GMC made waves when it launched the 2023 GMC Sierra. The revamped truck aimed to fix all of its interior woes while still updating other aspects of the Sierra formula that have made it a sales success for decades (this author grew up with a 1991 Bahama Blue-hued example.) The one question that remained unanswered was how the truck would fare in the rugged backwoods? GMC and American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) have finally delivered the answer with the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition.
AT4X AEV Edition, Rugged And Ready For Work
The moniker is a mouthful to say when compared to its Chevy sibling, but the AEV Edition takes the AT4X package and elevates it to a higher level. The exterior styling, for example, is slightly tweaked with steel front and rear bumpers replacing the stock units, while five Boron steel skid plates now adorn the underside of the truck. The front grille is also tweaked and there’s even a spot in the powder-coated steel bumper for a winch if owners choose to add one to the truck. Gloss black accents are slathered onto the 18-inch AEV sourced Salta wheels and the black accents are also seen in other areas of the truck.
Slip inside, and not much has changed, but AEV logos are found on the headrests and floormats, while all AEV Editions come with the AT4X’s “Obsidian Rush” interior color palette, which translates to a mixture of white and black leather accents. The look is supposed to symbolize the inner balance that GMC is trying to create in its products, especially in regards to capability and comfort.
Stampeding The Trail
With the bulk of the changes taking place on the performance side of the spectrum, it should come as no surprise that the AEV Edition brings plenty of muscle to the off-roading segment. Power comes from the familiar 6,2 liter V8, which makes 420 hp and is also mated to a 10-speed automatic. However, the real changes are in the way AEV enhanced some of the truck’s other performance stats. The Multimatic DSSV spool valve dampers are still there, but the revised bumpers have increased ground clearance slightly with the AEV Edition now boasting 11.2 inches of clearance and an improved 32.5-degree approach angle and a tweaked 23-degree breakover angle. The Salta wheels are mounted onto massive 33-inch mud-terrain tires.
“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.”
While this model is not a formal Raptor fighter, look for it to be a viable contender against the Ram Power Wagon as well as The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. GMC is also promising that more is in store for the AT4 lineup as a whole over the next few years and it will be interesting to see if GM chooses to finally respond to the Raptor and the Ram TRX during that period of time.
When Can I Buy An AEV Edition?
The truck made its debut at the Overland Expo Pacific Northwest but buyers will have to wait a bit for their chance to get behind the wheel with GMC confirming that the truck will make its way to dealerships in late 2023. When it does, the AEV Edition will be sold alongside the standard AT4X model and GMC is hoping that the duo will generate a patent net of sales, especially for owners looking for the perfect combination of capability and comfort.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.