Motor Trend - USA (2020-06)

WORDS CHRISTIAN SEABAUGH

FACTORY

BACKED

You don’t need to spend

tons of dough for your

overlanding rig. These

stock trucks and SUVs

are adventure-ready

right out of the box.

2020 Ram 2500 Power Wagon

BASE PRICE: $5 0 , 085

PROS: Arguably the most off-road-capable

pickup on the market; great payload

capacity; and a standard winch, lockers,

and electronic anti-roll bar disconnect.

CONS: If you thought the Raptor was big,

wait until you see this thing.

Like the Wrangler, the Power Wagon

can trace its roots back to WWII, when the

Dodge WC (to be named “Power Wagon”

when the civilian version went on sale in

1946) helped the Allies in their winning war

effort. Its modern descendant has proven

itself time and time again, ably conquering

whatever we can throw at it despite its size.

Powered by a thirsty 6.4-liter V-8 with 410

hp, the Power Wagon sports locking front

and rear diffs, an electronic anti-roll bar

disconnect, steel body armor, and a Warn

winch rated for 12,000 pounds. Although

the Power Wagon is a stand-alone model,

it’s also possible to spec it as a package

on the base Tradesman model. It’s rated to

haul 1,500-1,620 pounds.

F

or many overlanders and

off-roaders, modifying their SUV

or truck is half the fun—I know

this full well, as I’ve watched as my

wife turns her Subaru Crosstrek

Hybrid into a light-duty overland

expedition rig. But modifying any

vehicle (not to mention assuming you

know better than a team of highly

skilled automotive engineers) can be

risky, especially if you plan on heading

off the beaten path.

At worst, a poorly chosen part could

break, leaving you stranded a long hike

from the nearest pavement. At best,

you might destroy the way your vehicle

drives. With that in mind, here’s a list

of MotorTrend’s picks of the best new

overland vehicles.

All of these trucks and SUVs are

ready for overland travels right off

the lot, and we’ve tried and tested

each one on the trail. We’ve also kept

in mind prices, factory options, and

payload capacities. After all, a vehicle

that’s good off-road but can’t haul your

rooftop tent and gear is of little use.

Here’s what we came up with:

THESE OVERLANDING TRUCKS

AND SUVS WILL GET OUT AND BACK

WITHOUT DESTROYING YOUR WARRANTY

2020 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2

BASE PRICE: $44,49 0

PROS: Tremendously versatile—at home

on the highway, running the Baja, and rock

crawling. AEV Bison package is appealing.

CONS: Cabin is spacious but feels cheap;

diesel fuel economy should be better.

The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 has proven

itself to be a capable overlander multiple

times, including on our journey across the

Trans-Labrador Highway and on the infamous

Mojave Road. We love its standard MultiMatic

DSSV dampers, which provide exceptional

manners both on the road and off it, and its

electronic full-locking front and rear differ-

entials for low-traction situations, which is

an increasingly rare thing in factory vehicles.

The Colorado ZR2 is available with a

308-hp 3.6-liter V-6 or a 186-hp 2.8-liter

turbodiesel I-4 and has a payload capacity

of up to 1,100 pounds. Chevrolet also offers

the AEV Bison package, which adds boron

steel skidplates and bumpers for extra

peace of mind off-road.

46 MOTORTREND.COM JUNE 2020

OVERLANDING I Best factory-backed off-road vehicles