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The AEV treatment include unique steel bumpers, stronger skid plates, and 33-inch mud-terrain tires, among other features.
General Motors Co. (GMC) is a subsidiary of General Motors and controls several other well-known brands including Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet. They have been in business since 1911 and have gained a huge following for their focus on trucks and utility vehicles that are rugged and often off-road ready without sacrificing luxury.
One of the favorites produced by the company is the light duty Sierra 1500 pickup truck. Although the truck is worthwhile even standard, the 2022 model year introduced a trim – the AT4X, which GMC promised would be the “new peak of premium off-roading.”
Carrying on the tradition of that inaugural year, the 2023 iteration (offered in AT4X and AT4X AEV Edition), continues to bring some serious power and off-roading capabilities. The overland customizations on the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV don’t come at the cost of interior luxury or cargo space and are worth the upgrade costs.
Let’s take a closer look at why the 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 ATX AEV is an off-road beast!
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The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X is the most off-road capable model released by the company yet. Their answer to Chevrolet’s Silverado ZR2 and competition to the Ford F-150, the Sierra AT4X AEV edition has bolt-on hardware that, according to GMC, will be standard on every 2023 AT4X eventually. The upgrades from American Expedition Vehicles include special steel bumpers, increased ground clearance, bigger mud-terrain tires (33-inch), and tougher skid plates (hot-stamped boron steel).
The stronger skid plates are positioned to armorize critical components of the truck including the differential, transfer case, steering gear, and fuel tank. Stronger than their cold-stamped versions by 3.5 times, the plates will ensure that the underbody of the truck is protected from damage from rocks and even the roughest terrain.
Equipped with both front and rear e-lockers (something GMC boasts as the only competitor in the class), a factory two-inch suspension lift, and multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers with three separate valves with three connected chambers for fluid flow, the AT4X AEV is ready to rock the back country and is capable of taking on almost any terrain with relative ease.
The 32.5 degree front approach and 23.4 degree departure angles on the truck optimize the abilities of the Sierra as well. To further better recoveries, the truck comes with heavy-duty cast recovery points as well as the ability to add a front winch, which is again, something GMC claims no other half-ton pickup offers at this time.
Under the hood, the AEV edition comes with a 6.2-liter V8 capable of up to 420 horsepower connected to a ten-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Although pricing for the 2023 AEV Edition has not yet been announced as GMC says they intend to reveal that closer to the launch, the regular 2023 Sierra 1500 AT4X starts at just over $79,000, so you can expect the AEV Edition to come in at several thousand more over that.
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The rugged exterior and abilities of the Sierra 1500 AT4X are impressive, but the detail work that went into making sure that luxury in the interior and class in the exterior design also contribute to the overall magnificence of the truck. Additional features and technologies also enhance the capabilities of the truck.
The front seats of the pickup are equipped with a 16-way massage feature and the interior is outfitted with refined “Obsidian Rush” full-grain leather seats with double-needle stitching in red and white as well as technical-grained leather accents. The leather continues in the trim of the instrument panel and door panels as well, which are further accented with Authentic Vanta ash wood trim. The headliner is premium micro suede, as are the sun visors and pillars.
Controls for the 12-speaker Bose premium series with Centerpoint surround sound are included in the infotainment touchscreen displays - of which the truck has plenty, including “over 40-inches of combined driver-focused digital displays” according to GMC. The technology has also been updated to include “Terrain Mode” which is ideaL for off-road and low speed conditions. The mode enables extreme control with a higher level of precision that utilizes just GMC’s “one-pedal” rock-crawling driving (using only the accelerator).
There are also plentiful elements to brand the AEV as the spectacular and unique iteration that it is. AEV badging can be found throughout the vehicle on both the interior and exterior. AEV-racing inspired Salta wheels with a 12-spoke design and recessed valve stems as well as black tailgate accenting and gloss black door handles are also unique to the AEV version.
Overall, the upgrades and ultra-premium design of the 2023 Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV edition show that the truck has been designed with off-roading and all-terrain functionality in mind. GMC’s ability to offer premier parts and features alongside their refusal to compromise on interior luxury and exterior style show the new Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV to be an off-road beast worthy of taking on even the most challenging of terrains.
Nikia Hunt inherited her love of cars from her dad as she grew up watching him work in his garage on everything from classics to diesel trucks. Currently a huge fan of American muscle and off-road-ready vehicles and with an acute interest in the future in EVs, Nikia splits her time between writing for HotCars and teaching high school language arts. Nikia has many contributive works in several creative writing publications and holds a Master's degree in English with emphasis in Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.