a regular cab, double cab, or crew cab. The beds can be standard, short, or long. Most configurations can be either 2WD or 4WD (curious who would get a huge pickup and make it only two-wheel drive?), and a suite of engine options. From a 310 hp 2.7-liter turbo, to 355 hp 5.3-liter V8, to the only engine option in the AT4X, the naturally aspirated 420 hp 6.2-liter V8 (but we still want that supercharged life!). If you want diesel, you are in luck. A 3.0-liter turbo diesel brings 305 hp but a whopping 495 lb-ft of torque. Oof!

That growling, rumbling 6.2-liter V8 on our 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X brought enough power to keep us happy. Being a naturally aspirated V8, it wasn't "quick" but after the 10-speed transmission started clicking through we rode the wave of power to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds. We were too busy making sure we didn't run over a building to look at our watch, but that was the unofficial time. Quite impressive.

That big V8 and AWD set up will allow for up to 13,000 lbs of towing; more than adequate for most weekend warriors. All those pistons firing gargled the 24-gallon gas tank pretty quickly. We averaged about 14 MPG over our week of mostly suburban driving.

As for the driving experience, the ride height is fantastic, and the boxy cab provided great visibility. Looking over the giant hood, however, took a little getting used to. We relied on the 360 parking camera system every time we pulled into or out of a space. Having that extra 2" lift didn't seem like much, but without a step-side, we were always using the grab handles to pull ourselves up.

That extra 2" lift not only made it harder to get into the truck, but the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X leaned more when making turns. That's partly the higher center of gravity, but also the adjusted suspension primed for rugged trails. Not a deal breaker, but worth noting. In terms of actual off-roading, with a week of heavy rain in GA, we weren't able to get to a proper off-road park to test it, so we'll have to rely on GMC's spec sheets.

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If you've never been in a luxurious truck like the 2022 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate, you might think the creature comforts of the rugged-looking AT4X would be sparse. You'd be wrong. The seats alone deserve a photo spread. They are heated/ventilated/massaging, full-grain leather, contrast stitching and piping. With all that and the ability to adjust the seat 16 ways, plus the power steering column, it was easy to find our perfect position. GMC kindly angled the buttons and 13.4" touchscreen toward the driver, making things even more user-friendly.

The rest of the luxo-truck interior features Vanta ash wood inserts, microsuede headliner, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint sound system. They also have floor mats with a mix of cloth and rubber. Rugged enough for daily wear and tear, but nice enough they scream: "KEEP YOUR MUDDY BOOTS OUT!"

The center console has convenient buttons for auto start-stop, drop the tailgate, lock the diffs, and a GIANT storage space with a wireless charging pad. The 12.3" digital dash is crisp, but we loved the 13.4" touchscreen with Google built in. Having Google as the bones of the system meant it was quick, responsive, and anything we would ask Siri or Alexa we could also ask Google. Not only will this system tell you the weather, but you can adjust various car controls as well. We loved this feature because in a truck this big, we found keeping our eyes, hands, and attention on driving was helpful.

We also appreciated how GMC remembered the passengers in the back with heated seats, USB-C charge ports, and tons of space for adults, kids or cargo. The 60/40 split seats in the back lift up for under-seat storage, and the rear seat-backs have hidden compartments for storage as well. Really cool.

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We loved the AT4X. No question. But what's crazy isn't how pricey and capable this off-roader is, but how many other options you have. The luxury truck market is booming. The sibling Chevy Silverado ZR2, the Dodge Ram TRX, or even the OG Ford F-150 Raptor all offer variations on the AT4X. Some have more powerful engines, others are a little smaller and less lux, but ultimately, you have choices...if you also have close to $100K.

Of course, now there is also the wave of EV trucks starting to roll in. We tested the Ford Lightning and loved it. Also coming up is the Silverado EV, and even the GMC Sierra EV. They all have big price tags as well. It seems like the budget, rough and tumble construction-site truck might become a thing of the past. But if you do have a cool $80,000 lying around, you should pick up your AT4X while you can, even if you aren't a tuxedo-clad construction foreman with a site on top of the Hammers.

Bradley Hasemeyer is an Emmy-Award winning host, father and lover of station wagons. As a child, Bradley and his father would walk around car lots after they closed in order to explore cars without annoying salesmen interruptions, watched VHS tapes of F1 races and try to ID cars at night based on their tail lights. His father would always win. This early love of all things automotive led Bradley to spend more than 15 years in the industry as a journalist, host and consultant. For more than 150+ episodes, he helmed the Autoblog show Translogic while also writing for and producing videos for various outlets like Gear Patrol, Road & Track and Business Insider. When not internally obsessing over his next wagon purchase, he can be found chasing his 2-year old son around the yard, strategically negotiating with his 8-year old over screen time and helping his wife find her phone (we got a Tile!).