Yahoo Autos Here Are the Off-Road Vehicles to Look Forward to in 2023
A new year means new off-roaders are on the way, either as models that debuted at the end of last year, or models we’ve known about for a while that are only now gearing up for the trail. Off-road models are arguably as popular as they have been for the last few years — which is to say very.
But in a welcome turn, the off-road has seeped into many other segments that would’ve been unlikely in the past. Trucks and truck-based SUVs won’t be the only ones going off-road in 2023. There’s an actual production off-road sports car coming from Porsche, and an off-road supercar from Lamborghini.
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Likewise, although EVs still account for a small part of the industry, carmakers wasted no time in hitting the trail with fully-electric vehicles. The future might be electric, but off-roaders are adapting. And that cuts both ways now that carmakers are responding to the off-road craze across many new segments.
Whether you want to go off-road in a sports car, supercar, a crossover, a family-friendly SUV, a small(er) truck or a huge pickup, there’s something on the way for you. Here are just some of the many diverse off-roaders that we can look forward to this year.
2023 Ford Maverick Tremor
The Ford Maverick is a commuter car for people who want a pickup but would rather drive something smaller and more practical than a modern (big) truck. It turns out this group of people is pretty big, and there’s clearly overlap between Maverick fans and off-road enthusiasts.
This naturally led to the debut of a Ford Maverick with Tremor package late last year, which adds some capability to the multi-talented model. The Tremor package gives the little truck a one-inch lift, new all-wheel drive system, and stronger components in the drivetrain and suspension to help the Maverick get away from the city and onto the trail.
2023 Ford Ranger
The new Ford Ranger is rumored to be released in the U.S. this year, after having been released in markets abroad. When the all-new Ranger makes it to the land of trucks, it’s likely to be a big hit. Ford will probably ask the Ranger to reprise its role as a mid-size off-roader with a variety of packages, including the Tremor. We may also see a Ranger Raptor for the first time, but that model is probably coming some time after the all-new Ranger’s release in America.
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R
From smallest to biggest and mild to gnarly: that’s how Ford’s new pickups are arranged here, making the 2023 F-150 Raptor R the last truck from the blue oval on this list. The V8-powered Raptor debuted at the end of 2022, and went on sale just as the year finished.
The Raptor R is Ford’s halo truck, and it could be one of the last V8-powered trail trucks we’ll see. If so, it’s a fitting end for the F-150 Raptor with a V8, which started its life — and the current off-road arms race — with the same number of cylinders.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2
By the time the original F-150 Raptor debuted, and when it was barely starting to muscle its way onto the trail with its broad oversized fenders, Chevy’s ZR2 had been around for a while.
The Chevrolet S-10 wore the badge once and its predecessor would later wear it proudly, too. The Colorado ZR2 was Chevy’s light-footed reply to the Raptor, but the Colorado ZR2 has mostly stayed true to the S-10. It’s still what we consider a mid-size truck, but has full-size power and a glorious suspension.
2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss
Of course, not every off-roader needs a truck that’s most of the way there to a purpose-built motorsport machine. If having all the tech of a flagship 4X4 pickup like the Colorado ZR2 and F-150 Raptor R is too much (or if it costs too much money), then the new Colorado Trail Boss could a great alternative.
The Trail Boss will lack much of the ZR2’s over-engineered components, but will probably be plenty enough for most. And a truck that’s more down to earth about its capabilities — and, hopefully, its price — is worth celebrating.
2023 GMC Canyon AT4X
The upcoming Canyon AT4X will give the luxurious mid-size truck from GMC the same capabilities as its Chevy twin, the Colorado ZR2, but comes with the amenities and looks that upscale models from GMC are known for.
That’s not to say it’ll soften the Canyon’s edges: it’ll have the same suspension and engine, after all. With the Canyon AT4X, GMC is merely suggesting that off-road prowess and luxury are not mutually exclusive.
2023 Porsche 911 Dakar
And talking about mutually exclusive, there’s the track and the trail. They’re different arenas with different skill sets, and yet, enthusiasts have long dreamed of bombing through trails in cars with a different pedigree than work trucks.
Professional drivers have enjoyed a combination of trail and track talent for decades, but Porsche is finally bringing this to the masses in turn-key fashion. The soon-to-be released Porsche 911 Dakar could be the best of both worlds, leveraging the power and handling that made the 911 an icon but grafting that onto the trail.
2024 Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato
