- Composed and surefooted off-road
- Easygoing diesel torque and fuel economy
- Comfortable and spacious commuter
- Not enough interior storage space
- A lot less power than the Ram RHO or Ford F-150 Raptor
– Green Valley, CA
While the Ford F-150 Raptor gets all the hype when it comes to full-size, off-road trucks, its trophy truck proportions work against it in off-road situations that don’t involve wide-open desert running. For commutes that entail narrow dirt paths, craggy rock faces, and Fiesta-sized obstacles, might I instead suggest the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2? With neat tricks like Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) shocks and a trio of locking differentials, the Bow Tie is more of a general-purpose dirtbag that succeeds in a wide variety of trail conditions.
And the Glacier Blue 2024 Silverado 1500 ZR2 I drove recently is even more flexible thanks to its optional turbodiesel 3.0-liter inline-six, an engine that combines resolute low-end torque with acceptable full-throttle performance, as well as the reasonable fuel economy of a humble crossover SUV. It could be the perfect truck for most shoppers except for one not-so-small detail. With a base price of $71,795 (bolstered on my example by $4,005 worth of sunroof, head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and appearance options), the Silverado ZR2 doesn’t come cheap.
Why It’s Great
The current Chevrolet Silverado is a darn fine pickup truck no matter the trim level, with a comfortable ride and attractive interior – at least since its 2022 facelift that ditched the dated and ugly original dash. Chevy’s half-ton pickup also has lots of passenger space, especially the crew cab that gets a huge rear seat. The Silverado also has the largest cargo areas in its class, with my tester’s 70-inch short box holding 63 cubic feet under the bed rails – more than either Ford’s 79-inch or Ram’s 76-inch standard boxes.
Beyond the Silverado 1500 family’s basic goodness, the ZR2 adds a massive helping of off-road talent. Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires measuring 33.2 inches and 2.0-inch suspension lift give the ZR2 11.2 inches of ground clearance. The new suspenders feature DSSV shock absorbers, passive dampers that alter their behavior based on overall wheel travel and the amplitude of the obstacle’s impact. That means that sharp bumps will yield a softer response from the DSSV shocks, but constant forces, like cornering and braking, firm them up a bit. The result is an incredibly smooth ride without sacrificing decent body control.
That positive first impression only improved once I got the ZR2 off of the pavement and into the rocks. Martingale Ridge Road may sound like a picturesque enclave, but the dirt path near Green Valley, California, is actually steep and rutted, and it leads to the equally rugged Forest Route 6N07. The big Chevy handled the trails with ease, with the long-travel suspension keeping the tires firmly planted to the assemblage of shale, scree, and dust that forms the OHV road. Better still, whenever I found myself lifting a wheel or spinning a bit in the loose rock, I was able to use the ZR2’s locking front and rear differentials to claw my way out.
Especially useful in this slow, bumpy going was the ZR2’s no-cost turbodiesel 3.0-liter inline-six. With 495 pound-feet of torque at just 1,500 rpm, the smallest push of the throttle results in steady, controllable twist to climb over rocks with no drama. Even better, after a full day of off-roading, the dashboard was claiming 14.2 miles per gallon a number that improved to over 20 after 300 miles of on-road commuting. The ZR2’s standard engine is a phenomenal 6.2-liter V8, which would probably make sense if most of your off-roading is going to done at Baja-style speeds. But for rock crawling (and daily driving) the diesel is the one to get.
What It’s Missing
Unlike the Ram 1500 RHO and Ford F-150 Raptor, Chevrolet’s flagship off-roader maintains the same, narrow stance as other Silverado 1500s. That proved to be a benefit on the narrow Martingale Ridge Road, but when things opened up a bit and I dug into the throttle, the ZR2 was indeed less stable than its wide-load rivals.
And while both the Ford and Ram have absolutely cavernous interior storage solutions, the Chevy somehow feels a bit cramped and cluttered once you load it down with your daily accouterment. The center armrest cubby is the biggest offender – while the Ram 1500’s big ol’ box can easily accommodate (and charge) a MacBook, the Silverado offers a space that’s not much larger than a couple of wallets and two pairs of sunglasses.
Also Try
The aforementioned RHO is probably the Silverado ZR2’s most fearsome rival, boasting neo-TRX styling and a powerful twin-turbocharged inline-six that puts out 540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft. It also has larger tires (35-inchers) and 0.6 inches more ground clearance, and it starts at $71,990 compared to the ZR2’s $71,795. The Ford F-150 Raptor is taller still, with 12.0 inches of ground clearance and available 37-inch tires, but it costs more than either the Ram or the Chevy at $80,435 with destination.
If the ZR2 diesel’s narrower proportions and impressive fuel economy are appealing, the other player in this space is the hybridized Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Ground clearance on the ‘Yota is down to a paltry 9.0 inches, but it offers 579 lb-ft of partially electric torque, so it should be similarly easy to creep over big obstacles. Still, its 19 miles per gallon combined can’t match the Duramax’s 21 mpg, and the Tundra costs more at $74,075.
Is It A Forever Car?
Between the spacious cabin, excellent fuel economy, grunty diesel straight-six, solid off-road performance, and nicely organized Google built-in infotainment system, the Silverado 1500 ZR2 feels like the perfect truck for a lot of people. Those who can resist the temptation to trade it in at the end of their lease would likely be very happy with this Chevy for years to come. It may be a volume-production pickup instead of an ultra-limited special edition, but like your dad’s set of Craftsman wrenches, sometimes a simple tool that does its job well can be the best hand-me-down.
Base Price: $69,900 + $1,895 Destination
As-Tested Price: $75,800
Engine: Turbodiesel 3.0-Liter Inline-Six
Output: 305 Horsepower / 496 Pound Feet
Transmission: 10-Speed Automatic
Drive: Four-Wheel
EPA Fuel Economy: 20 City / 22 Highway / 21 Combined
Weight: 5,710 Pounds
Seating: 5
Cargo Capacity: 63.0 Cubic Feet
Max Towing: 8,700 Pounds
Max Payload: 1,550 Pounds
Ground Clearance: 11.2 Inches
