Chevy Takes Stock Off-Road: 2019 Silverado LT Trail Boss and 2019 Colorado ZR2

When regarding off road performance trucks, there is a singular event, a very clear dividing line that bifurcates time into before and after. Into the B.C. and A.D. of trail-ready pickups, if you will. And whether all the major players in today’s market will admit it or not, it is simply a fact: All trucks in this category either come before or after the Ford Raptor. It’s simply a fact, an undeniable paradigm shift that has elevated the level of performance, and what consumers now expect of their trucks.

Now, whether or not General Motors would publicly agree with that assessment is another story. But the Raptor has undoubtedly brought the best out of its competition, in an “iron-sharpens-iron” sort of way. And there are few better examples of this phenomenon than two recent offerings from Chevrolet: the 2019 Silverado LT Trail Boss and the 2019 Colorado ZR2.

With both light-duty and full-size models, the folks behind the iconic bow tie are running headlong to meet their rival’s challenge, producing vehicles capably-equipped in ways that just weren’t available straight from the manufacturer as recently as a decade ago. It’s true that not every pickup is going to be a Raptor. But any pickup that doesn’t attempt to evolve with these advancing times is at risk of becoming just another dinosaur.

Pick a Chevy, Any Chevy

The Chevy Silverado is now in its fourth generation as one of the most iconic pickup trucks ever, notorious for its availability in a vast smorgasbord of trims and special editions. But that doesn’t mean that the trail-minded Silverado LT Trail Boss gets lost in the shuffle. Certainly not. In fact, it resides near the top of the heap, with only the LTZ and High Country models outranking it on the trim spectrum.

The new Silverado went through a complete redesign for the 2019 model year, part of a massive campaign to commemorate Chevrolet’s first full century in the truck game. And truth be told, it went really, really well. So well, in fact, that the Silverado was nominated as a finalist for the 2019 Motor Trend Truck Of The Year. Buyers loved the added size and cabin room, the lighter weight, the aggressive new grille and fascia. And most of all, they loved the multitude of choices they were presented with, from a combination of eight trim packages and six different powertrain combinations, along with three transmission options.

And not least among those choices, the 2019 Silverado LT Trail Boss.

Coming standard with Chevy’s popular 5.3-liter V8, it makes 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Trail Boss leaves the dealership off-road-ready. Coming with a 2-inch lift higher than the stock Silverado, plus 18-inch gloss black wheels, the 2019 Silverado LT Trail Boss is equipped with Chevy’s Z71 package, a setup specifically designed to make LT and LTZ models more capable where the asphalt ends. Skid plates, a rear-locking differential, Rancho shocks, recovery hooks, an underbody transfer case shield, and some gritty all-terrain tires are just some of the highlights.

Inside, Silverado fans will find plenty of comfort in familiarity—and more than a few tech bells and whistles. Ready for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with a 7-inch touchscreen, the Silverado LT Trail Boss features 4G LTE connectivity, as well as a six-speaker audio system. For a bit more, the Convenience Package offers such upgrades as 10-way adjustable heated bucket seats, an HD radio, and an HD rear-vision camera. Convenience package number two brings more luxury, like a universal home remote, a power sliding rear window, and the Chevy infotainment 3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen and voice recognition. Leather, Bose speakers, a top-notch safety package and upgraded bed protection can all be had for an extra fee.

A base-level Silverado LT Trail Boss is priced at $48,300. A very well-equipped model can run about $10,000 more than that, depending on options. Not cheap—in fact, the upper reaches are more than a Raptor. But the level of customization is practically unheard of. With all these choices, you can rest assured you’re getting exactly the truck that you want.

If something a little smaller is what you have your eye on, then Chevrolet may have you covered yet again.

The Chevy Colorado ZR2 is a capable off-roader in a compact package, resting atop the pecking order of Colorado trim levels.

Sitting on a 2-inch lift kit, with bigger, 31-inch tires, the Colorado ZR2 is ready for whatever gets thrown its way. Compared to the base-level Colorado, it features longer springs, longer shocks, and longer cast-iron control arms. The frame has been adjusted to accommodate a top-notch suspension, with reinforced damper anchor points. Two skid plates keep the underbelly safe, and electronic locking differentials are fitted front AND rear (the only GM truck with that distinction).

The regular Colorado’s inline-four cylinder won’t do for the small-yet-mighty ZR2. The V6 gas engine (paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission) makes 308 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque, while the turbo-diesel four-cylinder iteration puts out 186 horsepower and a punchy 369 lb.-ft. of torque (the best in its class).

Much like its big brother, the Silverado, the interior of the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 has remained largely unchanged. An upgraded infotainment system, an HD rear-vision camera, Ultrasonic Rear Park assist safety tech, rear USB ports, and a six-way adjustable driver’s seat becoming available are some of the subtle upgrades.

Though mannerly and cost-effective (at least for a pickup) with its over-performing spool-valve dampers on blacktop, make no mistake: the 2019 Colorado ZR2 is most definitely built to crawl. It is 3.5 inches wider than a standard Colorado. The redesigned front bumper on the ZR2 gives it a 30-degree approach angle, and the breakover angle is 23.5 degrees, making the ZR2 good enough on its worst day. But if for some unholy reason you think you’ll need more off-roading cred from your Colorado ZR2, relax. They’ve already got you covered.

Take a quick look at the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison.

Built in a partnership with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), think of the Bison as a special edition of the ZR2, which is itself a special edition of the Colorado. (On second thought, maybe don’t think too much about it. Just appreciate its burliness for a sec.)

Larger fender flares, a comprehensive boron steel skid-plate setup, an optional snorkel, and new steel bumpers ready to accommodate a WARN winch are just a few of the details that make this one of the most capable crawlers the market has ever seen. (And has the crew behind the TRD Pro line headed back to the drawing board.)

The 2019 Colorado ZR2, relative to the base model, is not cheap. At $42,295, it is nearly double the cost. Yet it now accounts for more than 10 percent of all Colorado sales, an impressive figure for such a steep price hike. To add the Bison package to a ZR2 costs an extra $5,750.