It looks like General Motors has decided to stop letting GMC play the second fiddle to Chevrolet’s offerings. The company has finally decided to let Robin get his own batmobile (Robmobile?!). GMC's mid-size pickup truck, the Canyon, will be receiving an AT4 trim. The AT4 will be replacing the All Terrain trim in the Canyon’s portfolio, thus refreshing and hopefully boosting the sales of the pickup truck's off-road version. As a bonus, the Denali trim also receives some new additions. It looks like a positive start of the year for GMC.

Will The AT4 Bring In More Sales Volume?

The 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 will replace the longstanding All Terrain trim and be the face of the off-road trim in the truck’s lineup. At the onset, it seems like a well thought out move. 'This is a truck created with outdoor adventurers in mind,' said Duncan Aldred, Vice President, Buick and GMC. 'The Canyon AT4 is a perfect complement to the driver’s other passions and appreciation of the details, whether there’s a mountain bike, a snowboard or their truck.'

On the outside, the trim receives a handful of differentiating features, such as:

-* A bigger grille

-* Dark chrome finish on the face

-* Red tow hooks

-* Skid plate to protect the transfer case

The grille seems to be a new development that GMC is trying to communize here. A similar one is seen on the Denali trim as well. Although I’m not a fan of big grilles, this one doesn’t make me rip my eyes out, perhaps because of the dark chrome. Since it looks like the Denali’s, it puts the AT4 as a premium offering as well. In all honesty, it is an upgrade from the All Terrain trim. Until now, the Canyon did not have a feature-rich off-road trim, but the AT4 changes that. Apart from the cosmetic features, the AT4 also comes with:

-* 17-inch wheels wrapped in 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires

-* A four-wheel-drive system

-* Advanced Hill Descent Control

-* Off-road tuned suspension

-* Eaton G80 rear automatic locking differential

-* Two-speed AutoTrac transfer case

On the inside, things are familiar and the only differentiating feature is the 'AT4' logo embroidered in the headrests of the seats featuring Kalahari accents. This pattern is exclusive only to the AT4 trim. Also, a Bose audio system will be offered here.

The Denali Receives Subtle Changes As Well

As for the refreshed Denali trim, the company has added a host of other features that include:

-* A new interior theme

-* Open-pore ash wood aluminum trim

-* Heated and ventilated front seats

-* Heated steering wheel

-* Unique 'Cocoa/Dark Atmosphere' stitching

These features put the Denali a little more apart from the other Canyon trims. Since the Denali trim is the premium offering here, it made sense to adorn it with as many features as possible. The gap it would then create with the other trims is now filled with the inclusion of the AT4. All-in-all, the lineup looks a lot more balanced now.

Same Powertrains To Be Carried Over

Speaking of engine options, both the AT4 and the Denali come with the same 3.6-liter, V-6 gasoline mill that makes 308 horses and 275 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 2.8-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel Duramax diesel mill is available as an option. It makes 181 horses and 369 pound-feet of torque.

Final Thoughts

The pricing for the AT4 has yet to be announced. The All Terrain trim currently starts at $36,600, whereas the Denali begins at $40,500.

Considering the new features in Denali, the price could be increased by $500. The 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 will be built alongside the other Canyon trims at the company’s Wentzville Assembly Center in Missouri. Sales are expected to begin later this year. What are your thoughts on the Canyon AT4? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.