The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500  LT Trail Boss and the 2022 Ram Rebel 1500 are well-appointed trucks that can handle unpaved roads. They are also reasonably-priced off-road performance models with supercharged siblings in the Chevy Silverado ZR2 and Ram 1500 TRX, respectively. Are these two pickup trucks otherwise evenly matched?Well, one of these two trucks is mostly style over substance. The other truck proves it’s a trailblazer. Let’s see which is which.

The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 Trail Boss

The latest Chevy Silverado 1500 is a good full-size pickup truck. It offers an excellent selection of powerful engines, better cabin quality and tech, and capable handling. Since big truck fans usually stay with their brands, those loyal to the latest Silverado generation have a lot to be excited about. The ride’s a little stiff but not enough to be a dealbreaker.

The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 greatly improved its cabin to stay competitive. It also now offers a new self-driving feature that can be used with a trailer.  It seats five and has a sharp new dashboard design with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a large center touch screen.

You can choose from an impressive lineup of engines. There’s a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine, a 5.3-liter V8, a 6.2-liter GM V8, and a 3.0L Duramax 16 Turbodiesel. The turbodiesel powertrain option can reportedly tow up to 13,300 pounds and has a payload rating of 1,870 to 2,280 pounds, depending on cab and bed configuration.

Until the recently debuted ZR2 model, the Trail Boss model was the most off-road-ready Silverado.  The model features the popular Z71 off-road package with off-road-tuned shocks, a locking rear differential, and an Autotrac two-speed transfer case. The Trail Boss trim also received a two-inch suspension lift for the 2022 model year, according to Drivingline, along with mud-terrain tires, model-specific branding, and red tow hooks. 

There are two Trail Boss trims. The base is the Custom Trail Boss, and the higher is the LT Trail Boss, both with a lot to offer. The Custom Trail Boss starts $45,200 and offers the 6.2-liter V8 engine. The Trail Boss LT has additional engine options (including the Turbo-Diesel) for a starting MSRP of $52,500, according to Chevrolet.

The 2022 Ram 1500 Rebel

Like the Chevy Silverado 1500 Trail Boss, the 2022 Ram 1500 Rebel seats five. The lower trims aren’t as fancy inside as the higher ones, where you can get a huge 12.0-inch touch screen, a split-folding tailgate, and compartments integrated into its cargo bed.

The Rebel is different from other Ram 1500 models with key features like 33-inch all-terrain tires, a distinct front grille and hood, blacked-out fender flares, unique Rebel branding, and a standard locking rear differential. 

There are three different engine options, which are a base 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, and a 3.0-liter V6 Turbo Diesel. Each gets an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly. Drivingline recommends the Hemi V8, but that adds #2,295 to the starting MSRP of $50,395. Meanwhile, the Turbo Diesel engine options adds nearly $5,000, according to Ram. As for its capabilities as a truck, the Ram 1500 Rebel has a maximum towing capacity of 12,750 pounds and a maximum payload capacity 2,300 pounds, when properly equipped.

Why is the 2022 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss better?

The Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss is a shade more expensive than the Ram Rebel but worth it for a few reasons.

The Ram 1500 Rebel upgrades are largely cosmetic compared to its lower trim levels which offer pretty much the same amount of performance for far less money. In the end, the Rebel is a basic Ram 1500 with additional engine options and model-specific styling cues. It’s not a true off-road model. For those with a serious interest in off-roading, the more expensive Ram 1500 TRX model is a better investment. It offers extra horsepower and off-roading utilities you can’t get with the Rebel.

The 2022 Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss is an excellent value. It offers the same powertrain as the pricier ZR2 trim. The Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2 may hold more appeal for the serious weekend warrior with its advanced suspension and other off-road goodies, but the Trail Boss provides great handling, and it’s more than a match for its half-ton peers.