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Where the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X fits into the hierarchy of off-road trucks

The world of off-road pickups sure seems like it's getting crowded, but the reality is that half-ton trucks were always pretty capable, even with what seemed like fairly basic 4x4 packages. It wasn't until recently that manufacturers really started to carve out different off-road niches for their mainstream pickup offerings. With the introduction of the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X (alongside its mechanical twin, the Chevy Silverado ZR2), the crowd has grown even thicker. Even we have trouble keeping up with the increased segmentation of off-road pickup trucks, so we threw together this handy guide to help you understand just where these various packages fit into the broader pickup hierarchy. Let's dive in.  Your basics If we say "Z71" or "FX4" to you, both will probably ring a bell. That's because they've been around a few days short of forever and their respective customers have grown so used to these package codes that OEMs got into the habit of just plastering them on the side of so-equipped truck beds. Anybody who sells a pickup truck offers some sort of basic off-road prep package like this one. Z71 is found on GM vehicles; FX4 is Ford's. Ram just calls it "Off Road Group," but no matter what you call them, they're all pretty similar.  Typical upgrades for this category include some additional ground clearance, a basic all-terrain tire, heavy-duty suspension upgrades and likely either a limited-slip or locking rear differential. These are pretty handy for anything beyond a rutted dirt road. On newer trucks — especially on higher trim levels — you'll probably also get some dedicated off-road drive modes.  Mid-range This is where things start to get interesting. To qualify for this category, a locking rear differential is a must. Most of the names in this segment are well-established too, though some (Nissan Titan Pro-4X, anyone?) may not necessarily be on your radar. The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro checks in here, as does the Ram Rebel, Chevy Silverado Trail Boss and GMC Sierra AT4 (no X!).  Realistically, if there's somewhere you need to go and one of these trucks won't do it, you might want to consider a helicopter. But it's 2021, and our thirst for capability is strong, so of course, there's a way to spend more of your money on this type of thing. Onward! Entry-hardcore Here we are, the home of the new 2022 GMC Sierra AT4X and Chevrolet Silverado ZR2. This is a tiny niche, otherwise occupied only by the Ford F-150 Tremor.

Junkyard Gem: 1987 Chevrolet Turbo Sprint

Fifteen years ago, I wrote my first-ever automotive article under the name Murilee Martin, and it didn't take me long to start writing about one of my favorite automotive subjects: the junkyard. Before I'd refined my system for documenting discarded vehicles, however, I shot a lot of boneyard photos that never got used. For today's Junkyard Gem, I have four shots from early 2007 of one of the rarest turbocharged machines of the 1980s: the Chevrolet Turbo Sprint. The Chevrolet Sprint was really a rebadged Suzuki Cultus, from the pre-Geo era when General Motors sold the Isuzu Gemini as the Chevrolet Spectrum, the Daewoo LeMans as the Pontiac LeMans and the Toyota Corolla as the Chevrolet Nova (soon enough, the Spectrum became a Geo, and the Nova became the Prizm). The second-generation Cultus appeared in 1988, becoming the Geo Metro on our shores the following year. The Turbo Sprint was available for just the last two years of the Sprint's 1985-1988 American sales run, and it appears that just a couple of thousand were sold; if I'd known at the time just how rare they were, I'd have shot more photos of this one at the now-defunct Hayward Pick Your Part. The turbocharged 993cc three-cylinder produced 70 horsepower, 22 better than the naturally-aspirated version. Since the Turbo Sprint weighed just 1,620 pounds (that's about 500 pounds lighter than a barely more powerful '22 Mitsusbishi Mirage), it was plenty of fun to drive. For 1988, the regular Sprint hatchback cost $6,380 while the Turbo Sprint listed at $8,240 (that's about $15,375 and $19,855 today, respectively). Believe it or not, a Turbo Sprint actually raced in the 24 Hours of Lemons 10 years ago, though it didn't end well. This ad is for the regular Cultus, not the Cultus Turbo, but the screaming guitars sound reasonably turbocharged. For the most part, Chevy Sprint marketing was all about cheap purchase price and stingy fuel economy… at a time when gasoline prices were cratering. Related Video:

How to locate a fleet Chevy Caprice PPV you can buy

The Chevy Caprice shares the same platform as the now-defunct Pontiac G8 and Chevy's SS sedan. The Pontiac G8 received excellent reviews, but the economy was not doing so well, and gas prices were high, so no one bought them and Pontiac went under. The Caprice PPV is available with a 3.6-liter V6 with 300 horsepower or a 6.0-liter V8 with 355 hp. It comes standard with heavy-duty suspension and a limited-slip differential on the V8 model. The Chevy Caprice also received praise for its handling and road manners and even received a perfect score in a past assessment by the LA County Sheriff's Department. Unfortunately, you won't be able to buy one new even if you want one. The Chevy Caprice PPV is a fleet vehicle available only to law enforcement. However, if you go on Cars.com, select Chevrolet in the dropdown, click all types of vehicles, change the year filter from 2011 to 2015 and type in the keyword Caprice, lo and behold, listings for pre-owned Caprice PPVs appear. Many of these have low mileage and were not sold for whatever reason, and they sat around. Some come with the remainder of the three-year / 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year / 100,000-mile warranty on the powertrain. Those who have strong negotiating skills can extend the bumper-to-bumper warranty a couple of years for around $1,500 or less. The purchase price of the Caprice PPV is around $30,000 to 34,000. The pre-owned ones are less; dealers took the brunt of the depreciation cost. Best of all, the bonus of driving a Chevy Caprice PPV is everyone driving around you will follow the speed limit and every motor vehicle rule in the book because they think you are the law. Used ex-law enforcement fleet purchase are risky. But this is too unique to pass up, go buy one quick. There are only a couple in the country at the moment. Follow me on Twitter: Donkleblanc Related Video: Image Credit: wikimedia Chevrolet Used Car Buying Police/Emergency chevy caprice chevy caprice ppv open road