Friday, September 8, 2017

The Chevy Colorado ZR2's Memphis Milestone Showdown: Ford Raptor Cringing At Bat

The knowledgeable writers at Trucks.com for sure got it right when they stated last week that “There can only be one king” when it comes to trucks that are heady enough to handle the most challenging of off-road endeavors. As the Fall approaches in Memphis and many mudslingers and off-road aficionados get ready to take it “off the streets”, we wanted to take a second to boast about just how it measures up to the full-sized and turbocharged Ford F-150 Raptor. With a heck of a lot of clearance and the biggest tires in its class, we recognize that some have flocked to it in droves as their #1 choice to conquer the desert and beyond.

The 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2 has been closely looked at by engineers, poked and prodded until it really felt ready to go, and conceptualized as if it needed to perform as well as a hot wheels racer in a very high-octane track set reminiscent of yesteryear. There are wider shocks, a longer suspension travel, and a shock setup that is truly ready to crawl where no man has crawled before. There are a few standout reasons that the ZR2 conquers the Raptor in performance and longevity, and we'll take a quick look at some of them on the blog here today. It's widely understood that these are two brands who have been at odds for decades, and here are some reasons we believe the ZR2 stands out.


The ZR2 is smaller, and it is very true that size is not always your friend when you are blazing your way through a trail. The bulky Raptor is 2.4 inches wider, and 6.3 inches taller than the ZR2, and nearly 3 feet longer. Weighing in at around 5,700 lbs, it outranks the ZR2 by about 700 closely-watched pounds in the long run. If you are granted the task of conquering off-road obstacles, this means that the Colorado can run free where the bigger Raptor may not be able to. If it's a simple city commute that you are attempting to master with ease during the day-to-day, the ZR2 will be easier to park, and squeeze into a bit more compact of confines.

Is a diesel purchase on your to do list? The ZR2 is absolutely still available with a 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine, with a turbocharged cylinder rated at 186 horsepower, and 369-lb- ft of torque. When it comes to the nitty gritty on our hardcore comparison between the two, the fuel economy benefit really owns up to its prowess, and the very low-end grunt of the diesel delegates the ZR2 straight on into farm-tractor pull-king status.


When it comes to fuel economy, the smaller and lighter ZR2 can effectively stretch a gallon of gas much further than the Raptor. The EPA currently rates the ZR2 at 16 mpg for city driving, and a highway toll of18 mpg. The Raptor comes in at a fairly impressive rating and 15 MPG city, but many who frequent car forums have complained about the Raptor's supposed high level of thirst. When it comes to pain at the pump, you are always going to have those that wish for the lesser of “any” evils, and are fond of the number that won't break the bank.

Even while sporting a standard V6 and 8-speed automatic transmission, the smaller and lighter ZR2 can put a single gallon of gas further to work than the competing Raptor. The EPA rating for the ZR2 is at 16 mpg for the city, and right around 18 mpg on the highway. During recent testing that involved tangible real-world elements, some averaged 22 mpg, during spurts of 300 miles of mixed driving, which included several hours of extreme off-road punishment. 

Also coming in much cheaper when it comes to the all-important pricing point, we attest that getting in on some valuable ZR2 action will be sure to set your Memphis Fall ablaze with new excitement! Come see us at Chuck Hutton to make a claim on the ZR2 champion as your own.

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