BASE PRICE
$33,490
POWER (HEMI)
395 hp, 410 lb-ft
of torquePRICE
$49,745
POWER (V-6)
308 hp, 275 lb-ft
of torque
WIDE!
The ZR2 is 3.5 inches
wider than a regular
Colorado@PopularMechanics _ May 2019 41SCHOOL-AGE KIDS have a
derogatory term for fellow stu-
dents who strive to succeed and don’t
disguise their ambition behind a
facade of ironic detachment: “try-
hards.” Well, the 2019 Ram 1500 is
the try-hard of full-size trucks, and
proud of it. The interior, particularly
in the fancier trims, can take the mea-
sure of European luxury cars, with
its Tesla-size touch screen and matte
wood. The crew cab is so spacious that
the rear seat can recline. Ram’s sus-
pension—either the standard setup
or the optional height-adjustable air
suspension—delivers the smooth
ride and accurate control that you’d
expect from the only full-size truck
that dares to forgo leaf springs. The
forward-thinking engineering extends under the hood,
where Ram’s eTorque system (standard on V-6s and
optional on V-8s) uses a 48-volt system with an electric
motor and a lithium battery to enable seamless stop-start
and a shot of extra torque at low rpm—up to 130 lb-ft in
the V-8 trucks. And, of course, there’s a trick tailgate that
can either swing down or open barn-door style. It’s a clever
tr uck, an epitome of what we tell kids: It’s good to tr y hard.RAM 1500
TRUCK OF THE YEAR
CHEVROLET ZR2 BISON
OFF-ROAD TRUCK OF THE YEAR
THE FORD F-150 RAPTOR is designed to go
fast in the desert. The Jeep Wrangler Rubi-
con is designed to pick its way through gnarly
trails. But the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison can ably
attack either off-road discipline—it’s the closest
thing you can get to a factory King of the Hammers
truck. Flared fenders and Multimatic dampers
speak to its Baja side; triple locking differentials
and an available torque-monster diesel are ready
for Moab. And, yes, you can get it with a snorkel.