GM Benchmarking Ford F-150 Raptor Against Silverado ZR2 Bison, Sierra AT4X AEV Edition
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As you might imagine, GM keeps a close eye on what its competition is up do, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that GM Authority recently spotted a Ford F-150 Raptor being benchmarked by The General.
Though we don’t have a single shot that shows all three trucks, The Blue Oval’s range-topping pickup was being benchmarked against the two closest rivals offered by GM – the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Bison and GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition.
Ford F-150 Raptor being benchmarked by GM outside a GM facility
The particular F-150 Raptor is a 2021 model rolling on a set of standard 17-inch aluminum wheels. Under the hood, it features Ford’s twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine, rated at a healthy 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. It also features the range-topping Raptor equipment group.
The General doesn’t offer any direct rivals to the F-150 Raptor, but the forthcoming Silverado ZR2 Bison and recently-announced GMC Sierra AT4X AEV Edition. Both of these pickups feature upgraded parts from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), enabling them to have high-performance off-road capabilities right from the factory.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that earlier this month, GM Authority spotted a prototype of the Sierra AT4X AEV Edition testing alongside the orange F-150 Raptor. Incidentally, just one week later, GM pulled the veil off that very model, revealing it in full – including photos and specifications. With development aided by AEV, the Sierra AT4X AEV Edition represents the most off-road ready Sierra 1500 ever built. Unlike the Raptor, it’s powered by the same engine as lesser Sierras, namely the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine rated at 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, The sole transmission option is the GM 10-speed automatic transmission.
2023 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X AEV Edition
The Silverado ZR2 Bison was also caught in the same test group, giving us a better look at the off-road pickup, albeit with heavy camouflage. It features a high-clearance front bumper along with AEV wheels wrapped in beefy off-road tires. Like the Sierra AT4X AEV Edition, the Silverado ZR2 Bison will also harness the aforementioned 6.2L V8 L87 engine making the same levels of power and torque.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Bison prototype
This isn’t the first time GM Authority has spied a Ford F-150 Raptor in GM’s possession. Back in early May, we snapped some photos of a different model being benchmarked by The General, indicating that the automaker is very interested in what its crosstown rival is up to when it comes to off-road ready pickups.
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so gm’s logic on “keeping an eye on the competition” is to wait over a decade to rival their direct rival, then when they do decide to finally make a truck, its more expensive and a lot less capable than its rival(s), and to make it worse, their other direct rival makes a even better truck than the first rival, to which the original rival responds by making a just as capable truck as the even more capable truck to which gm introduces an aev package……we knew this was going to happen but it doesn’t get any better as time goes by.
GM’s goal was to fix the truck you all complained about befor investing in off road packages.
GM is doing the volume route where they under cut the Raptor and TRX and sell more trucks. The formula worked great on the ZR2 Colorado.
They haven’t undercut anything. The only thing the ZR2 really has going for it is a front locker. Otherwise, the TRX and the Raptor are undeniably more capable.
ZR2 starts at $70,095 USD with zero options and freight included
Raptor starts at $71,700 with zero options and freight included
Both are similarly equipped in terms of creature comforts (leather heated seats, big screen, safety features, etc.).
They have greatly undercut ford and RAM, in case you haven’t seen their selling almost as many trail bosses as Toyota and Nissan sell trucks combined. Also, their sales report has come out and there moping the floor with ford as just the silverados alone are almost outselling the F series, and GMC is almost half as much as rams sales. The trailboss is such a hit seller that ford now has introduced the tremor trim to counter it.
Do you not do any research before you talk? ZR2 is fully loaded, the others that is their base optioned trim and can add another 10k to the price.
They are more capable at high speed running which most people don’t do. Most are on fire roads, slow going back country trails and off road parks, which the ZR2 outshines those in more realistic off reading. On top of that they are more capable at truck duties (payload, towing and hauling).
The truth lies somewhere in the middle….
even that is comical. so what if it is “fully loaded”? the point is, it is still inferior to the trx and raptor. the at4x by itself costs 78k (and that doesn’t even include the aev package), for that you can literally buy a base trx which is far more capable than the zr2/ at4x. the zr2 costs 70k, as well as the raptor, AS AFORMENTIONED, is a lot more capable than the zr2 / at4x. as for its “truck duties”. gm, as with ford and ram have multiple tiers for their trucks corresponding with payload and towing. for gm, you can get 3 different ratings of trucks depending on your needs. only doing light duty? get a 1500. medium duty? 2500. heavy duty? 3500. want to go offroading but still want a truck? get a trailboss. not to mention each of those class trucks have different engine choices to match with the type of load you want to haul. to think that gm couldn’t even “sacrifice” a 1500 to make into a full offroad beast with an lt4 or even lt5 is utter bullsh*t and cheapness on gm’s end.
How is it inferior though? Locking front and rear, additional maneuverability Better protection. How is a dune jumper better?
A base TRX starts at $80k and is missing a ton of features at this price point. The AT4X only comes fully loaded for less money. From a pricing perspective, this makes the Ram a total failure.
Daily driving, the AT4X from all reviews suggests it is far superior in ride/comfort than the TRX. Again, the TRX is a failure.
Speed, yes, the TRX is quicker but if that’s all you care about, get a Hummer and you’ll leave the TRX in the dust.
On paper, the TRX has better approach/departure characteristics. But show me a trail where the TRX can go and the AT4X has failed. I’d wager the AT4X can actually go places the TRX would fail at or become very damaged because it’s so wide.
If all you care about is ego, get the TRX. Otherwise the AT4X will far better serve you and is much better value especially when you start filling up the tank.
Yes, I’ve done my research, it’s clear, however, that you have not.
I reiterate.
A base ZR2 is $70,095 per the Chevrolet build and price tool.
A base Raptor is $71,700 per the Ford build and price tool.
Look through the standard equipment for both trucks. They are very similarly equipped when it comes to creature comforts, safety, and tech features. The Raptor has more power, and is superior in terms of off-road performance out of the box.
Onto your second point – “ZR2 is fully loaded, the others that is their base optioned trim and can add another 10k to the price.”
A fully-loaded ZR2 is $74,160 per the Chevrolet build and price tool. This adds the Technology Package, Multi-Flex tailgate, Power Sunroof, and Power adjustable trailer tow mirrors. This does not include any accessories such as side steps, tonneau covers, etc., only factory installed options.
A fully loaded Raptor is $87,885 per the Ford build and price tool. This adds Raptor High Equipment Group (includes – Torsen Package, Projector Headlights with Dynamic Bending, B&O 18-speaker sound), Moonroof & Tailgate package (includes – Panoramic Moonroof and Power Open/Close Tailgate with step and work surface), Blue Accent Interior Package, Raptor 37 Performance Package (includes 37″ tires and tuned suspension), Sprayed Bedliner, 36-gallon fuel tank, and 2.0 kW bed outlet. Like the ZR2, this does not include any accessories, only factory options.
Yes, a fully-loaded Raptor is $14,000 more than a fully-loaded ZR2. The problem is, the Raptor has a whole host of options that the ZR2 simply doesn’t.
You can’t get 37″ tires on a ZR2, you can’t even get 35s. The Raptor has a whole host of unique interior options the ZR2 doesn’t. Carbon fiber trim, Recaro seats, a panoramic moonroof, an 18-speaker stereo, etc. The ZR2 interior is indistinguishable from any other LT/RST/LTZ Silverado with leather seats aside from the splash screen playing a ZR2 logo animation upon startup. Even the Silverado image shown in the gauge cluster is of an LTZ, just like all the other trucks.
If GM decided to give the ZR2 similar options to the Raptor, it would probably be at a similar price point. And based on current pricing a souped-up Raptor-level AT4X would probably be several thousand MORE than a Raptor.
@ C8.R
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Nobody is buying the cheap zr2 compared to the Trx or raptor.
I mean I like the Zr2 more, if I wanted a bro dozer I’d be interested. But it should be 5k cheaper due to the competition.
And then all of them should take 10k off that. But that’s another story.
Absolutely ! I like the old GM trucks I have . Still even yet GM exceed my expectation at a recorder breaking pace to disappoint me year after year waiting for them to get in the game thar the rest of the automaker’s are having so much fun satisfying they’re customers at .
I’m convinced GM management is paid by the competition to to fight they’re way to the bottom ,and this is purely my opinion ,and I can’t be the only almost X loayal customer that feels this way . I hope some one in , management reads this but I know they won’t , lol but I bet those lunatics at dodge will and they have the happiest crazier people behind the wheel of they’re products . Sorry for my rant .
GM still makes plenty of cool stuff, but it seems as though they’ve just given up on making enthusiast pickup trucks for some reason. I don’t think we’ll ever see anything like the Syclone, 454 SS, or Silverado SS again. If we do, it’ll be the work of some tuner, and not GM themselves.
The Escalade/Escalade-V, C8 Vette, Hummer EV, and Blackwing Caddy’s are all super cool and it feels like GM actually put heart into those products. Why can’t they do that with a Silverado or Sierra?
Largely cause GM’s has been for the last 40 years the lowest costing vehicles per vehicle lifespan. They’ve built that to the point that GM customers are knowingly stingy. They’ve tried to make premium models in the past and have never been able to sell them. Right now they are focusing on 2 customers;
1 the budget minded buyer
2 the millenial “conquest” buyer coming from foreigner brands.
The first one is looking for a capable reliable V8 at an affordable price, the second doesn’t know much about trucks but likes the huge shiny grill and VRRROOoM noise, and doesn’t mind that the truck rolls on 32’s as even a Silverado WT 2wd will go places their prior Camry wouldn’t. Chevy is killing it with those two customers right now.
Hundreds of competitive vehicles were benchmarked annually when I worked for GM. The mere fact that you caught one on camera should not be over-interpreted. GM may have purchased the vehicle due to an interest in some specific feature that could be quite obscure.
THIS is what America needs? Another expensive, inefficient monstertruck p3nis enlarger? Nevermind developing world class, affordable, efficient automobiles in an age of $7.00 a gallon gas the result of a trumped up carbon emissions crisis fueling global economic uncertainty and unprecedented downward mobility. Eco-Warrior persona Barra and her globalist cabal aren’t practicing what they preach and no one in their right mind should be buying the bold faced hypocrisy they’re selling. Insanity.
The F-150 is way ahead of anything gm has to offer. You will be blown away with the 3.5 ecoboost engine. The torque is unreal.
Yes, I have a 2019 Silverado 1500.
Literally, as the turbo seizes and KA-BOOM! You will also enjoy the wonderfully pitiful gas mileage and paying an additional 10K over the Chevy. Your welcome!
I don’t know where you’re finding these similarly-equipped Chevrolets for $10,000 less than an F-150. Even the old model with the small screen and outdated interior were not $10,000 less than a 2021 F-150.
Does the Chevy engine go KA-BOOM when the lifters fail? What a dumb comment.
Both engines can fail. GM offers a turbo 4 cylinder too and if they ever pull their head out of their rear and do a turbo i6 I will be interested
They outsell GM so I guess all of them don’t blow up any more than the GM 8 speed. Or the valve springs, lifters, etc.
On recent sales, that would be inaccurate. GM trucks are #1 in America in sales.
For the first time in a long time. Now it’s end all important where 6 months ago it wasn’t relevant. Basics are so predictable.
The 7.3 Godzilla from ford is also having valve spring issues. It’s a supplier, not engineering issue.
That truck needs an Lt4. Or and LT4 hybrid. Then it would compete with the raptor or trx
Lol, my 19 Silverado was 11,500 off of msrp. That’s why.
I see tons of new Silverado’s on the road and 9 out of 10 are ALWAYS a Trail Boss. The truck is very sharp, has a few off-road bits and still offers new technology. Sure, 99.99% will never venture off of a paved road, but most truck buyers want a tough looking rig. Would you rather cruise around in a 2WD Nissan Frontier with a paltry 4″ of ground clearance, tiny steel wheels, cloth seats, AM stereo or a Trail Boss with a nice lift, 33″ tires, aggressive body work, etc.? I believe that an overwhelming majority of truck buyers would choose the latter. To each their own.
In conclusion, if GM does make a direct Raptor/TRX fighter, it won’t come cheap as both the Raptor and TRX are quite pricey. Again, most of these trucks will never see a gravel road, let alone a nasty trail run, but buying a $80-90k truck to trash in the woods is not a fun time, IMHO. I’ll stick with my Camaro and Corvette.
Where are all of you getting your sales info because Fords F Series has ALWAYS been the best selling pickup. Just a few months ago the RAM outsold the Chevy for the first time and was best selling truck number 2 and Silverado was 3rd in the best selling pickup trucks category. This may have been back in April when this news broke. I’m not sure.