Revealed! 2016 GMC Sierra All Terrain X

That is Freakin Sexy! I at first thought it was a new generation Avalanche now named All Terrain X. Clearly wrong as it is just a fancy off road package but it does make this stand out. Very sweet!

This is literally the Colorado's trail boss equipment in a GMC package.

I love this, just wish it had an inch or 2 extra ground clearance and was available as a regular cab (wish the 8 speed was available in the regular cab too).

Eh... all hat and no cattle. 

... and with no mid-gate, no sale. 

I have to agree with Drew, It seems like it is more of an appearance thing than performance thing. Looks gnarly, but that's just it. 

Optional to the package are the A/T tires, "bed mounted bar to support off-road lights, LED headlights, and a new sports exhaust boosting power of 5.3L V8 from 355 to 365 horsepower." . So without choosing those optional items then what the heck is even in the All Terrain X? 

"Styling is the biggest influence on Sierra customers and the new Sierra All Terrain X builds on that"...

GM is only doing appearance packages and have not done much more. While this has a little hardware it is not a Raptor killer by any mean's. 

I am not sure why they have resisted but they must have a reason. 

I would not hold my breath for a mid gate. If they ever did one the short bed Colorado needs it worse. 

No mid-gate no sale.

I'd be awesome if GM would do a proper off-road geared truck. If wouldn't even have to be near the Raptor's level, just something where they actually tried to boost off-road performance.

My question is was there an issue with the mid gate. GM has run from it like a seal from a killer whale and no one else has even tried it. 

Is there rattle issues? Roll over roof issues? There has to be some reason they walked away from it. I liked the idea and would have loved to see more of it but something tells me there is an issue some place. 

A solid back wall creates so much rigidity in a cab. They already killed the reverse doors for more stiffness on the extended cab. Also have you ever seen how much a roof moves with no windshield. The glass is now part of the structure. 

I suspect there is a good reason for no mid gate.  Cost, weight, safety etc. 

I'm no expert on this subject, but I believe the Avalanche was hurting the Suburban sales, since you needed a Suburban body/frame to make the Avalanche.  I regret not pursuing an Avalanche a few years back, as it offered the best of both SUV & Pickup worlds for me (I'm a stickler for GMC-branded vehicles).  

GM designed an Avalanche-like bed accessory seen on the 2015 Chevy Silverado High Desert concept:

This would work for me with a Sierra Crew Cab, as I wasn't interested so much with the Avalanche's mid-gate as I was with the covered bed storage features.  Seeing as how I have the Canyon now, I'd really considered this bed insert for a mid-size truck too.  GM is foolish for not putting this option into production ASAP for both its truck lines.

My question is was there an issue with the mid gate. GM has run from it like a seal from a killer whale and no one else has even tried it. 

Is there rattle issues? Roll over roof issues? There has to be some reason they walked away from it. I liked the idea and would have loved to see more of it but something tells me there is an issue some place. 

A solid back wall creates so much rigidity in a cab. They already killed the reverse doors for more stiffness on the extended cab. Also have you ever seen how much a roof moves with no windshield. The glass is now part of the structure. 

I suspect there is a good reason for no mid gate.  Cost, weight, safety etc. 

What do you mean by "mid gate"? What is that? 

The gate in the Avalanche that used to open the smaller bed up and into the cab. You could remove the wall and window in the back of the cab to expand storage.

It made a small bed large enough to carry ply wood, 2x4 etc.

It was only used on the Avalanche and I ponder that there may have been some issues as it was a great idea but never used on anything else. It would be great on a Colorado crew but never used.

It has to be a structural thing or warranty issue. I never heard of one but it is crazy they never used it for anything else with no explanation.

I do not believe the Suburban issue was a big deal as Suburban sales are no where near what they used to be.

Ohhhhhh yeah I remember that thing. They used to advertise that pretty well also. Seemed like a great idea. 

I would agree that I bet it had to go because of the reduced structural rigidity for a rollover. 

Avalanches Rocked! So sad so bad that they were killed off. RIP 

My question is was there an issue with the mid gate. GM has run from it like a seal from a killer whale and no one else has even tried it. 

Is there rattle issues? Roll over roof issues? There has to be some reason they walked away from it. I liked the idea and would have loved to see more of it but something tells me there is an issue some place. 

A solid back wall creates so much rigidity in a cab. They already killed the reverse doors for more stiffness on the extended cab. Also have you ever seen how much a roof moves with no windshield. The glass is now part of the structure. 

I suspect there is a good reason for no mid gate.  Cost, weight, safety etc. 

Approximately zero of that is any issue with the Avalanche. The buttresses at the rear of the cab on the Avalanche weren't just a styling detail, they were structural. Also, the bed and cab are a single piece, there is no separation like there is on all other trucks besides the Ridgeline. It would have to be a very specific and very extreme roll-over situation to crush the roof on one of these.  Like landing upside down on a fallen tree after rolling down a cliff.  The Ridgeline is unibody, so without the frame there, it probably wouldn't be stiff enough.

In my years with the Avalanche, rattle from the mid-gate was never a problem...  if it was, it was operator error.  If I heard a rattle, I would get out and check because it meant that I didn't close a latch properly.  Where I did have a rattle was in my sunroof. 

My guess is that the Avalanche's demise had to do with cost.  The Suburban jumped from $43k base price to $49k base price, and the Avalanche would have needed to move with it.  They probably couldn't justify the price of the Avalanche at that range. 

My guess is that the Avalanche's demise had to do with cost.  The Suburban jumped from $43k base price to $49k base price, and the Avalanche would have needed to move with it.  They probably couldn't justify the price of the Avalanche at that range.

Oh, I don't know if I agree with that, Drew.  Every Avalanche I saw on Chevy dealer's lots in 2012 and 2013, when I was actively looking to purchase one, was priced in the $48-$52k range, and these were the LT-trimmed models. The LTZ, the one I drooled for, was approaching $55-$57k.  With the price that new 2016 crew cab pickups are selling at ($52k and up), I think the Avalanche would have continued to sell if it was updated along with the Suburban.  I was hoping that the new mid-size twins were going to spawn an Avalanche-like model, hence the full-size Avalanche's departure. The Chevy Silverado High Desert concept tells me that the Avalanche isn't really dead with the GM designers

 

My guess is that the Avalanche's demise had to do with cost.  The Suburban jumped from $43k base price to $49k base price, and the Avalanche would have needed to move with it.  They probably couldn't justify the price of the Avalanche at that range.

 

Oh, I don't know if I agree with that, Drew.  Every Avalanche I saw on Chevy dealer's lots in 2012 and 2013, when I was actively looking to purchase one, was priced in the $48-$52k range, and these were the LT-trimmed models. The LTZ, the one I drooled for, was approaching $55-$57k.  With the price that new 2016 crew cab pickups are selling at ($52k and up), I think the Avalanche would have continued to sell if it was updated along with the Suburban.  I was hoping that the new mid-size twins were going to spawn an Avalanche-like model, hence the full-size Avalanche's departure. The Chevy Silverado High Desert concept tells me that the Avalanche isn't really dead with the GM designers

 

Oh I know they typically sold new in the $55k and up range, but can you imagine them trying to add another $8k on top of that when the most recent ones came out?  It's a great truck and a great concept, but at $63k for it to be equipped the way people like it you're already into Sierra Denali range.