Chevy, Jeep, or Toyota? Colorado ZR2 Takes on Tacoma TRD Pro and Wrangler Rubicon on the Cliffhanger

chevy colorado zr2 toyota tacoma trd pro jeep wrangler rubicon recon
Chevy Colorado ZR2 vs. Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro vs. Rubicon Recon

Which is the best off-road midsize pickup truck? We find out by matching up the (Best Seller) Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and the (Newcomer) Chevy Colorado ZR2 against the (Benchmark) Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon. We take all three on the most difficult off-road challenge we call the Cliffhanger 2.0.

Cliffhanger 2.0 is a Colorado Rocky Mountain trail near the Switzerland Trail. It’s steep (up to 21 degrees of incline), it’s loaded with large loose rocks, and the Razor Bend is a dangerous obstacle with jagged rocks. Only trucks and SUVs with sophisticated 4×4 systems, plentiful ground clearance, and very good off-road tires can tackle this mountain.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon is in this comparison, because it is the off-road benchmark when it comes to midsize SUVs and trucks. The Recon edition of the Rubicon also happens to be the most off-road capable JK Wrangler from the factory. It has a slight 0.5-inch lift (over a standard Rubicon). It has stronger axles and differential covers, and 32-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires. It still has front and rear lockers and a disconnectable front sway bar for additional wheel articulation.

Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

The Tacoma remains the best-selling midsize pickup in the United States by a huge margin. The TRD Pro version is the most off-road ready Tacoma. It has a specially tuned suspension with FOX Racing shocks, additional underbody protection, and a crawl-control system. It’s riding on 30-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires with Kevlar.

Chevy Colorado ZR2

This is the most off-road capable Chevrolet pickup truck you can currently buy from the factory. It is taller, wider, and has front and rear locking differentials. The ZR2 rides on specially tuned Multimatic DSSV spool-valve shocks, and it has lots more approach angle than any other Chevy Colorado. It’s riding on 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires.

Join all the action in the video below.