The 2021 GMC Yukon has arrived, bringing with it a long list of upgrades and changes as the nameplate steps into an all-new generation. One of the highlights for the 2021 model year is the addition of the first-ever GMC Yukon AT4 trim level, which features a host of off-road-oriented equipment that seek to give the full-size SUV extra prowess off the beaten path.
Outside, the 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 features new, rugged styling, including a unique front fascia and dark accents throughout. The AT4 also comes with red recovery hooks, just like the GMC Sierra AT4 pickup. In the corners, we find 20-inch Goodyear all-terrain tires.
Under the skin is the new GM T1 vehicle platform, as well as a new multilink independent rear suspension. To make the most of it, the 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 is offered with a new Air Ride Adaptive Suspension setup that can lift the ride height an additional two inches, thus maximizing ground clearance.
“When at this maximum height, the Yukon AT4 offers a nearly 32-degree approach angle for added off-road capability,” GMC explains.
Inside, there’s trim-exclusive leather seating and stitching, with a unique Jet Black finish coupled with Brandy accents. The 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 also comes with a number of comfort features, such as a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front-row seats, and heated second-row outboard seats. The AT4 is also offered with the new power Sliding Center Console, which makes for additional storage in the cabin.
Mechanically speaking, the GMC Yukon AT4 comes with a two-speed transfer case, while skid plates are mounted under the body for additional protection from errant bits of earth. Electronic aides like Hill Descent Control and Traction Select System with off-road mode round it out.
The 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 arrives as the latest addition to the automaker’s expanding AT4 lineup, which is slated to include AT4 iterations of every model (save the GMC Savana) by the 2021 calendar year.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC Yukon news, GMC news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
One option not covered here is the 180 Hurricane turn feature.
Say you want to make a tight right turn it will lock the right wheels and power the left wheels.
I would expect this is something for low speed turns and for off roan and off pavement use only. It did not list what models but I expect this is a 4AT option.
Best looking GM suv by far. Congratulations, GMC.
But where is the hybrid?
This is a great looking Vehicle, I wish I could buy this in a mid-sized !
I love it that it has skid plates, My HD has some plastic protector on the front belly that the ice and gravel breaks all to h3ll.
Even my cheap Canyon All Terrain has metal underneath.
Now to the air suspension. This system sounds awesome and I would bet will be a draw to many, YET.
I will admit I do not know where GM, or the competition, are placing the compressors for this type of system. But I will say, that an off road, and I really mean, off asphalt or crete, the rear exterior is the worst place to install a compressor. I hope this is not the case here, but if so I would worry that in 5 years all of the air systems in vehicles driven off pavement will be junk, and once again the customer will need the horrible customer support system of GM to help them, in translation, this will be a large expense in 5 years and the customer at that time will foot the bill !
This vehicle will be a great GMC vehicle, the thing I like the most about the GM full-size line up is all the components are basically interchangeable. You can buy a Denali, and buy AT4 treatments and just bolt them on, an AT4 , you will be able to install the Denali seats in a couple years, ETC. Just easy modifications.
I will never own one of these great vehicles as we are a mid-sized GM vehicle family, for now.
But with GM offering NOTHING ever remotely like this vehicle in the mid-sized line up after 40 years we are seriously checking out the competition ! Jeep Grand Cherokee is first on our list at this time !
I really find it hard to believe that GM doesn’t follow the exact very lucrative recipe of the full-sized lineup, in the mid-sized.
GM in the full-sized lineup, you get a great, just great, lineup, yet in the midsized lineup ALL GM OFFERS is the average GM blah, FWD, in town, on asphalt, vehicle !!
And now to top that off, GM is sticking AT4 badges on said average GM blah vehicle mid-sized vehicle to once again ruin the AT4 image, and try to convince the customer it is something different than the same old average GM blah vehicle that it is !
GM is the best at coming up with a hit vehicle, something with some true validation, and instead of following what actually made said vehicle popular, GM just sticks badges on crap and calls them the same !
How stupid does GM really think the customers are, they ruined Cadillac with this thinking, Almost ruined Denali in the last series of truck interiors, and right away first thing, are going after ruining the AT4 image, with the GM average GM blah mid-sized vehicle.
GM needs to get the $hit out with the mid-sized lineup, and quit sticking badges on $hit and calling it better in any way !
And while your at it GM, fix your false belief of s customer support system !
Lifelong,
Don’t sell yourself short. You may be only a midsize buyer but you are truly a full size whiner!
Jofa,
I would just like to say thank you !
While I do own a 2020 GMC HD Denali Duramax as a full-sized truck !
I still appreciate those of you who spend the time to not only find the automotive sites !!
But you guys spend the time to find the automotive sites, spend the time to comment on the automotive sites, yet don’t comment on the products !
No you spend the time to personally attack the people who are commenting on the vehicles highlighted on the automotive sites.
But that’s ok, if you read enough, you will soon learn, I could really care less what a person on the inter web thinks of me, or anyone else for that matter !!
I’m talking vehicles here, and the lack of any GM mid-sized vehicles other than the exact same average GM blah ” Good Enough ” vehicles !!!
So I’ll take the moaner, whiner, complainer, crazy, looser, compliments, and I appreciate you taking the time to address me personally !
https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2021-chevrolet-suburban-air-ride-active-suspension-scaled.jpg Here is your answer.
Yep and it would have been just as easy if not easier to place the compressor under the hood or up front where their is little dirt and dust !
But nope, this thing will be a pile of rust and dirt so thick it will be a throw away every X year expense !!
Road salt, dust, rocks, etc.
So again, explain who the engineers are that think this is ok, and what and who were the actual customers here GM asked , that told them, ” yeah, and put that compressor in the rear, where its the worst place ever to work on, or survive.
Even the 18 wheelers air compressors are under the hood !!!
Hey GM, why don’t you put the engine air intake out the back by the exhaust ?
Look at the trucks with the charcoal canister for the fuel tank in the rear fender, EVERY one driven on gravel, has a check engine light on with this plugged with dust !
I have sawed the top off many, dumped the charcoal out cleaned it, dumped it back in and duct taped it up and away you go, no check engine light !!
I’m going to be buying a new vehicle this summer to replace my love/hate 2017 Acadia Denali. (I got a bad one) The Yukon wasn’t even on my radar until the AT4 appeared. The others currently on my shopping list are the ’20 Acadia Denali, ’21 Canyon AT4, & the ’20 Sierra 1500 AT4 Carbonpro Duramax.
Here’s my concern, we’ve all heard the list of available engines for the Yukon family & they weren’t a surprise. But of all the articles I read, ONE of them stated the AT4 will ONLY be available with the 5.3 V8. I sure hope that was a misquote because this is a HEAVY vehicle. If they only give it the smallest of the 3 available engines, that’ll take it right back off my list.
Yep, just exactly like the GM Trail Boss.
If the customer wants power yet a AT4, NOPE, there is nothing for you !!
Now you know how I feel in the mid-sized GM lineup !!
The 2021 Canyon with the 2.8TD – 6 speed is great truck. Its an old design and the headlights are horrible, but its a great truck otherwise.
I would not buy that Canyon with the GM 8 speed junk transmission, whatever you do !!
Wait for the 2022-23 Canyon with a 10 speed tranny and the new GMC tech if you can !
Otherwise the 1500 truck you listed with the 6.2-10 speed it by far the best vehicle you have listed !
I just spotted the “GM Life” article that also says the Yukon AT4 gets “The standard 5.3L EcoTec V8 engine” but mentions no alternate choices. Sure hope I’m wrong…
lifelongGMowner: The Sierra 1500 is currently my front running choice. I had a ’15 sierra with the 6.2 (I had continuous problems with the 8L90 8-speed transmission) and for a pickup truck, it was scary fast! but a Diesel has always been a “bucket list” item for me, so I’m leaning towards the 3.0 D-max.
Yep that 3.0TD should be a good choice with the 10 speed !!
Don’t feel bad, there are thousands of GM 8 speed junk owners who GM screwed over !!
Not just on the trucks !!
But as of now, that’s the way I hear it, only Denali with the 6.2 !
GM changed the Trail Boss Chevy fast when people wanted it, if that’s what you want be sure to call GM and write everywhere you can to try to make it happen ! Then GM in 2 years or so can do it !!
The 6.2 is available in every trim level of the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon and Yukon XL.
I wonder if it will be the same for the 3.0 Duramax…
That’s the one I really want.
The 3.0 is NOT available on the Z71 Tahoe/Suburban because the different front end styling won’t accommodate the intercooler. There’s no information (that I can find) that answers the question as to the availability of the 3.0 in the AT4. If the 3.0 were available in the AT4, AND I could get it with a nice tan interior (not black with peanutbutter skid marks), my order would have already been placed.
phD PE,
That’s great on the 6.2 – 10 speed info, and its to bad about the 3.0TD maybe they will work on it in the future.
Also I was in the exact same boat with the AT4 interior, the Denali seats and color were the only reason I got the Denali and not the AT4 in my HD.
Only AT4 seat color, not even black !
But good news again on the engine !
PhD PE: “Peanut Butter skid marks” I love it! TOO funny!
As far as engines go, every press release I’ve read stated 3 choices in the Yukon, including both V8 gas engines AND the 3.0 D-Max. Hopefully when a few more details come out, we’ll find out the Diesel will be there in the AT4. I sure hope so since that’s the engine I want. I’m not taking anything away from the 6.2 gasser though, I’ve had it in a 1500 Sierra and an SS Camaro. GREAT engine.
The 6.2 is an outstanding engine; I have one now in my ’16 Sierra. 148K miles and the only time the engine has been touched is for fluid/filter changes and a set of plugs – AND provides greater fuel economy that I see in the wife’s Suburban with a 5.3. The 8L90E, on the other hand, is a POS – with my apologies to feces – and has severely degraded my overall opinion of an otherwise fine, fine vehicle.
PhD PE,
You said a mouth full there, apologizing to $hit, for being as bad as the GM 8 speed junk transmission !
Good one !
Looks like I may have gotten my answer. (And not the answer I wanted) I was reading thru that GMC Life article again, and I’m not sure if I missed it before, or they expanded the article, but it now reads the 3.0 Duramax will be available in Yukon SLT, SLE and Denali, but NOT the AT4. (5.3 or 6.2 V8)
Dang it…
Disappointing.
But guys this is what I like about the GM full-size line, you can just buy the Denali with the 3.0TD and put all the AT4 options on that. A little paint here and there, some badges, your good.
The only trouble is the lower center of the front facia, but in a few years or less, there will be so many options there for the people who simply love the AT4 yet want the 3.0TD.
Lovely website! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am taking your feeds also.