When you want to know if an off-road-focused truck stacks up to the rest, you take it to the scorching desert for some serious fun. The desert area of Southern California was the place where the new GMC Sierra AT4X showed what it’s made of. This truck passed the bar as an extremely fun truck to drive during any off-road situation, but does it stand up to the hardcore off-roaders from Ram and Ford?

What is the GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X?

Basically, the AT4X version of the Sierra turns things up several notches from the AT4 model. OffRoad Xtreme provides a comprehensive list of features for comparison. These are:

AT4 Off-Road Features

• 2-inch suspension lift
• 2-speed AutoTrac transfer case
• Red vertical recovery hooks
• Underbody skid plates
• 18-inch wheels
• 32-inch all-terrain Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires
• Full-size spare tire

AT4X Off-Road Features

• Specific off-road chassis and tuning
• Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers
• Uniquely tuned springs
• Grille-integrated camera
• Front and rear e-locking differentials
• Terrain Mode
• Larger steel transfer case skid plate and rocker protection

The added features of the AT4X change things to give this specialized truck the following qualities:

• Front suspension travel: 9.84 inches
• Rear suspension travel: 10.62 inches
• Ground clearance: 11.1 inches
• 3.23 axle ratio
• Approach angle: 25.5 degrees
• Departure angle: 23 degrees

Which GMC Sierra powertrain does the AT4X use?

The standard setup for this off-road-capable truck is the 6.2-liter V8 engine mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission. This allows for 420 horsepower, 460 lb-ft of torque, 1,420 pounds of payload, and towing up to 8,900 pounds. When heading out into a deep desert area, these numbers matter and offer the right power and capability for driving over rough terrain.

Does AT4X have super cruise?

The GMC media page offers us the information we desire. Both the AT4X and Denali Ultimate versions of the GMC Sierra 1500 include super cruise. This feature is a semi-autonomous system allowing drives to take their hands off the wheel for a few seconds while on mapped highways.

Does the GMC Sierra AT4X deliver enough off-road capabilities?

The typical off-roader will be more than pleased with the performance and features offered in the AT4X. This truck brings the comfort, quality, and capabilities that make driving on desert trails, through forested hills, or in a muddy lakebed a lot of fun. The positive takeaways from the OffRoad Xtreme test are:

• 420 horsepower is plenty
• Multimatic shocks are excellent
• Comfortable air-conditioned seats
• Front and rear eLockers make off-roading easier
• High-clearance exhaust
• MultiPro Tailgate with Kicker MultiPro Audio System made the off-road party better

Can this GMC truck keep up with the Raptor and TRX?

We look at the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX as dinosaurs ready to eat any other truck that brings an off-road challenge. Because the GMC Sierra AT4X runs the standard 6.2-liter V8 and it rides on 32-inch tires, it can’t compete with these two. The Ram and Ford trucks have more power and sit up a little higher.

The GMC truck doesn’t offer the tricked-out high clearance front bumper found in its Chevy counterpart. This is a strange omission from the features list. The drawbacks reported by OffRoad Xtreme are:

• Minimal ground clearance
• Small tire size
• Steering feeling was off
• Sluggish sprint speed
• Low payload number
• High price tag

How much does a GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X cost?

The starting price for this GMC truck is $77,395, but if you add a few options, it’s easy to reach $80,000 or more.

Should you buy this GMC pickup?

If you want the high level of comfort and GMC quality features the GMC Sierra AT4X could be the right off-road-focused truck for your desert adventures. When you want more power and ground clearance, look to the Raptor or TRX to fill your need for speed and height.