This is Andre’s first “hands-on” review of the capable GMC Canyon AT4X AEV.
Simply put, the GMC Canyon AT4X AEV is one of the most capable off-road pickup trucks the brand has ever built. Sure, GMC builds other capable off-roaders like the Hummer EV and the Sierra AT4X (in both half-ton and HD varieties). But with its size, maneuverability and toughness, I think this midsize Canyon AT4X the best. With the AEV-specific upgrades which Andre gets into in the video below, the combination of parts that separate it from GM’s everyday trucks makes this the best offering of the bunch, in my opinion.
This version of the Canyon already starts off with the most powerful powertrain available. Thanks to a 2.7-liter turbocharged “High Output” four-cylinder engine, this AT4X AEV makes 310 horsepower and a 430 lb-ft. of torque. Just a few years back, you could only manage such numbers with a V8 — definitely not the powertrain you’d get in a midsize truck. Hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission, this GMC is one of the most powerful midsize trucks we’ve tested so far.
In addition to the driver-selectable front and rear electronic-locking differentials, the wider-track AT4X has the lauded Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers. They feature three separate spool valves to control damping and three connected chambers for fluid flow.
American Expedition Vehicles, for its part, brings in the tougher off-road armor, rock sliders and bumpers. There are special wheels and larger tires, aimed to improve the truck’s capability well beyond the standard AT4X. In addition, there are available underbody cameras. There’s also an available head-up display, along with Google Built-In and more.
In this video, Andre shows us many of the highlights that make the GMC Canyon AT4X AEV special:
