Off-road trims have become an increasingly popular way for automakers to spice up an existing SUV or pickup, but few brands can match the sheer scope of the GMC lineup. This comes as little surprise when you consider GMC’s unique approach to the market, with the automaker eschewing the typical sedans, coupes, and hatchbacks in favor of hardy trucks and SUVs that are designed to meet the rigors of the working world. By focusing solely on these segments, GMC has managed to gain the sort of experience that makes such a difference when it comes to creating a dedicated off-road vehicle.
Just look at the AT4 lineup available at your local GMC dealer. Originally introduced as an optional trim for the 2019 Sierra 1500, GMC has since expanded the off-road package to many of its most popular models, from the midsize Canyon pickup to the brand’s Yukon and Acadia SUVs. The company has built on this early success with an even more off-road-ready lineup of AT4X models that allow drivers to level up their game and tackle the toughest terrain with confidence. To help drivers choose between this growing stable of off-road trims, I have compiled a comprehensive power ranking of the eight AT4 and AT4X trims on offer for 2025. If you often find yourself daydreaming about fording creeks, scaling rocks, and kicking up a little mud, join us as we try to narrow down the right tool for the job.
#8 – Sierra HD AT4
Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to an off-road vehicle. While larger models do typically offer the sort of power it takes to excel on challenging terrain, an oversized ride tends to have a tough time navigating some of the tight turns and tricky maneuvers that come with off-road driving. For this reason and this reason alone, the Sierra HD AT4 occupies the lowest spot on our list of 2025 GMC AT4 models. The trim’s available 6.6-liter V8 gives the heavy-duty truck plenty of power with 401 ponies and 464 lb-ft of torque on tap, but the Sierra HD AT4’s pure heft works against it with the pickup tipping the scales at more than three tons. That sort of bulk can present some problems when you’re trying to dig yourself out of an unexpectedly deep mud pit, though the Sierra HD AT4 does make up for its size with 3500 HD offering up to 17,300 lbs of max towing capacity.
Whether you choose the 2500 or 3500 HD, the AT4 trim comes complete with a full slate of off-road goodies from BFGoodrich off-road tires and a custom suspension package with twin-tube Rancho shocks and robust skid plates to an available 15-inch heads-up display with an integrated inclinometer that’ll help you keep right side up when things get tipsy.
#7 – Yukon AT4
Like the Sierra HD AT4, the Yukon AT4 loses a few points due to its size. The full-size model is a great option for busy families who are in the market for an ample SUV that can seat up to eight passengers, but at 17.5 feet and 5,800 lbs, the Yukon AT4 is simply too large to compete with some of GMC’s smaller AT4 and AT4X offerings. The Yukon AT4’s 5.3-liter V8 delivers 355 hp, though you can always upgrade to the 420-hp 6.2-liter V8 if you’re in the market for a more potent powertrain.
The AT4 package features 20-inch wheels with Goodyear all-terrain tires and a front skid plate that’ll protect vital underbody components from the ravages of the trail, but it’s the Yukon exclusive Four-Corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension that might represent its most alluring off-road feature. Designed to soak up all the bumps and dips that come with off-road driving, the GMC’s air ride suspension was the first such offering in the full-size SUV segment. The Yukon AT4 Ultimate trim also joins the lineup for 2025, adding some luxury touches to the off-road model that range from massaging front seats and open-pore wood trim to full-grain leather seating and more.
#6 – Acadia AT4
The three-row GMC Acadia SUV blurs the line between the full and midsize segments, offering spacious seating for up to seven without taking up as much space as the larger Yukon. It’s a satisfying middle ground that allows the Acadia to serve as a reliable family vehicle that prioritizes efficiency without sacrificing power or passenger/cargo capacity, but how does its AT4 trim stack up against the rest of the 2025 lineup?
The off-road models are equipped with an Active Torque Control all-wheel drive system specifically tuned for traversing the road less traveled, along with an upgraded suspension, steel skid plate, and recovery hooks that are sure to come in clutch if you find yourself mired in the muck. All-terrain tires are wrapped around 18-inch wheels, while a modest lift allows the AT4 to ride one inch higher than the typical Acadia. The Acadia AT4 also sets itself apart with an exclusive dark-accented exterior and Forest Storm interior with mahogany accents and Night Rider chrome details that gives the SUV a distinct look.
#5 – Sierra HD AT4X
While the Sierra 2500 and 3500 HD AT4X are held back by their size, they do bring a full arsenal of off-road equipment to the mix. GMC has pulled out all the stops to grace the Sierra HD AT4X with some of the finest off-road equipment a truck could ask for, including Multimatic DSSV dampers, a rear electronic-locking differential, 35-inch Goodyear Territory MT tires, and thick steel skid plates for the transfer case and front end. The heavy-duty pickup also gains an extra 1.5 inches in height thanks to a factory suspension lift, and is packed with all the comfort and convenience features you’ll need to enjoy a long day out on the trail.
The Sierra HD AT4X features full-grain leather seating, a 12-speaker Bose Premium Series audio system with Centerpoint Surround Sound, and heated and ventilated front seats with 16-way power adjustment and a massage feature that’ll help work off those knots after a full day of trekking through your local off-roading hot spots.
#4 – Sierra 1500 AT4
With almost a quarter-million units sold each year, the GMC Sierra 1500 is easily GMC’s best-selling vehicle. It’s easy to understand the appeal of the full-size pickup, which packs a winning combination of power, utility and customization that few models can match. The Sierra 1500’s full-size designation might cost it a few points in our power rankings, but GMC has offset the truck’s generous dimensions with a comprehensive suite of off-road features as part of the AT4 package.
Experienced off-road drivers know that a little extra torque can make all the difference when you’re struggling to gain traction on slippery surfaces, so the Sierra 1500 AT4’s 3.0-liter Duramax turbo-diesel is a decidedly important upgrade. Churning out 495 lb-ft of torque, the Duramax diesel pairs with the two-speed Autotrac transfer case and automatic locking rear differential to give the Sierra 1500 all the grip it needs to conquer the toughest off-road conditions. The truck is also treated to a full complement of skid plates, Rancho monotube shocks, and a two-inch factory lift for added ground clearance, while an available CarbonPro composite bed ups Sierra’s cargo and payload capacity while better-resisting dents, dings, and scratches.
#3 – Sierra 1500 AT4X
There are certainly a lot of options to choose from, but if you’re in the market for the most off-road-capable GMC Sierra, the 1500 AT4X represents the obvious leader. The full-size pickup features the same 305-hp Duramax diesel engine as the AT4, but easily outshines the other off-road trim in terms of pure capability. The highlight would have to be the truck’s Multimatic DSSV dampers, which employ a novel spool valve design to offer dependable performance over a wide range of driving applications. The spool valve marks a notable upgrade over the normal piston and shim approach, offering strictly regulated damping action no matter what sort of obstacles the road might throw at you. The dampers can also be tuned to fit a wide range of off-road scenarios and are less sensitive to temperature changes than your garden-variety dampers.
The dampers alone would be enough to earn the Sierra 1500 AT4X a spot in the top three, but GMC has also designed the truck with a one-two punch of front and rear electronic-locking differentials that are a rarity in the full-size segment. The Sierra 1500 AT4X also comes with a stamped-steel front bumper and a stamped boron steel front skid plates thanks to the off-road experts at American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), who have teamed up with GMC to create some of the most rugged pickups in the automaker’s long history.
#2 – Canyon AT4
Of all the various vehicle segments and sizes, the midsize pickup is the clear frontrunner when it comes to off-road ability. While they’re large and powerful enough to handle the rigors of the trail, midsize models are also small enough to go where their full-size cousins wouldn’t dare, taking tight turns, climbing sheer rock faces and offering the sort of control that can mean the difference between a successful off-road excursion and one that ends in a humbling call to your local recovery service.
Improved fuel economy and generous approach, breakover, and departure angles will keep you on the trail for longer while reducing the risk of incurring a bruise of bottoming out, which is why the Canyon AT4 ranks as our second-most capable off-road GMC trim for 2025. The truck’s low starting price might raise some eyebrows, but the Canyon AT4 combines value and versatility into one satisfying package.
The trim comes standard with 4WD and an automatic locking rear differential, plus a two-speed Autotrac transfer case, a transfer case shield, and an Advanced Hill Descent Control feature that basically operates like a form of low-speed cruise control. The Canyon AT4 is also outfitted with a Drive Mode Selector system with dedicated settings for Normal, Terrain, Tow/Haul, and Off-Road applications, as well as GMC’s innovative MultiStow tailgate that adds a handy storage compartment to the back hatch.
#1 – Canyon AT4X (Package)
The 2025 Canyon AT4X is the undisputed king of the jungle, desert, forest, or whatever biome you might end up exploring on your next off-road adventure. No matter what sort of journey you might have in mind, this package available on the AT4X has everything you’ll need for some of the most unhinged off-road antics you can dream up. Front and rear electronic-locking differentials? Check. 33-inch MT tires with a full-size spare? Of course. Multimatic DSSV Dampers? Naturally. The Canyon AT4X provides a towering ride that’ll allow you to get a full view of the trail ahead while protecting the underbody from logs, rocks, and other off-road hazards with a three-inch factory lift, plus rocker protectors that’ll shield the body from debris that you don’t manage to dodge.
The truck is packed with some advanced interior tech that’ll help you to avoid some of the worst off-road outcomes, including an underbody camera and a Safety Alert driver’s seat that will automatically alert the pilot to the direction of a potential collision by sending a pulse through the upholstery. The AT4X also comes with a dedicated Baja mode that limits traction control and changes the truck’s throttle calibration and steering while activating Dynamic Performance Mode to improve the Canyon’s high-speed off-road performance.
The 2025 Canyon AT4X is also available with another optional package that adds a little style and substance to the already impressive trim. The AEV Edition Package equips the Canyon with plenty of protection thanks to its five hot-stamped boron steel skid plates, stamped steel front and rear bumpers, wheel flares, fender flares, and rear heavy-duty cast integrated recovery points. A 4.5-inch factory lift elevates the Canyon AT4X well off the trail while a power distribution box and auxiliary bank allow you to an air compressor, winch, or any other external accessories you might need to create your one-of-a-kind off-road machine. The AEV Edition Package also includes 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires paired with 17-inch beadlock-capable Salta wheels that give drivers the opportunity to air down in order to improve traction and float over loose surfaces.
Answer the Call of Adventure With GMC’s Extensive Off-Road Vehicle Selection
GMC’s eight AT4 and AT4X trims give drivers a wide range of muscular models to choose from, whether it be a heavy-duty pickup like the Sierra HD, the practical, efficient Acadia, best-selling Sierra 1500, or the undisputed off-road master that is the Canyon. Each model offers a unique mixture of off-road ability and everyday practicality, giving drivers a well-rounded daily driver that can get up to some serious exploration when the weekend hits. If you’re on the hunt for a smaller option, it might be worth waiting until 2026, when GMC’s compact Terrain crossover is set to rejoin the lineup with its own AT4 trim. This will be a great budget option that packs plenty of value with its AWD powertrain, front steel skid plate, and Traction Select System with Off-Road mode. No matter which model you choose, GMC’s AT4 and AT4X models are poised to provide plenty of off-road excitement.
