2019 GMC Sierra AT4's Off-Road Performance Package Actually Adds Power

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

If you need to get somewhere off the beaten path just that much more quickly than The Other Guy – or maybe you simply want to one-up your neighbor and their new Sierra AT4 – GMC has an answer for you.

Despite being only about three seconds old, The General is already throwing a new package at the 2019 Sierra. Meant to layer on top of the off-road focused AT4 trim, this new option adds even more horses to the hand-of-god 6.2-liter V8.

And, for once, buyers actually save money by selecting the option package. Speed normally costs money – but not this time.

GMC says the Sierra AT4 Off-Road Performance Package has an MSRP of $4,940. For such a sum, owners will find themselves in possession of 15 extra horsepower and 9 lb-ft of torque, bringing output of the 6.2L to 435 hp and 469 units of twist. Bundled in the package are the 6.2L engine, GM’s cat-back performance exhaust system, and a performance air intake. A set of 275/65/18 Goodyear Wrangler M/T DuraTracs are part of the deal as well.

Breaking things down, those rubber hoops are available as a stand-alone option for just $295, which is a pretty good price all on its own. The performance air intake will set a buyer back $695 if they order it a la carte, while the cat-back performance exhaust system costs $1,595 all by itself.

Basic math teaches us that these items, already available on the GMC menu, tot up to $2,585. This means those who check the new AT4 Off-Road Performance Package option box are shelling out $2,355 for the hi-po “six-two.” If selected as a solo item, the stock 6.2L V8 adds $2,495 to the truck’s bottom line.

Save $90 and get more horsepower? We think that’s a good deal.

Introduced along with the rest of its high-trim models earlier this year, the AT4 is intended to compete with the Ram Rebel and its own half-brother, the Silverado Trail Boss. It has a 2-inch lift and a few skid plates right from the factory, along with off-road-tuned Rancho monotube shocks and a locking rear diff.

Unlike the Ram Rebel, whose styling suggests it constantly THIRSTS FOR BLOOD, the AT4 is content with its black-chrome finishes and color-keyed body accents. Take note: a Chevy Truck rep told me earlier this year that the Trail Boss gear can be dealer-installed on any trim Silverado, so it stands to reason the same applies to the Sierra and its AT4 equipment. If you want a Denali with a factory lift, go for it.

The Sierra AT4 Off-Road Performance Package is available now.

[Image: General Motors]

Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • Wooootles Wooootles on Dec 19, 2018

    @Jon From GM's business standpoint, why sell base trim+'preferred' goodies when GM can just upsell you for a higher trim? You said it yourself, customers are willing to plunk down the extra cash/longer loan term anyways. So in reality It's less than the 20000 additional trucks you claim in your mafff (in which you applied 1 anecdotal sample to the entire Chevy/GMC dealer network). If it made sense dollar-wise, they would build them.

    • Jon Jon on Dec 19, 2018

      As frustrating as it it, you are correct. GM probably performed a detailed cost analysis and discovered that the profit from selling fewer premium trucks is greater than the profit from selling more lower level trucks. I just dont like electronic gadgets since i drive my vehicles to 250,000+ miles. They tend to be expensive to repair when the break.

  • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Dec 19, 2018

    "A set of 275/65/18 Goodyear Wrangler M/T DuraTracs are part of the deal as well." Real actual sidewalls! From the factory! It will just make me shake my head harder when I inevitably start seeing them with wagon wheels on them to make the Bros feel better.

  • Jonathan IMO the hatchback sedans like the Audi A5 Sportback, the Kia Stinger, and the already gone Buick Sportback are the answer to SUVs. The A5 and the AWD version of the Stinger being the better overall option IMO. I drive the A5, and love the depth and size of the trunk space as well as the low lift over. I've yet to find anything I need to carry that I can't, although I admit I don't carry things like drywall, building materials, etc. However, add in the fun to drive handling characteristics, there's almost no SUV that compares.
  • C-b65792653 I'm starting to wonder about Elon....again!!I see a parallel with Henry Ford who was the wealthiest industrialist at one time. Henry went off on a tangent with the peace ship for WWI, Ford TriMotor, invasive social engineering, etc. Once the economy went bad, the focus fell back to cars. Elon became one of the wealthiest industrialist in the 21st century. Then he went off with the space venture, boring holes in the ground venture, "X" (formerly Twitter), etc, etc, etc. Once Tesla hit a plateau and he realized his EVs were a commodity, he too is focused on his primary money making machine. Yet, I feel Elon is over reacting. Down sizing is the nature of the beast in the auto industry; you can't get around that. But hacking the Super Charger division is like cutting off your own leg. IIRC, GM and Ford were scheduled to sign on to the exclusive Tesla charging format. That would have doubled or tripled his charging opportunity. I wonder what those at the Renaissance Center and the Glass House are thinking now. As alluded to, there's blood in the water and other charging companies will fill the void. I believe other nations have standardized EV charging (EU & China). Elon had the chance to have his charging system as the default in North America. Now, he's dropped the ball. He's lost considerable influence on what the standardized format will eventually be. Tremendous opportunity lost. 🚗🚗🚗
  • Tassos I never used winter tires, and the last two decades I am driving almost only rear wheel drive cars, half of them in MI. I always bought all season tires for them, but the diff between touring and non touring flavors never came up. Does it make even the smallest bit of difference? (I will not read the lengthy article because I believe it does not).
  • Lou_BC ???
  • Lou_BC Mustang sedan? 4 doors? A quarterhorse?Ford nomenclature will become:F Series - Pickups Raptor - performance division Bronco - 4x4 SUV/CUVExplorer - police fleetsMustang- cars
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