Strong half-ton performance is offered by the AT4X trim and Duramax inline 3.0-liter, light-duty, 6-cylinder turbodiesel on the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500. Ratings are 305 horsepower, 495 lb.-ft. torque, towing capacity 9,300 pounds.

Entry requires “step high and jump a bit” to contend with the rock rails, offroad suspension and 2-inch lift. Once in the heated/ventilated leather seats, it is a magnificent interior to appreciate, with 13.4-inch color touchscreen infotainment, 12-speaker Bose premium audio, 15-inch head-up display, power sunroof.

The impressively structured Sierra AT4X is priced at $88,585; I can recall only two pickups I’ve driven with higher pricetags – both electrics, a Hummer and F-150 Lightning.

The 10 most expensive pickups I’ve driven through the years:

• ‘23 GMC Hummer electric $110,295;
• ‘22 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum electric $94,004;
• ‘24 GMC Sierra AT4X Duramax turbodiesel $88,000;
• ‘20 Ram 1500 TRX $87,370;
• ‘22 Ford F150 Raptor Super Crew $82,060;
• ‘23 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate 4WD light-duty 3.0-liter inline turbodiesel $81,000;
• ‘18 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab turbodiesel $80,115;
• ‘17 Ram 3500 Crew Cab dually $79,965;
• ‘23 Toyota Tundra Capstone $78,709;
• ‘22 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X $76,790.

We did little offroading with the beefed-up Sierra, though a nice, smooth highway drive last Saturday morning was to the PACE Center in Parker for a noontime memorial service for Roy Morgan, who died April 4.

Morgan, a classmate of mine at Sterling High School, with one helicopter and a single hospital contract in Colorado in 1980 founded Air Methods, which today conducts annually more than 100,000 air medical transports.

Air Method executives in May 2024 conducted the two-hour service for Morgan, who served as president, CEO and director of the corporation, and was inducted into the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame. The two-hour service was concluded with a “Missing Man Formation Aerial Salute” over the terrace at the PACE Center.

Little more than a week after our graduation from Sterling High in 1955, Roy married Dorothy Dubois, another classmate and a cousin of Jan’s. Dorothy passed away in 2016; Roy later married Dian Horton. Other survivors include his daughter, Debi, and son, Roger, and their families.

Earlier last week, another highway run took Jan and me to the New York Deli News in Denver for lunch with friends Mary Conway and Ken Baldwin.

That drive and the later one to Parker weren’t enough to boost the Sierra above the 19-20 mpg range. While the light-duty, 6-cylinder turbodiesels produce mid-20s miles per gallon for the standard GMC Sierra 1500, it doesn’t hold up for the AT4X with its front and rear e-locking differentials, large wheels and tires, shocks with increased damping force, skid plates and heavier curb weight. My overall mpg was 20.4; its EPA combined rating is 19.