With the Silverado ZR2 arriving for the 2022 model year, it was all but expected that GMC would bring a fancier version to market. Now with the 2023 AT4X that idea has come to fruition.
Exterior
One thing that really sets the AT4X apart from other high end off-roaders is the understated exterior. Yes, there are a few tell tale signs like the Duratrac tires and rock rails, but overall the AT4X looks just like the AT4. There are no crazy exterior graphics or wide body cladding to tell the 2023 AT4X apart from a regular AT4, and we like that.
Up front is a large black GMC grill with a chrome lined red GMC badge. Of course the tow hooks are red, signifying that this is an off-roader. In the lower driver’s side of the grill is an AT4X badge, which is really the only cue from the front.
Moving down the side there are two badges here. On the upper front fender is a 6.2L V8 badge and on the lower driver’s door is an AT4X badge. The 32-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs wrap around 18-inch gloss black 12 spoke wheels aluminum.
Around back sits the Multi-Pro tailgate with Kicker audio system. Below that are the corner bumper steps, which is one of our favorite features for bed access. There is an AT4X badge in the lower right corner of the tailgate denoting what this truck really is.
The final AT4X logo on the exterior is molded into the front of the bed. Speaking of the bed, we love GM truck beds which have optimized space with a significant amount of tie down options.
Interior
Inside, the AT4X is top tier. GMC’s new interior is excellent and works well here. The infotainment screen and center stack are oriented toward the driver for ease of use. There are physical buttons for the climate control and volume, but no tune knob.
Included on the 2023 AT4X are heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, heated outboard rear seats, a head up display, trailer camera wiring, and a rearview camera mirror. It is nearly a Denali Ultimate inside.
At the bottom of the center stack are nine toggle switches. These control everything from lane keep assist and auto stop start to down hill assist and differential lockers. While there are a lot of switches overall, they are laid out in an easy to use manner.
Seating is comfortable and roomy both front and rear. The rear is so roomy that an adult can pass between a rear facing car seat and the front seats with little effort.
Of course the most capable off-roader in GMC’s lineup needs massaging seats. Those are a must have on the trail. In all seriousness, the many standard features of the AT4X are very nice. On the other hand many people don’t want them and would prefer a more budget friendly option. For this there is the Silverado ZR2, but even then, it is very well equipped. Those looking for a more budget friendly option may need to look at the Colorado ZR2 or Ram Tradesman Power Wagon.
Driving the AT4X
On Road
On pavement the 2023 AT4X is very smooth and comfortable. Multimatic’s DSSV shocks tend to work well in all situations. As the quote goes, a jack of all trades is a master of none, but still better than a master of one. They provide a good off-pavement ride without sacrificing on road stability. However, they can’t hide their off-road capability. When compared to the magnetic ride control shocks on the Denali Ultimate, the on road ride isn’t as controlled. There is a little bit of a floaty feel and lean in the corners. Some of this is due to the tires with more sidewall, but the shocks play a major role in that.
Power is great from the 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 ft-lbs of torque. A well tuned 10-speed transmission is the only option. Getting up to speed and passing at highway speeds are non-issues. Grade braking is also built in where the transmission will downshift to help slow the vehicle on long grades, reducing brake wear.
The AT4X is big, but not as extreme as the Raptor and TRX. This pays off both around town and on tight trails. Tight parking stalls and skinny lanes do require extra effort, but we didn’t have any issues.
Off Pavement
Leaving the well beaten path is where the DSSV shocks really shine. Up front the independent suspension limits travel, but the shocks compensate for this very well. Somehow the shocks are tuned so that topping and bottoming them out is done very smoothly and in a controlled manner. Going over larger bumps at high speeds may cause a wheel to leave the ground. In this scenario both the lift off and landing are so smooth that it’s hard to notice that the tire was ever in the air.
Being smaller than the Raptor and TRX helps the AT4X on tighter trails. Also the inclusion of the front locker is beneficial in some situations. We never struggled to climb anything in our tests with the competitors, but it’s nice having that option.
Pricing
With a base MSRP of $77,500 the 2023 GMC AT4X is very well equipped. Our tester had two options, the $495 Desert Sand Metallic paint, and the $1,195 rock rails. Adding in the destination charge of $1,795 brings the total to $80,935. Compared to a Ford Raptor or Ram TRX the AT4X is in the ballpark. However, when equipped with similar interior features the AT4X comes in a little bit less than the other two.
Conclusion
To answer the question in the title, yes the 2023 AT4X is a luxury truck and yes it is an off-roader. GMC tends to produce similar models to Chevy but with added luxury. The AT4X does this with the already well appointed Silverado ZR2. The top dog for interior luxury in GM’s truck lineup is still the Denali Ultimate, but the AT4X is not far from it. On the other side of that, the AT4X and Silverado ZR2 are the only factory half ton trucks to come with front and rear locking differentials.
Matthew Barnes is an experienced towing expert. He works as a mechanical engineer and his day job involves testing a variety of vehicles while towing trailers of all types and sizes. Matt shares his knowledge by writing for automotive news outlets in the evenings. When he’s not working he can be found spending time in the great outdoors with his family. He enjoys camping, hiking, canyoneering, and backpacking. Whenever possible he spends time riding in or on any power sports vehicle he can find and claims he can drive anything with a motor, which probably isn’t true.
Matt lives in the Utah mountains and often posts cool off-roading videos to his Instagram and YouTube channel.