Best off-road trucks │ GM Paillé

Best off-road
trucks

Finding the right truck for your off-road adventures is about more than rugged looks or oversized tires. Whether you need a pickup for hunting, cottage trips, trails, forestry work, or simply something that can go beyond the mall parking lot, the best choice depends on your playground.

A good off-roader starts with a truck that combines several practical elements, such as suspension, ground clearance, tires, locking differentials, approach angles, and real versatility. With Chevrolet and GMC, the good news is you will find trims tailored to your adrenaline-filled exploits, from midsize up to HD, and new electric options too.

Come chat with us at Paillé to find the best off-road truck for your specific needs.

Summary

Need	Model to prioritize	Why choose it
Trails, mud, rocks, more agile format	Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 / GMC Canyon AT4 ou AT4X	DSSV dampers, all-terrain tires, real off-road DNA
Versatile full-size off road	Silverado 1500 ZR2 / GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 ou AT4X	More space, more cargo bed, more utility capacity without giving up off-road driving
Off road + big towing	Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 / GMC Sierra HD AT4X	HD models that can leave the pavement without forgetting the trailer, payload, and serious work
Electric off-road	Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss / GMC Sierra EV AT4	Electric 4WD, 35-inch tires, driving without gas and an external power source without a generator
Off-road performance, desert style or large format	Ford Ranger Raptor / F-150 Raptor	Powerful, specialized suspensions, but more niche and less focused on utility or versatility
Very popular midsize off-road	Tacoma TRD Pro	Good reputation, i-FORCE MAX hybrid, solid trail credibility
Leisure off road with strong 4x4 heritage	Jeep Gladiator	Open-air experience, distinct off-road personality

* Manufacturer pricing published in Canada at the time of research. Subject to change without notice.

Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 and GMC Canyon AT4 or AT4X: the standouts in midsize off-road trucks

If your idea of the best off-road truck is a model that can keep going where the road becomes merely a suggestion, the Colorado ZR2 and the Canyon AT4X are the first ones to look at.

The Colorado ZR2 gets a 3-inch lift, a high-performance suspension, Multimatic DSSV dampers, 33-inch tires, and up to 5 Driving modes including Baja.

On the GMC side, the Canyon AT4X also adds DSSV dampers, front and rear differentials with electronic locking, 271 mm of ground clearance, and a 37.1-degree approach angle.

The upside of a midsize pickup for off-road is its agility and manoeuvrability, even on tight trails. If you don’t need more than 7,700 lb. of towing, you will find it pleasant to drive in all conditions.

Take a look at the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2’s specs

Take a look at the GMC Canyon AT4X’s specs

PRO ADVICE

“If you want even more hardware, both step things up with AEV-developed trims. The Colorado ZR2 Bison moves to 35-inch tires, 309 mm of ground clearance, and five boron-steel skid plates.

The Canyon AT4X AEV Edition also gets AEV skid plates and 35-inch tires, stamped-steel bumpers, and an even more pronounced factory lift.

For camping off the grid, crossing forestry roads, or playing in the rocks on the weekend, this duo is a tough pair.”

‒ Alexandre Rivest, sales consultant

Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 and GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 or AT4X: the best full-size trucks to leave the beaten path

If you want a bigger, roomier and stronger truck, and one better at combining adventure and utility, the Silverado ZR2 and the Sierra 1500 AT4X deserve your attention.

The Silverado ZR2 gives you a 2-inch lift, front and rear electronic lockers, a two-speed Autotrac transfer case with Terrain mode, and a 33.5-degree approach angle.

With GMC, the Sierra 1500 AT4X pushes the recipe further with front and rear electronic locking differentials, Multimatic DSSV dampers, an AEV front bumper, and 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires. In other words, it is a Paillé truck built to play and thrive in the mud.

If you are also looking for the best work truck, this is often the best of both worlds.

See the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2’s specs

See the GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X’s specs

Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 and GMC Sierra HD AT4X: off-road with heavy-hitting muscle

If “off-road” does not mean small or light to you, the Silverado HD ZR2 and Sierra HD AT4X deserve your attention. They blend the towing and payload of a heavy-duty truck with uncompromised off-road capability.

In other words, what you give up in agility, you gain in muscle.

The Silverado HD ZR2 adds a 1.5-inch lift, Multimatic DSSV dampers, a 32.5-degree approach angle, and 35-inch MT tires. Even in this adventure-focused trim, you can get up to 18,500 lb. of maximum available towing. Drop by Paillé so we can talk about the best configuration for your expeditions.

On the GMC side, the Sierra 2500 HD AT4X adds 295 mm of ground clearance, DSSV dampers, an electronic locking rear differential, 35-inch tires, and a cabin that is much more refined than you might expect for a truck in this category. That means if you want to be well supported in a comfortable seat, even when you’re getting bounced around like a grocery cart, this is the option you need.

Look at the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 ZR2’s specs

Look at the GMC Sierra 2500 AT4X’s specs

Silverado EV Trail Boss and Sierra EV AT4: off-road in the electric era

Yes, EVs now have their say, even in demanding situations.

The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss adds a 2-inch lift, 35-inch all-terrain tires, four-wheel steering, and standard Sidewinder diagonal steering. That is in addition to giving you up to 12,500 lb. of maximum available towing, up to 760 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque, and up to 793 km of range.

As you can see, that goes well beyond a simple “urban” electric truck.

The GMC Sierra EV AT4 pushes the same idea with a GMC approach: e4WD with two motors, 35-inch all-terrain tires, 2 inches of additional ground clearance, Terrain mode, four-wheel steering with a crab-walk function, up to 12,300 lb. of towing, and up to 769 km of range.

The best part is that even when you are far from everything, you can use your electric truck as an external power source without a generator. Come see us at Paillé so we can discuss the advantages of an electric truck, which go well beyond keeping your beer cold.

Check out the Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss’ specs

Check out the GMC Sierra EV AT4’s specs

Ford Ranger Raptor and F-150 Raptor: the most extreme Fords to leave the asphalt

The Ford Ranger Raptor and F-150 Raptor deserve their place in a discussion about the best off-road trucks. The 2026 Ford Ranger Raptor arrives with a 3.0L EcoBoost V6, 2.5-inch FOX shocks with Live Valve, and a setup that is very performance oriented for fast trails.

The F-150 Raptor plays in a different league as a full-size, with specialized 4x4, a Hi-Lock transfer case, and a very desert and high-speed approach.

Where the previously mentioned GM trucks keep a more concrete advantage is in off-road and work versatility. They also deliver real capability on the trail, often with a logic that is easier to reconcile with the trailer, cargo bed, daily life, and work.

Tacoma TRD Pro: a classic off-road truck

The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro remains an obvious reference among midsize off-road models, with the 326-horsepower i-FORCE MAX hybrid. The recipe stays attractive: midsize format, good reputation, serious hardware, and real credibility when the going gets rough.

That said, if we are talking about an off-road truck that also has to serve as a work tool, the Colorado ZR2 and the Canyon AT4X offer a very complete approach with a lot more towing capability (7,700 lb. vs. 6,000 lb. for the TRD Pro), with configurations designed to absorb tough terrain while keeping better overall utility.

Jeep Gladiator: an open-air adventure approach

The Jeep Gladiator lives in its own category. It is a pickup with a very strong 4x4 heritage and a towing capacity that can climb to 7,700 lb., just like the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado. If your idea of the best off-road truck involves an open-air experience, it is a good choice.

However, if utility is at the centre of the equation, it might disappoint you. The Gladiator is endearing, distinctive, and very capable at rock crawling, but it is also more niche.

If you want a vehicle that allows you to play in the mud and head to the cottage, yet also keeps a broader scope, a Colorado ZR2, a Canyon AT4X, a Silverado ZR2, or a Sierra AT4X will remain more balanced options.