GM's midsize contender pairs a punchy turbo four-cylinder with an 8-speed that can't decide what gear it wants and software that freezes mid-commute. The 2024 redesign earned a sales stop within months, infotainment screens go dark, remote start is a gamble, and one ZR2 owner burned through three torque converters before 15,000 miles. The previous generation splits owners into camps: some sailed past 180k with zero drama, others became dealer regulars. The ZR2 off-road package impresses when the truck cooperates, but you're betting GM patches the bugs before your warranty expires. If you need a midsize that starts reliably and doesn't strand you hunting for cell service on a trail, the Frontier costs less and the Tacoma holds value better. Buy this if you like the look enough to gamble on future software updates, and spring for the extended warranty.
You're buying a Cummins diesel wrapped in a truck that can't quite match the engine's legendary toughness. That powertrain, especially the older 5.9 12-valve or the new 2025+ ZF8 setup, will tow anything you hook to it and run past 300k miles without drama. Everything bolted around it tells a different story: ball joints that wear like brake pads, electrical gremlins that show up at 2,500 miles, brake calipers grenading before the first oil change. The 2025+ finally got the transmission right, but quality control is shockingly poor for a $70k truck. If you're towing heavy loads regularly, the Cummins is still the best tool available. If you're daily-driving it empty or expecting fit-and-finish that matches the price tag, prepare for disappointment. Buy it for the engine, budget for everything else breaking.