2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Named Four Wheeler Pickup Truck Of The Year
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The 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 was just recognized as the best four-wheeler truck of the year, with critics praising the pickup’s off-road prowess, aggressive styling, and much-improved interior.
In a recent post, Four Wheeler laid out why the 2023 Chevy Silverado took top honors this year. To note, although the Chevy Silverado ZR2 first hit the market for the 2022 model year, the publication moved its eligibility forward to now, as the off-roader didn’t arrive until late in the model year.
To kick things off, Four Wheeler was impressed by the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, rated at a maximum of 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Although the publication expressed a desire to test a Silverado ZR2 equipped with the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4, the same powerplant found under the hood of the 682-horsepower Cadillac Escalade-V, the L87 was deemed more than adequate, sending the pickup to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and through the quarter mile in 14.8 seconds. Notably, that quarter-mile time bests last year’s Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year, the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor. “This shows that’s it’s not just about horsepower, but tire size, gearing, and weight as well,” Four Wheeler states.
The Chevy Silverado ZR2 was also highly praised for its interior, with the publication stating that “Chevy took the public’s criticisms seriously” when it came to making changes to the cabin introduced with the 2019-model-year overhaul. Although the cabin wasn’t perfect, with several testers citing a “flimsy” turn signal stock, the overall reaction to the redesigned interior was definitely positive, with judges highlighting the new dash layout, digital screens, and comfortable seats.
Of course, the 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2’s prowess in the rough stuff was another major highlight, with features like the larger DSSV shocks and tuned springs proving to be “an absolute riot to drive on fast desert roads and over small-to-medium bumps.”
However, even back on the pavement, the pickup maintained its composure, providing testers with a comfortable, competent daily driver as well.
As a reminder, the 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 rides on the GM T1 platform, with production taking place at the GM Fort Wayne plant in Indiana.
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My local dealer had 2 on the showroom floor so I got to see them up close. It really is an awesome truck.
Check the assembly plant on ZR2 s. I think they are all built at Silao
Yep – They’re made at Silao for now. All have #3 VINs
Motor Trend is a joke and their “of the Year” award generally goes to anything relatively new. How the ZR2 is “of the Year” better than the Raptor, Raptor R and TRX is beyond me. It’s at best a close second to the standard V6 Raptor and simply outclassed by the TRX and R. Certainly the interior has been greatly improved, how could not have been. But is now simply on par with the Ford and still a bit behind the RAM. That’s the reason they are available on lots while TRX and Raptors are still unavailable in dealer stock.
Reading comprehension? The award is from Four Wheeler, not Motor Trend.
The only attributes the ZR2 is missing over the Raptor and TRX is the wide body addons and the 700 hp motor. As the article points out, the ZR2 is actually faster than the base raptor.
The ZR2 will go everywhere the other two models will go, just maybe not as fast. But, the ZR2 will be far more comfortable in your daily drive and cost you a lot less.
So if you’re a HP queen, go get your Raptor or TRX. I’m seeing Ram’s marked down $10k so I’m sure you’ll find plenty of TRXs available and can get one a bit cheaper. Then deal with the compromises on a daily basis.
the Raptor R is the higher HP version. though If you do not care about the HP what compromise is the base raptor over this Zr2. the suspension in the raptor blows this one away, and it gets better fuel economy for you to drive around the old mall parking lots in.
The Chevy ZR2 is the best, sooooooo
While you’re right, the lack of power and widebody mean it should be a better deal and it’s really not. You can get a TRX and ZR2 for about the same price and the ZR2 should be 15k cheaper.
I think you might need to update your facts. When it first came out, I think the ZR2 was briefly overpriced compared to the TRX, but it turned out that it was just a bit ahead of its time, as the 2022 and 2023 TRX’s soon received hefty price increases that quickly eliminated that argument. Now a 2023 ZR2 starts at $73k, and a TRX starts at $84.5k, an $11.5k difference. And you have to factor in that a ZR2 is pretty much maxed out as standard, with the only standout options being a $995 sunroof and $1900 technology package, whereas a TRX can and often is optioned a lot higher, easily into the $90-100k range.
The ZR2 is a $70-80k truck the way most people would want it; the TRX is really closer to a $100k truck by the time you add the options most people would want.
Partially true, but if we’re looking specifically at off-road capability, the ZR2 is hard to beat. I don’t know where you live or how much off-roading you’ve done, but the last thing I want is a wide bodied or full-sized Raptor or TRX hitting the trails and tight switch-backs of Colorado. No doubt the Raptor and TRX offers more in terms of towing capacity, comfort, and styling, but I’ll take the ZR2 any day for off-roading. In all transparency, I own a 2018 ZR2 and a 2022 Ford Bronco, and I’ll stick take the ZR2..
Learn how to read and enjoy your POS Ford and RAM garbage muppet 🤡
I was a blind fan boy once too. Now I drive a 2022 F150 and it’s a world better than what GM is doing. I get better gas mileage than my 5.3 got, it’s faster than a 6.2 and doesn’t need premium fuel. I have choices for a rear gear, fuel tank size. It has a comfortable ride, it won’t rust out, interior is tops.
Maybe grow up?
Whatever you say bud. For me personally, I don’t like the sound of a V6, but if I ever were to get a b**ch-truck, GM offers better value with the 2.7 turbo paired with the new interior than an F150 V6.
This smells of fanboy. A v6 isn’t good enough but you’d get a 4 cylinder. Makes a lot of sense.
My 3.5 doesn’t sound good but that’s why it’s quiet and I can’t hear it. It will out accelerate any Silverado and I get better mileage than I ever got with my 5.3. I also have no interest in paying for premium fuel.
To top off the irony, I also couldn’t hear the 5.3 in my Silverado, so what exactly is that slow 5.3 that has no low or top end doing for you?
I’ll buy a Chev truck again, but they need to make a better truck first. That’s starts with modern engines and the ability to tow more than 200 miles.
If I’m going to get a non-V8, the 2.7 turbo is just fine and is offered at a lower price point on the Silverado. If you couldn’t hear the V8 in your Silverado, or can’t hear the V6 in the F150, then I hate to break it to you, but you have permanent hearing loss.
I am curious how new of a vehicle you own. My 2018 Silverado was extremely quiet, as is my 2022 F150 3.5. I could hear my 2020 F150 5.0 just fine.
My hearing is great. I think you’re just driving old or modified stuff.
I also think when Chev makes that 2.7 i4 into a i6 you will be shouting from the roof tops how much better it is than anything else. The 2.7 i4 is only acceptable to you because Chev makes it. Ford’s 2.7 is still superior and even gets better mileage.
I’m still a Chevy guy but they pushed me to look elsewhere. Life is too short to settle for meh when you’re spending 40, 50, 60 thousand dollars. Perhaps they’ll get their act together again.
I only get in and out of brand new 5.3L and 6.2L V8 Silverados/SUV’s every single day as part of my job, but sure I guess we’ll go with your memory of your 2018 Silverado.
Ford’s 2.7 turbo (which has 15 more HP but 30lb-ft less torque) is an additional option on the XL and XLT, or you’ll have to step up to the $57k Lariat to get it standard. Otherwise you’re stuck with their vastly underpowered 3.3L V6. GM’s 2.7 turbo is standard even at the WT base trim level. Sure you can argue over a couple more MPG, but that might be the price you pay for being able to tow 1,300 more pounds with the base engine on a way cheaper truck (8200 vs 9500). Even if you shell out the extra money for the Ford 2.7, you’ll get a whopping 600lbs more towing capacity than GM’s, so woohoo I guess.
Long time bow tie/GM owner here. It’ll be a pile of junk in a few years. GM trucks are the least reliable and cheapest manufactured of all the brands. All one has to do is research it. Time for honesty regarding GM’s lack of quality.
sadly I was pretty strongly a supporter of GM, but I am even wary of the 2007 and newer stuff these days. Jerky Transmissions, Terrible longevity if equipped with Variable valve timing. automated traction lock devices when everyone else allows you to manually decide what gets locked and when. then their is the current terribly ugly front ends and also inexcusable safety ratings. It’s hard to believe how far they have fallen to be honest
Simply untrue. The current 5.3 / 10 speed combo drivetrain is about as close to perfection as has ever been produced.
And I still have an old / 2009 Sierra half ton 4×4 with 5.3 and there’s no “jerking” still to this day – never has been.
If you have issues, let them fix it. If your experience is based on a secondhand truck that’s been hacked with and/or you’ve hacked on it yourself, don’t cast this out as applicable to all Chevy/GM trucks – because it’s not.
5.3 10 speed is far from perfection. It’s decent. But it is low on power for it’s fuel mileage. Lately the small block has had severe reliability concerns. It’s not a snappy or fun setup either.
I would pick the 5.0 10 speed over the 5.3 by a large margin. Now has the same mileage and a ton more character and power.
Why do you think you are the authority and have to comment and correct everyone / everything on here? Do you drive a 5.3/10 speed daily? Have you owned 49 new vehicles over the years? Do you think everyone comes here to read your opinion on every dang thing? Go enjoy your rust bucket Ford with the rusty undercarriage issues and stupid v6 turbo charger. Wear your baseball cap backwards while you use your tin can F100 to Costco like all the other F100 drivers do. Go to Ford Authority where maybe you can talk one on one with all the other F boys.
Yea, and Chevy is the best, soooooo
Do you have an irony deficiency? You say the 5.3 is as close to perfection as ever produced, but ignore the fact it has no power and gets meh gas mileage and yet you say I think I am the authority? I’m rolling here man, you really are basic. Must be that reliability it has lacked since 2006 winning you over? I love that you both refer to it as a rust bucket and a tin can. Can’t have both, but it would take a higher IQ to realize that.
Have YOU owned what the competition is driving? I have personally owned many, many 5.3’s. The last being a 2018 that I dumped as soon as I found out I could get what I paid for it.
It’s sad to see someone so heavy into the Kool-aid they can only talk about things that echo their own opinions.
IQ Mike: Tin is metal. Tin rusts. But it would take a higher IQ for you to know that.
That said, you’re right: I should have used “flimsy aluminum can” when referring to your F100 minivan. And do you actually believe your entire vehicle is aluminum?
Lots of steel underneath. And yep: Ford is battling issues with rusty undercarriages ALONG with the flimsy aluminum bodywork. Which IS what I said above.
AND: a 2018 5.3 was not the current 5.3 nor was it paired with the 10 speed.
I said the 5.3/10speed is as close to perfect as has been produced yet. And it is.
You would not know because you’re buzzing around in your blow-motor with the synthesized sound.
You “dumped” your 2018 because you were able to get what you paid for it! Try that with your junk-truck….
I hought you knew the F150 was made of aluminum. I guess not. In dumped my 2018 because after countless tire balances and trips tonthr dealer it wouldn’t roll smoothly on the freeway. I’ve had both, I know which is junk.
5.3 is not perfection. The fact you think that shows you’re a fanboy. My current truck makes gobs more power and torque and is averaging 2 more mpg. It even has throttle response and the entire gas pedal assembly doesn’t flex when I push it like the 2018 did (look it up, they all do it).
I’d ask what you drive but we both know it’s a 2003 Dale Earnhardt Monte Carlo when you’re going to say it’s a brand new Silverado.
I got what I paid for it because before values sky rocketed Chevy begged me to buy it and I got a 51k truck for 36. A comparable Ford was well over 40. Live and learn.
Jerky Transmissions? The Ford 10 speed programming would like a word…
Terrible longevity with VVT? I think you are trying to hint at AFM as VVT has been around for decades and is not at all a source of failure. As far as AFM you probably just read a few articles and posts of some disgruntled people and blanketed that as a 50% failure rate or something when in reality it is in the low single digit percentage of failure (probably 1-3% at best) and that includes the bad batch over a few months that caused a whole year of vehicles to have a possible issue. So no, questionable longevity is not at all the case.
The auto locking diff is fantastic in most cases except extreme off road and most people just use it on slick surfaces, so that is superior for most. Some require 4wd of 4wd low to activate and some don’t even know they have a rear locker let alone how to use it (I had a buddy that didn’t know he had one on his F150 or how to activate it, had to show him and I bet most are in that same boat). So while I prefer a selectable as I do off road, an auto locking diff is the better choice for most and hasn’t let me down off road yet. Plus they are much better than earlier versions in the 90’s…
Ugly is a personable choice, what you find ugly others find awesome. I think it looks pretty good but then again I don’t buy based on looks (though I bet you do) as it is a tool and need it to do what I need, it isn’t an image purchase for me.
Safety? Ok, the other two big truck brands only get top safety ratings on one cab and certain trim levels, the Silverado is one step down (still better than most) across the board. Not sure what is inexcusable for that, they are still very safe.
Care to troll with anything else? How about thin paint? All manufacturers do that today.
Chevy is the best, sooooooo
If you think the F150 trans is jerky you haven’t driven mine. I had a 2020 that was a little off, not terrible but some oddities. My 2022 is gold. Many have said the 2021’s after the initial launch quirks are worlds better and I would have to agree.
GM has not fallen, in any way shape, or form. GM makes the best vehicles in the world. GM is the auto god, and GM is the biggest vehicle company in the world, sooooooooooooooooo
Research huh? Ford and Ram have entered the discussion…
Have you not even glanced at a forum or recall of other brands? The Ford CEO even went on record to talk about their dismal quality and needing to turn that around.
Yea, ford and dodge are both trash, and Chevy is the best!
If you think the F150 trans is jerky you haven’t driven mine. I had a 2020 that was a little off, not terrible but some oddities. My 2022 is gold. Many have said the 2021’s after the initial launch quirks are worlds better and I would have to agree.
Ford admitting having some quality issues?
That’s true. Unfortunately, GM actually thinks they have no issues right now and keep plugging along like there are no issues. At least Ford is saying hey, this crap needs to stop. Explorer is the worst right now. Not the F150.
GM stuck their head and wallets in the sand with vibration issues on the k2xx for 5/6 years and is probably going to do the same with lifters.
No one wants to drive your F100. Anyone that does already has one as they’re all over the place, like Odyssey minivans.
You mention “5/6 years” because you read the Ford CEO comments about how it will take Ford 5-6 years to get their quality turned around. Sure sounds like they’re just now getting started, hey? Who’s had their collective heads up their ..in the sand?
Man, you really lack reading comprehension. K2xx was 5/6 years. I’ll write it out for you, use your fingers to count.
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019 LTD
By 2020 the LTD was done, I think. Maybe they kept peddling that junk?
They washed their hands of the K2xx and its issues and are going to do the same thing with the T1xx.
It’s kind of funny that you don’t realize that the Silverado is currently rated to have lower reliability than the F150.
Oh yeah. Forget the fact that Ford has so many recalls and build quality issues in the past couple years that they literally had to mention it on their last earnings call lol.
Every man made product can have issues, no brand is significantly out of line with the others.
I’m with you. They’re trucks improved after the outcry but they’re still a 75% there approach. They have some great products, but they’re getting fewer and further between.
You are an actual more-on (it’s the only way I could get this to post)
GM makes the best trucks in the world! And that is a fact, sooooooooooooooooooooooo
Mary Barra is not doing anything bad to GM, and GM is the best, soooo
My sister has too dump a new transmission in her 2017 silverado 2500 with 72,000 miles on it. $5800 dollars. A heavy duty should last longer than that. Really no denying that GM is having some bad reliability issues on their transmissions.
If it was a diesel HD, then that transmission is made by Allison, which has an impeccable reputation. Very unfortunate your sister is an outlier and had an issue, but it says nothing about quality overall, it’s merely anecdotal.
Now GM needs to make the electronic locking front and rear differentials a stand alone option for all 4×4 Silverados for those of us who don’t want the ridiculous ZR2.
How is the ZR2 ridiculous? The only thing ridiculous about it is how much it beats the ford, and ram, sooooooooooooooo
Don’t buy any GM or Chevrolet 1500’s if you expect them to be used for towing. The brake controllers are faulty and drop out within minutes. GM has admitted this in September and as of mid December, has no fix. I have a brand new High County that I can’t use for the only purpose I bought it for. 3,000 Kms! There are other software issues such as radio going to full volume and the display locking up. The fix for display lock is to disconnect the battery and re connect. Supposedly a software update fixes the software problems. Beware
GM makes the best trucks in the world! And who are you to say not to buy a Silverado? The Chevy Silverado is America’s number one truck, whether you like it or not. And Chevy Silverado can tow a LOT! Are you the maker of Chevy Trucks? Do you know how a drivetrain combo, or gear ratio, or towing capacities work? I didn’t think so. You type of people to type negative things to shame Chevy (which by the way Chevy is the best, and did NOTHING to get shamed for, and also, you have no power to do anything negative to any GM vehicle). Considering how bad ford and dodge suck. That is not an opinion, either. fords and dodges absolutely suck, they always have, and always will. And your Chevy High Country can tow, so stop your lying, and whining attitude, and grow up, sooooooo
3 dislikes? Not my problem people can’t handle the truth, sooooooooooooooooooo
Sorry, to update with more details, somewhere in the 2022 build year the problems started with the vehicle disconnecting the trailer brakes, and continue to the 2023 builds. It might only be certain trim levels but might be all vehicles being built. GM knows about the issues but has no engineering fix to date. On the software issues where the display locks up and it won’t start, two dealers didn’t know even how to update the system software. You can’t tow heavy loads without trailer brakes.