First Drive: 2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Edition
We take the 2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Edition off-road and explore whether this overland-ready rig is worth its premium price tag.
Overland-Ready From the Factory, And Built to Take a Beating
Out in Big Sky Country, where the terrain doesn’t lie and the horizon stretches for hours, we got our hands on something special: the 2024 GMC Canyon AT4X AEV Edition. It’s not just a badge-heavy trim or a cosmetic off-roader. This thing is built to get dirty, built to go remote, and most importantly, built to go straight from the dealership to the trailhead.
Overlanding First, Flash Second
GMC and American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) teamed up once again, this time to deliver a more overland-focused alternative to the Colorado ZR2 Bison. While the Bison leans into high-speed Baja and technical crawling, the Canyon AT4X AEV is what you’d buy if your weekends disappear into mountains, desert washes, and remote trailheads. And unlike most builds, it’s all backed by a factory warranty.
Right off the bat, the driving experience impresses. The AT4X AEV is surprisingly refined on pavement, with a ride quality that doesn’t punish daily driving. The front seats are plush—even without a massage—and visibility is excellent thanks to a clean hood design and a well-placed heads-up display. For anyone hauling gear or scouting terrain, those three auxiliary switches wired from the factory make installing accessories (like lighting or an air compressor) a plug-and-play affair.
What Makes It AEV-Worthy
AEV doesn’t just slap on parts—they engineer durability. This Canyon gets:
- Hot-stamped boron steel skid plates
- Heavy-duty steel bumpers with recovery points and winch compatibility
- Rock sliders that actually work, not just look good
And here’s where it gets serious: the AEV Edition lifts the standard AT4X by 1.5 inches, unlocking aggressive approach, departure, and breakover angles:
| Spec | Number |
|---|---|
| Approach Angle | 38.2° |
| Breakover Angle | 26.9° |
| Departure Angle | 26.0° |
| Front Suspension Travel | 9.9 in |
| Rear Suspension Travel | 11.6 in |
That added articulation was easy to spot on the trail—the AT4X AEV handled off-camber rock climbs with surprising composure, and the jounce shocks (not on the Bison, by the way) came in clutch on big compressions.
The Powertrain Dilemma
Under the hood, the AT4X AEV shares the same powertrain as the base Canyon: the 310-hp, 430 lb-ft L3B turbo-four paired with a 10-speed automatic. Smooth, responsive, and plenty torquey—but it leaves a little to be desired in the "special" department.
Given the AEV Edition’s top-tier price tag, we can’t help but wish for a bit more engine magic to match its off-road hardware. Still, tech-wise, it’s loaded: underbody cameras (with washers), driver-assist features, and multi-view trail cams that make spotting your line easier than ever.
The Verdict: Should You Wait, Build, or Buy?
If you’re the kind of person who’d normally drop $10–15K upgrading your own midsize pickup for overland use, this is a shortcut you can actually trust. The AT4X AEV Edition offers real off-road chops, warranty coverage, and the comfort of knowing everything was designed to work together.
Pricing reaches $68,550. That sounds steep until you price out steel bumpers, sliders, lighting, electrical work, and suspension upgrades separately. This is a turn-key solution, and it shows.
AutoZealot Take:
“It’s not a lifted mall crawler. It’s not a half-baked badge job. The Canyon AT4X AEV is a rare thing—a dealer-delivered rig that’s actually ready for the backcountry. You’ll still want to kit it out for your own needs, but it’s a hell of a foundation. Think of it like the Corvette of overland trucks—only with mud on the tires and a campsite waiting at the end of the trail.”
