2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4: The Competent and Handsome Truck

Some people believe that, while Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC 2020 150 AT4 are under the same GM company, they are rivals. But I want to tell you that the GMC 2020 Sierra's real competition are the Ford F-150 and the RAM 1500. In fact, when you take the time to look at the sales figures for the two trucks of the American manufacturer, you quickly realize that they are similar (the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra) and, even combined, sales of the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra can't beat that of the Ford F-150, which isn't necessarily a bad thing since they remain among the best-selling vehicles on the market.

Reviewing the the 2020 Sierra 1500 4WD crew Cab AT4

We at Torque News have reviewed many trucks, but last week, after test-driving the the 2020 Sierra 1500 4WD crew Cab AT4 for an entire week, we believe that the GMC Sierra 1500 as a whole has more to offer and in the end it's a slightly more interesting truck all around. It has a great handling, great power and a great looking exterior and interior design.

The current GMC Sierra comes in three main trims: The Sierra SLE, elevation & SLT, Sierra AT4 and the Sierra Denali.

Since we test-drove the Sierra AT4 trim, we will mainly focus on this trim.

General Specs of the 2020 GMC Sierra AT4 1500

The 2020 GMC Sierra AT4 1500 has the towing capacity of up to 9,800 lbs. It has a very impressive fuel economy of 22 city, 26 highway and 26 MPG combined. The starting price is $51,000 MSRP, going up to $64,205

Key Features of The 2020 GMC Sierra AT4 1500

• 2-inch factory-installed suspension lift.
• World’s First Six-Function MultiPro Tailgate.
• Distinct exterior design with black chrome accents.
• Exclusive athletic, premium interior.
• Available mud terrain-rated Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires.
• Available class-leading 15 camera views.
• Available 6.2L V8 and available 3.0L Duramax Turbo Diesel engine with 10-speed automatic transmission.
• Available CarbonPro Edition with industry-first carbon-fiber composite bed.

The Engine and Powertrain Options

American trucks usually offer a variety of engine options and the GMC Sierra is not an exception.

It all starts with a big 4.3-liter V6 that develops 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque, coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The second mechanical option is a 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine delivering 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque. The most popular option is still the 5.3-liter V8 engine, as the latter is the one found in the largest number of versions. It is a balanced mechanics that has proven itself in reliability a long time ago. With 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, it can't be said to be the most powerful V8 on the market, even when compared in terms of displacement, because the 5.0-liter V8 Ford far surpasses it.

Finally, the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 also offers a 6.2-liter V8 that develops 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. This mechanism is also the only one that is combined with the 10-speed automatic transmission, which makes it the most appreciable of the lot.

Unlike Ford and RAM , General Motors uses an in-line configuration, which is recognized as being more interesting by fans of diesel engines. In fact, the GMC Sierra's diesel engine produces 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.

2020 GMC Sierra 1500's Exterior Design

Continuing the tradition of evolution rather than revolution that GM has long cultivated, this new generation of full-size truck arrived in 2019. In terms of design, the emphasis was on more refined and harmonious lines, while not leaving aside the professional character. The end result is convincing: an impression of luxury and sportiness emanates from the truck and it suits it wonderfully. The 2020 Sierra 1500 4WD Crew Cab AT 4, which Torque News tested, looked like a very handsome pickup trucks.

Among all the versions of Sierra offered, the Elevation version is the one that tends most towards the sporting side. Moreover, it is gaining increasing popularity among consumers due to the total absence of chrome - replaced by elements of harmonized color - and the superb 20-inch wheels. It's frankly successful, and very tasteful.

As I mentioned earlier, the GMC Sierra lineup is more interesting than the Chevrolet Silverado lineup. When you want a truck that looks good, but without it being ridiculously expensive, you know that the Elevation version is there. To do off-road driving, you have to go for the AT4 model and for luxury, Denali is the name we are looking for.

If the Chevrolet Silverado is more expressive than the 2020 GMC Sierra, the latter is nonetheless the more elegant of the 2 in terms of aesthetics, especially with those pretty C-shaped headlights. The Sierra has always been more imposing in terms of of look and it is a truck that does not fail to turn heads in its path. In addition, you will have noticed that unlike the Chevrolet Silverado, its design did not sow controversy when it arrived on the market.

The Interior

The interior of the 2020 GMC Sierra is exactly what you would expect from a pickup truck. First, it's really spacious and comfortable and second, everything is made to be sturdy. Style-wise, this is a pickup truck, so your expectations should be lower than for a car or SUV, but the overall finish is still quite interesting.

It has retained what was good about the old truck. This is particularly the case with the ergonomics of the dashboard, which leaves no room for criticism. The controls are well placed, they are all close at hand and they are clear. The large buttons are easy to handle; a good thing in a truck made to work.

Also, the soundproofing is worthy of mention. The cabin is hushed, wind noise well controlled and the roar of tires on the road do not penetrate on board. This is an attribute that goes well with seats whose comfort is ensured by the good support of the backrest and the seat.

Concluding Thoughts About the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4

It is a very pleasant truck to look at and it is more than competent. The rest of its range of engines has an excellent reputation and it benefits from advanced technologies.

The Duramax diesel engine is one of the strengths of the GMC Sierra 1500 . Because of its overall competence, it is more interesting than Ram's EcoDiesel V6 and Ford's PowerStroke V6.

Where the 2020 GMC Sierra stands out from the rest is in the quality of the materials used for its construction, such as carbon fiber, that is found in the Denali version. In addition, it benefits from a multi-functional tailgate.

The 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 is what you might call a sure bet when it comes to pickup trucks, because it's not the controversial type. It's is part of the great family of General Motors, and the fact remains that it is one of the most respected trucks on the market.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebok, Linkedin and Youtube.

Reference: RPM, Auto Aubaine.