2021 GMC YUKON AT4

Third report: A lot of off-roading, a touch of towing, and more fun features

- JASON GONDERMAN

Backcountry exploration is really what the GMC Yukon AT4 is best suited for. Getting out and finding abandoned mines and old relics from centuries past is one of our favorite pastimes and the Yukon AT4 is one of the most comfortable and capable SUVs for the activity.

It's always a good thing when we get to this point in the life cycle of a long-term test vehicle and have nothing of any grave importance to report. Such is the case with our 2021 Four Wheeler SUV of the Year award-winning '21 GMC Yukon AT4. After nine months on the I road and more than 16,000 miles, the Yukon is still rock solid and we are just as enamored with the vehicle today as we were on the day it was dropped off.

During the first half of the year, we spent a fair bit of time with a trailer in tow. With 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque on tap from the 5.3L V-8 engine, and a respectable tow rating of 8,200 pounds, the Yukon AT4 has proven itself to be a competent tow rig. The one area that we're not as certain about is the adjustable air suspension while towing. The system has a number of positive attributes, with the most useful being automatic load-leveling and the ability to raise and lower the vehicle's height while hitching. On the flip side, there are several small quibbles that we've bumped up against that we feel need addressing.