Your Guide to Midsize Off-Road Pickup Trucks

Here’s a look at the most off-road-ready packages offered from the factory on all midsize trucks. Prices reflect current manufacturer’s suggested retail and do not include destination fee or potential incentives. 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison – $ 48,950 The Colorado ZR2 Bison does more than just show off the part. Sure, it offers a reinforced snorkel, front and rear bumpers with strong recovery points, and eye-catching thick fenders, all of which were designed by the four-wheel professionals at American Expedition Vehicles in Montana. It rises nearly 2 inches higher than a standard Colorado, and its robust suspension characteristics fool Multimatics. In addition, the ZR2 Bison includes locking of the front and rear differentials. Sturdy AEV skid plates protect all those sleek items underneath. However, serious off-road capability doesn’t come cheap. The Bison package costs nearly $ 6,000 in addition to the Colorado ZR2, for a base price of nearly $ 50,000. Throw in the optional turbodiesel, crew cab, and a few other amenities and Chevy will want $ 60,000 for one. 2. 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor – $ 40,705

Ford F, -1.69% new Tremor package doesn’t turn this truck into a Ranger Raptor, but it does pack some useful features. Chief among them is a revised suspension with Fox shocks that include remote reservoirs for greater travel and quicker response at the rear. The larger off-road tires are mounted on single wheels, and the truck comes with a locking rear differential and various off-road modes for its traction control system. Additional skid plates are also installed. See also: Review: The 2021 Ford F-150, Updated and Redesigned Otherwise, the Tremor is primarily an appearance package. The $ 4,290 package includes gray exterior trim, single upholstery, and rubber floor mats. Six auxiliary toggle switches are mounted on top of the dash to allow drivers to also add features like lights at a later date. It is available on XLT and Lariat trucks. 3. GMC Canyon AT4 2021 – $ 38,800

The GMC Canyon is closely related to the Chevrolet Colorado, albeit with a distinctive exterior styling and significantly different lineup. The AT4 costs less than $ 40,000, and with that money you buy Goodyear GT, -0.17% Wrangler Duratrac all-terrain tires, a limited-slip rear differential, and a host of styling features that give it a tougher look than the AT4. Canyon Elevation standard. More: Here’s a rundown of all 2021 midsize trucks The Canyon AT4 isn’t quite as serious an off-roader as the ZR2, but it’s a good pick for everyday driver use thanks in part to its standard AutoTrac transfer case, which counts with an automatic 4-wheel drive mode that can be used comfortably on any type of pavement. 4. 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and Mojave – $ 43,895

Truth be told, every Gladiator is quite capable right out of the box thanks to solid front and rear axles, standard 4-wheel drive with a 2-speed transfer case, and great ground clearance. Top of the heap here is of course the Rubicon, which adds 33-inch tires, a special transfer case to go even slower, locking the front and rear differentials, and anti-roll bars that disengage at the touch of a button. for greater articulation. . Additionally, the Rubicon’s specialty fenders can accommodate 35-inch tires without a suspension lift, although of course Jeep does offer one through its accessory catalog. More: These Midsize Trucks Get The Best Mileage But Wait! The new Gladiator Mojave is like a Rubicon, but intended for off-road use at higher speeds. It features revised Fox shocks with external reservoirs, rebound bumpers and more bolsters for the seats. The Mojave drops the Rubicon’s front differential lock and its detachable anti-roll bars, a fair trade for a suspension that only calls for high-speed abuse. The choice is yours here as both cost the same before the options. 5. Nissan Frontier Pro-4X 2021 – $ 37,890

Sure, the 2021 Nissan Frontier is a very old truck. This truck arrived for the 2005 model year and aside from a full powertrain change last year (certainly a big deal), its bones are almost old enough to vote in the U.S. (A brand new version is coming. for model year 2022). Still, this Nissan NSANY, + 0.71% is the smallest truck on the market, and the new 3.8-liter V6 / 9-speed automatic transmission combination installed last year adds worthwhile punch. The Frontier Pro-4X is also quite a decent value, at less than $ 38,000. That money buys standard leather seats, navigation, a sunroof and a luggage rack, plus Bilstein shocks and a locking rear differential. 6. Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 2021 – $ 44,175

For decades, the midsize off-road truck of choice has been the Toyota Tacoma. ToyotaTM, + 1.42% offers two grades of off-road trucks, with the Pro at the top of the heap. Its off-road upgrades include Fox internal bypass shocks at all four corners, large tires wrapped around 16-inch wheels, a locking rear differential, a number of traction control modes, and an off-road cruise control-like system called CRAWL control. . Read: See how the 2021 Bronco Sport compares to the 2021 Toyota RAV4 The Tacoma TRD Pro is also the only midsize pickup with a manual gearbox, along with an optional automatic. Sadly, the briefly offered snorkeling (which Toyota called a “desert air intake” so drivers wouldn’t pull a James Bond in “The Spy Who Loved Me”), has been discontinued. This story was originally published on Autotrader.com.