AT4 First Impressions

[ShortMag]

Picked up my Dark Sky AT4 6.2 last week.  I think it has about every option except for the 20” wheels (I like the look of the 18s much better) and performance exhaust / air intake.

 

I traded out of a 2014 Denali 6.2 with 89,000 miles.  Other than the A/C compressor going out at about 70,000 miles it was virtually flawless.  I was reluctant to trade but decided i didn’t want to go over 100,000 miles.  I had the ‘14 leveled and went thru a set of 285/60R20 Duratracs and most recently had 285/65RR20 KO2s.

 

The AT4 was ordered back in February by the dealer.  We didn’t cut a deal then but the dealer told me i’d Have the first shot to buy it when it came in.  On April 3 i got the word that the truck was in transit and would be at the dealer imminently.  Fast forward to mid-May and the truck had been sitting at a rail yard 100 miles away for almost a month.  I was happy to wait as it allowed me to get thru Turkey season and the inherent mud in my ‘14.

 

The truck finally made it to the dealer Thursday and i went in Friday.  Cut a fair deal on the trade of my ‘14 and took delivery on the AT4 with all of 2 miles on the odometer.  Went straight to Discount Tire and swapped out the  tiny Goodyear tires for 285/70R18 Nitto Ridge Grapplers.  Discount Tire did not have the proper tool to reprogram the TPMS but the dealer did it in about 10 minutes and also bought the old tires off me.

 

All i can say is WOW.  This truck is awesome.  The 10 speed is smooth as silk (my 14 was the 6 speed that i drove in M5 all the time),  the technology (HUD, better/more responsive touch screen, improved DIC, cameras, rear view mirror, Intellibeam, wireless charging, much better NAV, Apple CarPlay) is a significant upgrade over the ‘14.  I have not used the various driving modes yet - virtually everything has been in “Tour” mode, but the 6.2 continues to impress and has just the right amount of growl compared to the 14, even without the performance exhaust.

 

The truck also rides significantly better.  The Nittos are E rated just like my old KO2s, but the combination of the larger sidewall on the tires with the 18” rims and the factory lift as opposed to an aftermarket level makes a huge difference.  The Nittos look great, make just the right amount of noise (more than the KO2s, less than the Duratracs) and at 60lbs each haven’t been too much of a drag on the gas mileage.  I got 17 on my first tank of mixed country back road driving, which is better than my 14 was doing

 

I find the interior to be very nice.  The black leather with kalahari accents is a nice change from my ‘14 with Dune interior.  The factory all weather floor mats are perfect and saved me from having to buy weathertechs.  My kids appreciate the rear air and heated rear seats.

 

I thought i’d Find the tailgate to me a little gimmicky.  Then i used it on some home improvement projects over the weekend and found myself using all of its functionality.  I don’t tow much but will have to remember to remove the hitch from the receiver when i do

 

I don’t have any pictures to post but look at the thread about the 18” wheels and 285/70R18s and picture the same truck in Dark Sky.  

 

Hope this helps anyone on the fence.  I was reluctant to trade given how much i loved my 14 but am very glad i took the plunge.  Happy to answer any questions anyone has

[Chris walker]

I picked up an AT4 6.2 about a week ago..I cant rave enough about the truck. GMC hit a home run with this truck...

[BringTheRain403]

I came from a 14 with a 5.3 and 6-speed and it's night and day difference. Everything about this truck is sooooo smooth. There are some things I wish it had but overall I couldn't be happier.

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[BringTheRain403]

Here's my pros and cons list...

Cons:
- Missing adjustable foot pedals.
- No adaptive cruise control. Everything is there for it but they didn't make it available.
- no "oh shit" handles above the windows. It's stupid but I liked them.
- no adjustable seat belts
- intellibeam is turned off if you turn the fog lights on
- need more options for the HUD (I love the HUD I just wish there was more options)
- I hate the way the steering wheel adjusts. Need to go back to the way they did it in the previous generation.
- front console space had decreased a lot
- I think they could've done more with the display in the dash. Better customization.
- the wheel to scroll through the menus on the steering wheel. I hate it. Need to go back to the buttons like the previous generation. The wheel is a pain in the a....
- wish the knobs on the dash were black chrome on the AT4 at least. Everything else is blacked out and they stick out like a sore thumb
-wish the performance exhaust was just a little louder after it warmed up. Especially at idle.
- I hate the auto start/stop. Wish there was a way to make it stay off without having to spend $100 to do it.
- I do wish they had made the screen a little larger since they took the CD player out they have the real estate (I don't need the giant screen on the Dodge but a little bigger works be nice)
- NavTraffic from SiriusXM is no longer available. Now comes through OnStar. $3/mo through SiriusXM. The lowest OnStar option that has it $39.99/mo
- remote functions in OnStar app are no longer free. Lowest plan that includes that is now $14.99/mo. (Super pissed about this!!!)

Pros:
- AC in the back
- 360 camera
- Heada Up Display
- Ventilated seats work surprisingly well
- 6.2 is a beast
- I personally think the 10-speed is a huge improvement over the 6-speed
- Tailgate is great. As someone who has knee issues the step is great.
- storage in the rear is better.
- headlights are amazing. HUGE improvement over the previous generation
- Bose sound system is great (although not quite as good as the previous generation)
- EVERYTHING just seems sooooo much smoother than my 14 ever was.
- I love the seats and the tan accents with the stitching.
-blind spot warning. FINALLY!

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[econometrics]

Great review, glad you're enjoying it! I do think the AT4 is the best T1 truck available from GM. 

[RE1]

3 hours ago, ShortMag said:

Picked up my Dark Sky AT4 6.2 last week.  I think it has about every option except for the 20” wheels (I like the look of the 18s much better) and performance exhaust / air intake.

 

I traded out of a 2014 Denali 6.2 with 89,000 miles.  Other than the A/C compressor going out at about 70,000 miles it was virtually flawless.  I was reluctant to trade but decided i didn’t want to go over 100,000 miles.  I had the ‘14 leveled and went thru a set of 285/60R20 Duratracs and most recently had 285/65RR20 KO2s.

 

The AT4 was ordered back in February by the dealer.  We didn’t cut a deal then but the dealer told me i’d Have the first shot to buy it when it came in.  On April 3 i got the word that the truck was in transit and would be at the dealer imminently.  Fast forward to mid-May and the truck had been sitting at a rail yard 100 miles away for almost a month.  I was happy to wait as it allowed me to get thru Turkey season and the inherent mud in my ‘14.

 

The truck finally made it to the dealer Thursday and i went in Friday.  Cut a fair deal on the trade of my ‘14 and took delivery on the AT4 with all of 2 miles on the odometer.  Went straight to Discount Tire and swapped out the  tiny Goodyear tires for 285/70R18 Nitto Ridge Grapplers.  Discount Tire did not have the proper tool to reprogram the TPMS but the dealer did it in about 10 minutes and also bought the old tires off me.

 

All i can say is WOW.  This truck is awesome.  The 10 speed is smooth as silk (my 14 was the 6 speed that i drove in M5 all the time),  the technology (HUD, better/more responsive touch screen, improved DIC, cameras, rear view mirror, Intellibeam, wireless charging, much better NAV, Apple CarPlay) is a significant upgrade over the ‘14.  I have not used the various driving modes yet - virtually everything has been in “Tour” mode, but the 6.2 continues to impress and has just the right amount of growl compared to the 14, even without the performance exhaust.

 

The truck also rides significantly better.  The Nittos are E rated just like my old KO2s, but the combination of the larger sidewall on the tires with the 18” rims and the factory lift as opposed to an aftermarket level makes a huge difference.  The Nittos look great, make just the right amount of noise (more than the KO2s, less than the Duratracs) and at 60lbs each haven’t been too much of a drag on the gas mileage.  I got 17 on my first tank of mixed country back road driving, which is better than my 14 was doing

 

I find the interior to be very nice.  The black leather with kalahari accents is a nice change from my ‘14 with Dune interior.  The factory all weather floor mats are perfect and saved me from having to buy weathertechs.  My kids appreciate the rear air and heated rear seats.

 

I thought i’d Find the tailgate to me a little gimmicky.  Then i used it on some home improvement projects over the weekend and found myself using all of its functionality.  I don’t tow much but will have to remember to remove the hitch from the receiver when i do

 

I don’t have any pictures to post but look at the thread about the 18” wheels and 285/70R18s and picture the same truck in Dark Sky.  

 

Hope this helps anyone on the fence.  I was reluctant to trade given how much i loved my 14 but am very glad i took the plunge.  Happy to answer any questions anyone has

Great review. Thank you. 

 

I’m in a very similar situation with a 2014 GMC SIERRA Denali 6.2L with approximately 91,000 miles. I too don’t think I want to keep this past 100k miles. A couple of questions.....

 

How do the two truck compare in drivability. Does the 2019 6.2L/10 speed combo feel stronger? About the same?

 

Also, if you don’t mind me asking, what did you get for your 2014 trade?

[ShortMag]

23 minutes ago, RE1 said:

Great review. Thank you. 

 

I’m in a very similar situation with a 2014 GMC SIERRA Denali 6.2L with approximately 91,000 miles. I too don’t think I want to keep this past 100k miles. A couple of questions.....

 

How do the two truck compare in drivability. Does the 2019 6.2L/10 speed combo feel stronger? About the same?

 

Also, if you don’t mind me asking, what did you get for your 2014 trade?

I got $26,500 on my trade - had to haggle a bit to get there but it was exactly what KBB said the trade value was for my truck in “Very Good” condition.

 

In terms of drivability i find the ‘19 easier to drive.  It’s a little bigger but does not feel that way.  The engine / transmission combo is at least as strong on the ‘19 vs. ‘14.  And everything is tighter/smoother, but maybe that is partially because of moving from a 5 year old truck with 90k miles to a brand new truck.

 

In terms of some of the “cons” noted above, none of them bother me, though i understand why they would bother some.  Call Onstar and ask for their loyalty discount.  If they think you are going to cancel you’ll get a much better deal for yourself.

[RE1]

Thank you.

 

That AT4 looks awesome. Love your color choice.

[FDHog]

You can always use Waze or Google Maps for traffic. The lack of adjustable pedals and the steering wheel adjustment does suck.

I traded my 8 month old 2018 F150 Lariat for my 6.2 AT4. Ford really dropped the ball on the new 5.0L.  and their 10spd.

I've owned a lot of Ford trucks and this one was the worst. So far I'm lovin this truck. The CAI and catback is just loud enough. Thought the tailgate was a gimmick until I used it. Great feature.

[BringTheRain403]

Ford's mapping on the 10 speed is God awful.

I know you can use Waze and Google maps through Android Auto but it's a pain in the ass because you have to plug it in rather than using Bluetooth and conductive charging. Not to mention you can't do the split home screen and have one of those show up on the second half.

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[BringTheRain403]

I'm more complaining about them taking something that was costing me $3/mo and/or free and now I have to pay $39/mo to get both. Just nickel and dime crap on a $65k truck

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[Zcobra1]

I agree on the Sirius nav. part..., I have it on my current 16 and call every 6 months and get the deal for around that, $18 for 6 months along with the discounted Sirius XM.

Any Sirius “plug in” available to get the nav ? 

[TripleBGM]

On 5/21/2019 at 8:47 AM, ShortMag said:

Picked up my Dark Sky AT4 6.2 last week.  I think it has about every option except for the 20” wheels (I like the look of the 18s much better) and performance exhaust / air intake.

 

I traded out of a 2014 Denali 6.2 with 89,000 miles.  Other than the A/C compressor going out at about 70,000 miles it was virtually flawless.  I was reluctant to trade but decided i didn’t want to go over 100,000 miles.  I had the ‘14 leveled and went thru a set of 285/60R20 Duratracs and most recently had 285/65RR20 KO2s.

 

The AT4 was ordered back in February by the dealer.  We didn’t cut a deal then but the dealer told me i’d Have the first shot to buy it when it came in.  On April 3 i got the word that the truck was in transit and would be at the dealer imminently.  Fast forward to mid-May and the truck had been sitting at a rail yard 100 miles away for almost a month.  I was happy to wait as it allowed me to get thru Turkey season and the inherent mud in my ‘14.

 

The truck finally made it to the dealer Thursday and i went in Friday.  Cut a fair deal on the trade of my ‘14 and took delivery on the AT4 with all of 2 miles on the odometer.  Went straight to Discount Tire and swapped out the  tiny Goodyear tires for 285/70R18 Nitto Ridge Grapplers.  Discount Tire did not have the proper tool to reprogram the TPMS but the dealer did it in about 10 minutes and also bought the old tires off me.

 

All i can say is WOW.  This truck is awesome.  The 10 speed is smooth as silk (my 14 was the 6 speed that i drove in M5 all the time),  the technology (HUD, better/more responsive touch screen, improved DIC, cameras, rear view mirror, Intellibeam, wireless charging, much better NAV, Apple CarPlay) is a significant upgrade over the ‘14.  I have not used the various driving modes yet - virtually everything has been in “Tour” mode, but the 6.2 continues to impress and has just the right amount of growl compared to the 14, even without the performance exhaust.

 

The truck also rides significantly better.  The Nittos are E rated just like my old KO2s, but the combination of the larger sidewall on the tires with the 18” rims and the factory lift as opposed to an aftermarket level makes a huge difference.  The Nittos look great, make just the right amount of noise (more than the KO2s, less than the Duratracs) and at 60lbs each haven’t been too much of a drag on the gas mileage.  I got 17 on my first tank of mixed country back road driving, which is better than my 14 was doing

 

I find the interior to be very nice.  The black leather with kalahari accents is a nice change from my ‘14 with Dune interior.  The factory all weather floor mats are perfect and saved me from having to buy weathertechs.  My kids appreciate the rear air and heated rear seats.

 

I thought i’d Find the tailgate to me a little gimmicky.  Then i used it on some home improvement projects over the weekend and found myself using all of its functionality.  I don’t tow much but will have to remember to remove the hitch from the receiver when i do

 

I don’t have any pictures to post but look at the thread about the 18” wheels and 285/70R18s and picture the same truck in Dark Sky.  

 

Hope this helps anyone on the fence.  I was reluctant to trade given how much i loved my 14 but am very glad i took the plunge.  Happy to answer any questions anyone has

Thanks for the impressions.  I just traded my 2018 GMC sierra SLT PPP Z71 5.3 on a 2019 GMC AT4 6.2 loaded.  I love it, one sweet truck.  Miles ahead of the 2018, GM seemed to rush out the K2. I liked the 5.3 on my 2018 but most got the 6.2 for the 10 speed, very smooth and I read they get better. The power is nice also, great engine and trans combo.

 

Only 2 complaints. No telescoping steering wheel and I hate the DruaTracs.

 

Which tires do you like the most? KO2 of the NRG?

[BringTheRain403]

The Nitto's are a better tire

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[JR09country]

Thanks for the impressions.  I just traded my 2018 GMC sierra SLT PPP Z71 5.3 on a 2019 GMC AT4 6.2 loaded.  I love it, one sweet truck.  Miles ahead of the 2018, GM seemed to rush out the K2. I liked the 5.3 on my 2018 but most got the 6.2 for the 10 speed, very smooth and I read they get better. The power is nice also, great engine and trans combo.
 
Only 2 complaints. No telescoping steering wheel and I hate the DruaTracs.
 
Which tires do you like the most? KO2 of the NRG?

If my trail boss has a telescopic steering wheel your at4 should as well.

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