NICE DRIVES: CHEVY SILVERADO ZR2, LEXUS GX550 LUXURY+ & VOLVO V90
Three good options for when the job still requires range, power and luxury
By Isaac Bouchard
CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 ZR2
As the Ford Lightning and Rivian R1T have proliferated, the limitations of fully electric pickups have become evident.
Massive torque matters little if you can’t tow your trailer more than 100 miles, and the risk of running out of juice while offroad keeps ‘em close to base camp. The environmentally acceptable answer: The Silverado ZR2, powered by Chevrolet’s latest inline six-cylinder Duramax turbodiesel.
ZR2s have a two-inch lift, enough skidplates to stop an IED, three locking differentials and newly designed bumpers and exhaust routing to increase approach and departure angles. There’s 33-inch all-terrain tires and some pretty buff-looking wheels, too. Finally, there are the special “spool valve” DSSV shocks.
The Silverado ZR2 isn’t a high-speed desert warrior like a Ford Raptor or Ram TRX, but being much narrower, it works better in overlanding Colorado’s trails. Getting there too would be very comfortable, thanks to Chevy’s redesigned interior; it is full of big, bright screens, classy materials and supportive, roomy seats. A payload capacity of 1,550 lbs and a tow rating of 8,700 mean that this half-ton truck has much greater bandwidth than midsize pickups.
There’s an optional 6.2L V8 for the ZR2, but the diesel’s the star, being far and away the finest light-duty one yet developed, with virtually zero lag, massive torque peaking at 495lb-ft, more than enough horsepower and great economy. So equipped, it is hard to imagine a better combination of virtues that blends urban use with true trail capacity so well.
CHEVY SILVERADO ZR2
$75,405
EPA MPG Ratings:
20/22/221
0-60mph: 6.5sec (est)
LEXUS GX550 LUXURY+
Over its previous two generations, the Lexus GX series—a more luxurious version of the Land Cruiser Prado sold in other markets—has carved out a niche as a truly tough, off-road capable SUV. With the all-new GX550, Lexus has gone all-in on all these virtues.
Lexus’ design seems spot-on: bold and modern, yet evocative of classic bush-bashin’ machines of decades past. There are some wonderful architectural sculptures in their fenders and flanks, and their faces are very distinct. Inside the GX550 is extremely well built of high-quality materials, with large displays and tactile buttons and knobs.
The upright seating and narrow footprint give it a very classic, Range Rover-es- que feel. This is complemented by the hood’s shape and big windows, which make it easy to maneuver this Lexus in both tight urban confines and trails.
On the road this is the best GX yet; there is sometimes the slight shimmy that body-on-frame machines have, but it never feels less than composed. It rides Lexus-smooth, even on the Luxury+ model’s 22-inch wheels (basic Premiums get 20s and the dirt-oriented Over-trail gets 18s); steering is very accurate and has that old-school feel that makes a Jeep Wrangler or Rangie fun to drive. This Lexus is also very quiet and refined at high speed. The GX550 shares its gutsy, smooth, and refined powertrain with the bigger LX: a 349hp, 3.5L twin-turbo six and 10-speed auto. Economy is slightly better, and this is the fastest GX ever, with 60 arriving in 6.2 seconds. It can also tow up to 9,000 pounds—a big deal for this market niche. All GX550s have that special something, though, and it seems Lexus has built the perfect SUV at the right time to cut through the sea of soft roaders that now define modern luxury family vehicles.
LEXUS GX550 LUXURY+
$81,750
EPA MPG Ratings: 15/21/17
0-60mph: 6.2sec
VOLVO V90 CROSS COUNTRY B6
Wagons, once directly correlated with domesticity (think 70s Country Squires and VistaCruisers) are now cool. As high-riding SUVs proliferate, these sleek but practical machines have become a desirable alternative.
Audi and BMW are now back in the wagon business, but Volvo never lost the faith. The V90 Cross Country is one of the company’s flagships, and a recent freshening keeps it desirable. The V90 might just be the best-looking wagon extant, with long, taught feature lines and subtle detailing that let the athletic shape shine through. Inside it’s a stunner too, with gorgeous materials and intriguing textures that invite touch. The seats are insanely comfortable for long stints at the wheel (a Volvo tradition) and the backseat and cargo room are copious.
The V90 drives well, with a smooth new powertrain comprised of a turbo- and supercharged 2L four-cylinder with a 48-volt electric boost for the low-end and 8-speed auto. This combination works much better in the real world than the older T6, which had a very nonlinear power delivery and frankly atrocious fuel economy.
The new B6’s 295-hp gets it to 60mph in 6.4 seconds and returns high-20s mpg on highway runs. The V90, despite the increased ride height of the Cross Country trim, still handles athletically, showing the benefits of a lower roofline and CG (center of gravity) that wagons bring. Steering is accurate, making it easy to nail the apex of a corner.
What the V90 still doesn’t do is ride elegantly, being more susceptible to sharp impacts than is ideal. But overall this Volvo is a very special place to while away the miles. It can also swallow the kind of lifestyle loads SUVs and cross-overs are bought to handle and tackle fireroads and trailheads. Beyond those attributes it proffers an ineffable cool factor; clearly illustrating that style out-lasts fashion.
VOLVO V90 CC
$73,380
EPA MPG Ratings: 23/29/25
0-60mph: 6.4sec (est)
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