It’s official: Pickup trucks have made the transition from work trucks to lifestyle accessories. It’s been a long time coming. I might trace it back to the 1980 John Travolta movie, Urban Cowboy. Travolta made his mark as a stylemaker with Saturday Night Fever in 1977, and Grease in 1978, so when he put on his cowboy hat and jumped in his F-150 in 1980, aspirational consumers followed suit. Light-duty pickups have gained steam in the mainstream ever since, and now represent the second-largest industry segment (behind crossover vehicles). Once the purview of tradesmen, pickup trucks are now daily transportation. And why not? Gas prices are low, fuel economy has improved, and two-row trucks are the norm. A double cab can be great transportation for a small family, and a crew cab can be outfitted with amenities that rival most SUVs. The next move for pickup trucks is toward higher prices and premium status.
2019 GMC Sierra AT4.Photo (c) GMC
Ford Motor Company has tried this move before, with middling success. Remember the Lincoln Blackwood (2002) and Mark LT (2006 – 2008) trucks? GM dipped a toe in with the Cadillac Escalade EXT (2002 – 2013), an upscale version of the Chevrolet Avalanche. Each of the major brands now has a premium trim level: Ford F-150 Platinum; Ram 1500 Limited; Chevrolet Silverado High Country; Nissan Titan Platinum Reserve; and Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition. All start over $50,000 except Tundra ($47,380).
GMC, of course, has the Sierra Denali starting at $56,195. The Denali trim level has helped push GMC closer and closer to premium brand status, as it has spread to each model that GMC offers. GMC straddles premium and non-premium right now, boasting that it has the highest average transaction price of any non-premium brand.
2019 GMC Sierra AT4.Photo (c) GMC
Sierra has received a complete makeover for 2019, including an all-new trim level, AT4, which they are billing as “premium off-road.” Starting at $52,295, the 2019 GMC Sierra AT4 comes with a unique set of features and benefits, most notably a factory-installed two-inch suspension lift kit. Other standard features on the AT4 include: 4WD with a two-speed transfer case and locking rear differential; skid plates; Rancho monotube shock absorbers; 18-inch wheels in an exclusive design with all-terrain tires; Hill Descent Control; Traction Select System; red vertical recovery hooks; and a 5.3-liter V8 engine. It’s possible to add optional Multi-Color Head-Up Display, Rear Camera Mirror, Carbon Fiber Box, advanced safety features (Surround Vision, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking and Low-Speed Forward Automatic Braking), and a 6.2-liter V6 gas engine or 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel.
Sierra's MultiPro Tailgate.Photo (c) GMC
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that AT4 comes standard with Sierra’s big selling advantage over its competition: the MultiPro Tailgate. If you haven’t seen this six-function tailgate for yourself yet, be prepared to be wowed. Instead of a monolithic, one-piece tailgate, AT4’s has an inner gate that folds and opens to provide easier access to the bed, a step to ease bed entry, a floor load stop, a second-tier load stop, and an elevated work surface. It’s a smart, simple execution – so smart that you’ll wonder why it took so long for someone to come up with it. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that other manufacturers are scrambling to come up with their own unique tailgate iterations.
Another highlight on the Sierra that are included on the AT4’s gas engines is Dynamic Fuel Management, a new GM cylinder deactivation technology that has 17 cylinder activation combinations, and is said to optimize fuel efficiency without compromising performance.
2019 GMC Sierra AT4 dash.Photo (c) GMC
Climbing into the AT4 cabin – and it is a climb with that two-inch lift kit – and taking a ride confirms that the truck is quite well-equipped and edging toward premium. The current hallmarks of premium, a layered dash and visible stitching, are on display, and soft-touch materials abound. My test vehicle was a crew cab model equipped with the optional 6.2-liter gasoline engine, standard 10-speed automatic transmission and just about every option available – to the tune of $12,170 worth. The base price was $53,200, and the as-tested price rang up to $66,365 – certainly approaching luxury vehicle territory.
2019 GMC Sierra AT4 second row.Photo (c) GMC
For all of the options and features, there’s one glaring absence: radar cruise control. It’s not available on Sierra, and I’m not sure why GMC made the choice to leave it off, as it can be a very useful feature. The best explanation I got was that it didn’t match well with towing applications, but I’m not sure that I agree.
During my test drive, I got to experience Sierra on a wide variety of roads, from highways to curvy back roads, from dirt trails to school zones. I even got to explore the AT4’s capability on a short off-road course, where it used its sophisticated electronics to manage wheel spin while its brute force made short order of inclines and obstacles. I wish that the outward view over the big hood was better, as it’s not possible to see the front corners or bumper from the driver’s seat. It would be trial and error (and a few dings) for a while before I got the feel for it, so I’d recommend springing for the optional ($1,875) Technology Package, which includes an HD Surround Camera system.
2019 GMC Sierra AT4 wheel.Photo (c) GMC
I don’t know if John Travolta is still driving a pickup truck. I suspect he’s too busy flying his jet and being chauffeured to the set to bother. But the new 2019 GMC Sierra AT4 is a great multi-purpose tool for the modern urban cowboy, suitable for carpool runs and weekend adventures alike.
2019 GMC Sierra AT4 off-road.Photo (c) GMC
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