{"id":31326,"date":"2023-08-10T16:11:22","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T20:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=31326"},"modified":"2023-08-11T16:15:32","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T20:15:32","slug":"payne-x-ploring-the-envelope-in-the-gmc-sierra-at4x","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2023\/08\/payne-x-ploring-the-envelope-in-the-gmc-sierra-at4x","title":{"rendered":"Payne: X-ploring the envelope in the GMC Sierra AT4X"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Flint<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 The GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition is the truck brand\u2019s summit. X for X-treme.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">On a weekend road trip up north, the pickup moved furniture, took the family to the movies and mixed it up off-road with ATVs. Next time, I\u2019ll be sure to ford Lake Huron. What makes the AT4X AEV special is the extraordinary performance capabilities that make it a contender in the V8-powered supertruck wars alongside the Ford F-150 Raptor R, Chevy Silverado ZR2 and Ram Rebel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">I love GM\u2019s other eight-piston performance vehicles \u2014 the Chevy Corvette and Camaro ZL1 \u2014 but try renting a race track on the way home for exercise. On my way back from Charlevoix, I took a detour off I-75 for fun at The Mounds ORV Park. I paid my $15 Genesee County Parks &amp; Recreation fee. Aired the 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain tires down to 21 PSI (from 42).<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Released the Kraken.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/f1ca702c-33c3-47a5-9685-13a81e67695f-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_mounds-fr3-4.jpg?width=990&amp;height=558&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" width=\"550\" height=\"310\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>ROOOOWWWRRR!<\/em>\u00a0The beast roared as it gulped real estate across The Mounds\u2019 sandy trails like a \u201cDune\u201d movie sandworm.\u00a0<em>SPLOOOOSSHHHHH!<\/em>\u00a0It emerged from a pool of muddy water left by weekend downpours.\u00a0<em>WHOMP!<\/em>\u00a0Its nose plowed into a sea of sandy moguls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Moguls, of course, are meant for nimble dirt bikes, not 18-foot-long pickups. Happily, the AT4X AEV was armed to the teeth with five Boron steel skid plates that absorbed the brutality of the impact from my overzealous driving. Modulating the throttle, I negotiated the remaining moguls thanks to quick-reacting triple-spool-valve shocks \u2014 tools developed by IMSA race shop Multimatic, for goodness sake.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-2\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">After a half-hour of this nonstop violence, I stood back to admire my beast of burden. For all its ruggedness, it\u2019s hardly a spiked, post-Apocalyptic warthog from \u201cMad Max: Fury Road.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Standing 11.2 inches off the ground in a black-and-blood-red suit \u2014 its handsome mug framed by a steel jaw and C-clamp LED running lights \u2014 Sierra AT4X AEV commands respect. Like Shaq walking through your dinner party, the truck turned heads all weekend in Charlevoix, a pickup-choked county with no shortage of head-turning rigs.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/3f83c480-9e3b-43d0-b2a1-529340a23f98-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_mounds-rr3-4-low.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition uses sophisticated, Multimatic shocks to negotiate the gnarly terrain at off-road parks like The Mounds.\" width=\"555\" height=\"313\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/3f83c480-9e3b-43d0-b2a1-529340a23f98-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_mounds-rr3-4-low.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/3f83c480-9e3b-43d0-b2a1-529340a23f98-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_mounds-rr3-4-low.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition uses sophisticated, Multimatic shocks to negotiate the gnarly terrain at off-road parks like The Mounds.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition uses sophisticated, Multimatic shocks to negotiate the gnarly terrain at off-road parks like The Mounds.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">GMC\u2019s partnership with AEV (American Expedition Vehicles) adds serious details to the AT4X\u2019s already formidable toolbox, as well as $6,895 to its bottom line. X for X-pensive. They include twin locking differentials, steel bumpers (with optional front winch out front) and a front approach angle of 32.8 inches. But it\u2019s the underbelly Boron plates that are truly impressive. They look as if they could survive a cruise missile hit.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-3\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" data-x-c=\"2\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">None of this weaponry detracts from the GMC\u2019s interior luxury. I performed my off-road stunts with my luggage intact \u2014 computer bag, suitcase, tennis bag secured behind the front seats. There\u2019s more storage in the rear seat backs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">I love a good V-8, and, when I picked up the GMC, my ears were still ringing from the supercharged, 710-horse 5.0-liter Revology Shelby Mustang GT500 V-8 I\u2019d flogged a few days before in Ann Arbor (my apologies to residents for their shattered windows). A throwback to the Dream Cruise glory days, the Mustang retro-mod\u2019s engine fills the cabin with unfiltered sound.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\">\n<div class=\"label\" hidden=\"\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"message\">\n<div class=\"title\">Get the\u00a0<span class=\"highlight\">Michigan Politics<\/span>\u00a0newsletter in your inbox.<\/div>\n<p class=\"description\">Washington and Lansing, red and blue, we&#8217;ve got your government covered.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frequency\">Delivery: Daily<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"input-container populated\"><input autocomplete=\"off\" name=\"email\" required=\"\" type=\"email\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"clickable\"><\/div>\n<p><label>Your Email<\/label><\/div>\n<div id=\"bar\">\n<div class=\"highlight\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"progress-primary\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"progress-secondary\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">AT4X\u2019s V-8 has even more displacement (6.2 liters), yet is a velvet hammer by comparison. Reflecting GMC pickups\u2019 status as a new breed of 21<sup>st<\/sup>\u00a0century luxury, the V-8 is muffled by layers of sound-deadening that make the cabin a sanctuary over long road trips.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/2deed089-1208-4320-9faa-bcaac79cf0e3-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_int.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The palatial interior of the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition includes wireless charging, dual digital screens, sunroof and lots of console storage.\" width=\"445\" height=\"251\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/2deed089-1208-4320-9faa-bcaac79cf0e3-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_int.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/2deed089-1208-4320-9faa-bcaac79cf0e3-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_int.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The palatial interior of the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition includes wireless charging, dual digital screens, sunroof and lots of console storage.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The palatial interior of the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition includes wireless charging, dual digital screens, sunroof and lots of console storage.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">My driveway is a rotating buffet of meaty test vehicles, and my road trip choices were the four-wheel-drive Sierra AT4X or an electric AWD Toyota bZ4X Limited. With furniture moving on my Charlevoix agenda, the pickup got the nod \u2014 but it also proved more convenient.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">With a family dinner to make up north, the 355-mile range Kraken made the trip in 4.05 hours (including a 10-minute pit stop for gas), while the 228-mile range Toyota would have required 4.5 hours due to an anticipated 55-minute stop at a fast charger (assuming no waits at the Shell charger in West Branch, which has but two ports). Credit the EV as cheaper to fuel over the 250-mile journey at $30 in charging fees versus $73 for the thirsty, 14-mpg pickup.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-4\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" data-x-c=\"3\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Encased in the Sierra\u2019s inner sanctum, I enjoyed an easy journey despite stormy weather. Rain and wind battered the truck, which stayed the course like a four-wheeled ocean liner. Twin digital screens are state-of-the-art \u2014 as are the head-up display and wireless Android Auto that guided my journey.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/8e6cfe1e-757c-408f-a211-7ac3e99005fd-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_mounds-boron-fr-plate.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The rugged Boron plates on the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition's underbelly protected it from hard hits in The Mounds ORV Park.\" width=\"516\" height=\"291\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/8e6cfe1e-757c-408f-a211-7ac3e99005fd-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_mounds-boron-fr-plate.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/8e6cfe1e-757c-408f-a211-7ac3e99005fd-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_mounds-boron-fr-plate.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The rugged Boron plates on the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition's underbelly protected it from hard hits in The Mounds ORV Park.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The rugged Boron plates on the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition's underbelly protected it from hard hits in The Mounds ORV Park.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">As a GM product, the GMC also benefits from industry-leading ergonomics. All the controls I needed were at my fingertips on the steering wheel. Volume control and radio station controls? On the back of the wheel at 3 and 6 o&#8217;clock. Adaptive Cruise Control buttons? Use the scroll button in the left quadrant. Vehicle information like tire pressures? Scroll-wheel in the right quadrant was at the ready. These ergonomics are shared across other GM brands, and all benefit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Absent was GM\u2019s SuperCruise self-driving feature, which would have made the interstate drive even easier, but Sierra did have GMC\u2019s Swiss-Army-knife-like MultiPro tailgate ($1,200 addition).<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The gate has six configurations depending on your tailgating needs \u2014 and we used its step feature to walk into the tailgate and load the pieces of a bed. The AT4X model is available only in Crew Cab\/short box configuration.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-5\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" data-x-c=\"4\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">As the sun set, we set off for the movies in Petoskey with plenty of room for four. My wee wife and daughter-in-law, it should be said, struggled a bit with the beast\u2019s height \u2014 kinda\u2019 like trying to climb on Shaq\u2019s shoulders. The AT4X eschews the running boards of other expensive trucks to maximize off-road ground clearance, and Mrs. Payne practically had to pole-vault into the front seat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Once inside, the cooled GMC\u2019s thrones were cozy on a warm June summer\u2019s night. And GM has adopted Mazda-style, single-action vents for easy HVAC.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/5cd60c12-8215-4403-bf21-e7ceaa5e607b-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_tires-air-down.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The Mounds ORV Park offers an air hose so you can air down the 33-inch tires on the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition for better traction.\" width=\"484\" height=\"273\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/5cd60c12-8215-4403-bf21-e7ceaa5e607b-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_tires-air-down.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" srcset=\"\/gcdn\/presto\/2023\/08\/08\/PDTN\/5cd60c12-8215-4403-bf21-e7ceaa5e607b-GMCSierraAT4XAEV_tires-air-down.jpg?width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" alt=\"The Mounds ORV Park offers an air hose so you can air down the 33-inch tires on the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition for better traction.\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_em_img_ccw gnt_em_img_ccw__cap gnt_em_img_ccw__crd\" data-c-caption=\"The Mounds ORV Park offers an air hose so you can air down the 33-inch tires on the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition for better traction.\" data-c-credit=\"Henry Payne, The Detroit News\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">For all of its off-road macho, the AT4X AEV was a gentle giant to ride on-road thanks to its talented shocks and chassis. In keeping with its Camaro and Corvette performance brethren, GMC and Chevy trucks sport highly-engineered chassis dynamics that allow for spirited driving on country roads.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Assuming you have the permission of the other passengers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">And when you\u2019re the only one aboard the Sandworm, well, don\u2019t be shy about taking a detour to an off-road park. Maybe I\u2019ll explore Silver Lake dunes next time.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-6\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" data-x-c=\"5\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Next week: Class of 1997 \u2013 the New Dream Cruise Classics<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">2023 GMC Sierra AT4X<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Vehicle type: Front-engine, four-wheel-drive four-door pickup<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Price: $83,595, including $1,895 destination charge ($91,085 AEV as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Powerplant: 6.2-liter V-8<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Power: 420 horsepower, 460 pound-feet of torque<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Transmission: 10-speed automatic<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Performance: 0-60 mph, 6.1 seconds (Motor Trend); towing, 8,900 pounds; 1,420-pound payload<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Weight: 5,974 pounds (as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Fuel economy: EPA est. 14 mpg city\/17 highway\/15 combined<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong>Report card<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Highs: Formidable off-road; easy interior ergonomics (once you\u2019ve climbed a ladder to get in)<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<div id=\"ad-slot-7103-mi-detroit-C1561-native-article_link-money-autos-7\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" data-x-c=\"6\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Lows: Big footprint in the city; big price tag<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Overall: 4 stars<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Flint\u00a0\u2014 The GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition is the truck brand\u2019s summit. X for X-treme. On a weekend road trip up north, the pickup moved furniture, took the family to the movies and mixed it up off-road with ATVs. Next time, I\u2019ll be sure to ford Lake Huron. What makes the AT4X AEV special is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31326"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31326"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31327,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31326\/revisions\/31327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}