MC Sierra2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali vs AT4

The full-size half-ton pickup truck segment is one of the hottest segments right now both in terms of sales and manufacturer participation — dominated by Ford, General Motors, and Fiat-Chrysler Association (FCA). The Ford F-150 is the most-liked and the most sold pickup, followed by FCA’s RAM 1500, which is a very good deal for someone looking to combine practicality and luxury.

Ford’s arch-rival, General Motors, has two tricks up its sleeves — the GMC Sierra 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Although sharing the same platform, the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 has been in the good books of the truck buyers in America, and their two variants are always sold like hot pancakes — the luxurious Denali and the off-road loving AT4.

Both the trims are competitively priced, with the Denali being on the higher side of the spectrum. But to get an idea, the AT4 starts at nearly $55,000 and can go all the way up to $73,000. On the more expensive side of things, the Denali starts at nearly $56,000 and will stretch your budget to up to $78,000 if equipped to the brim.

What is the difference between 2021 Sierra Denali and 2021 Sierra AT4?

To start off with, let’s talk about the exterior. The design is similar, obviously, but the AT4 does look different and sportier when compared to the Denali due to the dark color scheme and the contrasting red two hooks up at the front and little contrasting elements all around. Both the trims have C-shaped LED headlights but the main differentiating factor is the grille that each of the trucks don.

The AT4 makes its sportier appeal with a black grille which has some silver accents for contrast while the Denali has a big, chrome-loaded grille upfront. The chrome distinction on the Denali’s front is carried on to the fog light’s surrounds too as well as the front diffuser where there are a couple of tow hooks — black for the Denali and red for the AT4. The badging differs on the doors, obviously, and that’s pretty much it. in the rear, the bed is the same with respective badging.

Inside, the difference between both the trims’ themes is imminent. The AT4 dons a dark theme with a brown accent here and there and the Denali dons more unique trim pieces inside with the steering wheel reading “Denali” instead of “GMC”.

Wheels and tires

The AT4’s standard wheels measure at 18-inches and basic all-terrain tires with the option of going with more heavy-duty Goodyear Duratrac Mud-Terrain tires (a $295 option). The tires are good to be used on rough pavements and roads but when on smooth roads, they are an open invitation to road noise. There is an option to upgrade to 20-inch wheels too, but when paired with the Goodyear tires, the ride isn’t all that comfortable.

On the Denali side, the priorities turn more towards the comfortable aspects of the spectrum, and hence, the trim comes with 20-inch wheels as standard. The tires are mild all-terrain, biased more towards on-road use. The rims can be upgraded to 22-inches but with the specific tires on, the road noise is kept well out of the cabin.

Suspension

The AT4 comes standard with 4WD, while the Denali can be optioned in either RWD or 4WD. Also, the former carries a 2-inch lift from the factory and is paired to Rancho shock absorbers which are made to negotiate well with off-road terrain. Talking of off-road, the AT4 also comes equipped with a skid plate up front.

The Denali dons what GMC calls “Active Ride Control (ARC)”, which perfectly sums up how the truck behaves on the road — smooth. The ARC replaces the much-beloved Magnetic Ride Control system which was offered, and loved by customers, in the previous model years. The ARC makes use of active dampers and sensors which detect body position, heave, pitch, and body-roll motions.

Features

On this front, both the trims are equally packed. Both the trims have a Multi-Pro tailgate offering a variety of applications. Talking of some of the highlighting features, both can be had with a power rear tailgate, a Bose-branded premium audio system, a rear-view mirror that doubles as a camera, surround-view cameras, and a head-up display.

The only difference is that the Denali loads a lot more as standard. But both the trims can be had with, basically, everything!

Which one you should buy: Denali or AT4?

The difference is just that: trim. The Denali has a different appeal with all the chrome loaded onto it, bigger wheels, and more features as standard but at the same time, costs more as well. On the AT4, things are settled more towards the darker side of things and also with some contrasting elements to make the truck look sporty. The wheels at max are 20-inches but are loaded with Goodyear Duratec which ensures that off-roading isn’t an issue but doesn’t guarantee comfortable on-road performance.

The selection of either ultimately boils down to preference because apart from the suspension, both the truck are the same.