After 50,000 miles, Motor Trend Declares the Colorado ZR2 the Best Off-Road Midsize Truck

Off-road trucks like the Colorado ZR2 are a lot of fun for automotive reviewers as it takes them to cool rural locations where they can test their own off-road abilities as much as the trucks’. But like a visit to New York City, you can’t help but think, “This is plenty of fun, but what is it like to live with this every day?” Motor Trend set out to determine just that by keeping a Colorado ZR2 for a year and over 50,000 miles. Their verdict is succinctly encapsulated in the article subhead: “For my money, this is the best off-road midsize pickup you can buy.” Twin Falls Chevrolet shares more of what they have to say after a year-long test of the Colorado ZR2.

Motor Trend didn’t just take this truck to work and back. There were, as they put it: “Towing, cross-country hauls, overland travel, snow, mud, rocks, and more…” They clarify that while there are competing models that excel at specific tasks, the Colorado ZR2 is the best off-road truck overall.

For example, they state that the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon’s solid front and rear Dana 44 live axles, two locking differentials, and 4.0:1 low transfer-case ratio make it the best truck for slow, rock-crawling. However, the Colorado is superior whenever the speed “increases past a walking pace.”

At the same time, the Tacoma TRD Pro is good at high-speed off-roading, but its lack of a front differential keeps it from being competitive on technical, slow-speed stuff. Also, while the Toyota shocks have to be adjusted by hand, the Ford Ranger Raptor’s achieves the same with electronics. The ZR2’s Multimatic spool-valve shocks “minimize body roll, handle G-outs, smooth out washboarded roads, and absorb hits from whoops—all without manual dials or any sort of electronics.” They also provide a surprisingly comfortable ride when on the way to or coming back from the trails.

Their biggest issue during their time with the truck was the brakes, as off-road activity often jammed dirt and debris into the brake pads. The brake sensor wires were also vulnerable to off-road obstacles. They did not encounter these issues during on-road use. The battery also failed halfway through the truck’s stay and was replaced under warranty.

Overall, maintenance and repairs cost $4,182.61 over 50,000 miles. The previous year, a Tacoma TRD Pro cost $2,957 after 30,000 miles, and they think it is likely that the Toyota would have exceeded the ZR2’s maintenance and repair costs after another 20,000 miles.

At the end, they conclude that the Gladiator is best if you only want to crawl slowly over rocks, the TRD Pro has “inferior shocks and fewer off-road tools.” The Ranger Raptor simply costs too much for comparable capability. Thus, their conclusion:

“After more than 50,000 miles, I argue that from a dollars-per-unit-of-performance standpoint, the Colorado ZR2 is the best midsize off-road pickup truck you can spend money on.”

If an off-roader that is the best at covering all the bases appeals to you, visit Twin Falls Chevrolet and check out the ZR2 along with the entire Colorado model line.