The new GMC Canyon AT4X. Wow, that rock looks big. Should we turn it around? Not unless we want to jump off a cliff. We'll cover this one. A glance at the underbody camera helped guide us to the right line over the mini rocks, and the Canyon AT4X's Multimatic DSSV dampers helped with the articulation we needed to tackle the other big obstacles that littered the treacherous trail.
Trudging through the incredibly rugged Montana backcountry isn't something most people who buy a Canyon AT4X will do every day, but if they want or need to, it's nice to know that GMC's midsize truck has the firepower to catch up when the going gets tough. Firepower like the aforementioned Multimatic dampers, front and rear electronic locking differentials, 3.0-inch factory lift (aiding 36.9-degree approach and 24.5-degree departure angles), 10.7-inch ground clearance, Goodyear Wrangler MT tires 33 inches, and some skid plates.
AEV Edition Is AT4X Up To Max
Just in case that wasn't enough for you, GMC is also offering the more extreme 2024 Canyon AT4X AEV Edition, part of the onslaught of aftermarket equipment AEV (American Expedition Vehicles) is now offering across its trucks. line up. AEV has been a prominent parts provider for nearly three decades, and its partnership with General Motors (AEV has a similar arrangement with its Chevy ZR2 Bison-branded trucks) means you get a high-quality, factory-installed kit with a factory-backed warranty.
For the Canyon AT4X AEV Edition, that means a custom stamped steel AEV front bumper (winch capable) and rear with recovery points, a factory 4.5-inch lift (allowing for best-in-class 12.2-inch ground clearance), an even larger 35-inch The Goodyear (with a vertical spare arrangement in the bed) is wrapped in AEV beadlock-capable Salta wheels, a total of five Boron steel skid plates (AEV tells us that the Boron process makes the plates twice as strong as typical high-strength steel units), an electrical setup that Comes with cables for accessories, and AEV badges inside and out. The truck also has a more aggressive 38.2-degree approach angle, 26.9-degree breakover angle, and 26.0-degree departure angle compared to the AT4X.
We had the opportunity to spend some time with AEV chairman Dave Harriton, who founded the company nearly 30 years ago. He was impressed by GMC and GM's commitment in recent years to making their trucks off-road capable, and when they came to him to form a partnership, he was ready. AEV had a steep learning curve at first, integrating its parts into trucks built on factory lines. But now both partners are in the zone and releasing premium-looking, high-performance products.
Like every GMC Canyon model, the AT4X and AEV Edition are powered by a turbocharged 2.7-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic. While not quite class-leading, we felt it had more than enough power to motivate a truck weighing around 5,000 pounds. Located at four low points with crawl mode on, we didn't experience any issues walking up and down. Although peak torque comes a little late at 3,000 rpm, power feels plentiful at all speeds, all the time.
On the way down, we had a chance to ride the AEV Edition Canyon, and while much of the experience felt familiar, we felt a little more comfortable thanks to the additional 1.5 inches of lift over the Canyon AT4X we were riding. Mountain climbing. Obstacles we weren't sure about, we just rolled over knowing we had extra distance and Boron steel plates as backup (Harriton says Boron plates are arguably the best in the world at turning obstacles while staying in shape and not getting too badly damaged in the process).
We also had a chance to sample both Canyons (the specific AT4X we drove was a 2023 model, but is effectively the same truck for 2024) where they'll likely spend most of their time attacking the urban jungle, and the first thing you'll notice is how compliant the ride is, with big tires helping to absorb and smooth out road imperfections. At freeway speeds (the speed limit is 80 mph in Montana!), you'll hear some noise from those tires, but the cabin itself is overall well insulated, and it's a good place to spend time racking up the miles.
Along more winding routes, the steering felt a little lighter (not a surprise considering the off-road mission), but that's nothing we couldn't easily fix. Stomp on the throttle and the big four-banger sounds big under hard acceleration and almost non-existent at cruising speeds, with brakes that are strong and easy to modulate when you need to slow down.
The AT4X truck comes as a loaded model with almost all the options you could want from a high-end truck starting at just under 60 thousand dollars, as you'd expect from GMC. Inside, both wear white trim pieces (we're not sure we'd go that route if the truck's primary mission was trail hunting), with comfortable seating and other luxury touches. Among them is an 11.3-inch infotainment screen with Google and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, as well as a host of advanced driver assistance, safety, and other high-end comfort and convenience features.
While GMC hasn't officially announced pricing for the 2024 Canyon AEV Edition, we estimate it will cost about six thousand dollars more than the AT4X, which is priced at $57,000 before options. That's a big bag for a mid-size truck. But before you get into that, the AEV team is clear that if you just buy AEV accessories separately and bolt them on, you'll get twice the price. Then remember the AT4X's front and rear locking e-diffs, multimatic dampers, tires, lifters, etc., and suddenly it makes more sense. Of course, you could potentially buy a beater or build a late model truck and outfit it with some or all of that equipment, but you'd almost certainly be close to that price range, and you wouldn't have factory setup, warranty, or quality control. (Of course, there's also the existence of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2—it's mechanically identical to the AT4X and costs nearly $10,000 less, and offers even more AEV-like upgrades in the form of the ZR2 Bison.)
There's a case to be made for both, offering the unique looks of Chevys and some nicer finishes, and overall, the out-of-the-box capabilities of the Canyon AT4X and AEV Edition models likely trump the DIY approach. That said, while it's easy enough for us to get some work done during the day (thanks, GMC!), it's hard to see those shiny new machines beating it regularly. But if you enjoy driving your new truck off the showroom floor and onto bad roads, hitting and scratching them, this GMC is built to withstand and thrive in those conditions and drive you home in comfort afterward.
