The 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2 Offers 1 Key Advantage Over the Ford F-150 Raptor
In the world of full-size trucks, if you want to be a real competitor, you have to offer some kind of off-road variant. And for Chevy, that means having the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2. It comes with legitimate 4×4 capability, aggressive looks, and of course, a big price tag. Now, it’s easy to see that something like the Ford F-150 Raptor is crazier than the Silverado ZR2. But GM’s product might come with a key advantage.
What is the Chevy Silverado ZR2?
The Chevy Silverado ZR2 is the off-road version of Chevy’s full-size truck. It comes with all-terrain tires, more ground clearance, and Multimatic spool-valve dampers. In terms of power, it is equipped with the 6.2-liter V8 engine that makes 420 horsepower.
Despite being a truck focused on 4×4 performance, it does have a towing capacity of 8,900 lbs. And that means that it can out tow the Ford F-150 Raptor. Not that most folks are actually towing items that heavy with their off-road truck.
The 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 might have a benefit over the Ford F-150 Raptor
OK, so on paper, the Silverado ZR2 is not going to beat the F-150 Raptor. The Ford Raptor makes 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. And overall, it is just the crazier truck. But you might notice something weird on this off-road truck. It has three amber lights in the front and three red lights in the back. Why is that? Those lights aren’t just there to look cool; they are actually there for regulation.
With a width of 87.0 inches, the F-150 Raptor is actually so big it is required to have those marker lights. And in off-road situations, that might cause some issues. Especially if the trail you are trying to tackle is narrow.
The Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2 does not have those lights. And that is because its width is just 81.2 inches. Now, that’s not to call the Silverado 1500 a small truck. It follows the trend of larger and larger pickups. But because it is not as wide, actually driving it on the trail could prove an easier task.
How expensive is the Silverado ZR2?
According to Car and Driver, this off-road truck has an MSRP of around $70,000. With options and customization, that price will certainly rise. And you can expect that some dealerships will be attempting to add their own markups.
The Ford Raptor has an MSRP starting closer to $80,000, but due to popularity, prices will likely be higher. Even on the used market, the F-150 Raptor commands some serious premiums. And that shows just how sought-after it is.
As is, folks looking for a Ford F-150 Raptor or Ram TRX probably aren’t going to be looking at the Silverado. But that could change. There are rumors of a Chevy Silverado ZR2 “Meteor” trim, and that looks like it could be a legitimate contender. It’s hard for me not to see GM looking at the success of the TRX and Raptor, and wanting a piece of the pie.
