Chevy’s double-duty pickup is equally adept on the street or playing in the dirt
In case you missed the memo, automakers have locked on to the latest Big Thing, which is to create off-road-capable versions of their midsize and full-size pickups. In this group, the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 (one size down from the Silverado) is a serious piece of sporting gear.
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor that arrived for 2010 (now simply called Raptor) is the inspirational model for the ZR2, as it was for the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Fiat Chrysler’s Ram Rebel. The upcoming 2019 Ford Ranger is also slated for the full-on Raptor treatment. These trucks are appealing because of how they look and because, instead of being a collection of kit parts, all the engineering has been taken care of and neatly rolled into the monthly payment.
But is the ZR2 really that hardcore? Well, it’s no jacked-up poser. Unique front and rear bumpers provide additional ground clearance/approach angle and aluminum skid plates protect the radiator, oil pan, suspension and driveline. The grille and hood are also ZR2 exclusives.
Other mods include functional rockerpanel protection to prevent/reduce body damage from high-siding incidents. Sadly, these are not step bars to aid ingress/egress. ZR2-specific alloy wheels are wrapped with 31-inch off-road rubber. Compared with regular four-wheel-drive Colorados, the ride height has been lifted by 2 inches.
But it’s the Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) dampers that really separate the ZR2 from lesser Colorados. Designed by Canada-basedMultimatic (the same company that builds the Ford GT supercar), the technology for these shock absorbers was originally developed for the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.
Now adapted for off-road use, DSSV technology is designed to perform in everyday driving situations as well as during extreme off-road conditions where controlled shock compression and rebound rates are critical. The DSSVs literally place the ZR2 ahead of lesser pickups by leaps and bounds and add precision and stability that’s immediately noticeable, with almost none of the jittery ride motions expected from an off-road-capable truck. On the street, the ride quality is shocklingly smooth.
The ZR2’s powertrain has nine different control settings that range from rearwheel-drive only for normal highway driving, to low-range four-wheel-drive where the front and rear differentials plus the transfer case are “locked” to aid low-speed traction and control.
Both the extended-cab long-bed and the crew-cab short-bed (74 and 62 inches, respectively) ZR2s come with a 3.6-liter V6 with 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. It feels considerably peppier in the ZR2 than in other GMvehicles, such as the Cadillac XT5. A 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel producing 186 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque is optional.
The V6 operates through an eightspeed automatic transmission, while the turbo-diesel uses a six-speed automatic.
Fuel economy is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway (19/22 for the turbo-diesel).
As a functional workhorse— it is a truck, after all— theZR2can handle up to 1,100 pounds of payload or pull up to 5,000 pounds. Atrailering package is standard.
The base extended-cab ZR2 retails for $41,400, including destination charges. Along with an extensive list of specialized hardware, you also get leather-covered seats (heated and power-adjustable in front), six-speaker audio system and navigation, rear-sliding window, remote vehicle start, locking tailgate and a sprayon bed liner.
The minimal options list includes a performance exhaust that gives the ZR2 a deep rumble at idle, turning into a full-blown roar the harder it’s pushed. Consider the $1,200 fee for the system as money well spent.
Optional is a seven-speaker Bose audio system plus a dealer-installed bedmounted spare-tire carrier and off-road sport bar for mounting extra lights.
If history and habit are anything to go by, it’s probable that many Colorado ZR2 owners won’t be spotted venturing far into weeds, crawling over king-size boulders or blasting over desert sand dunes. But when used to its full capabilities, this Chevy could be one of the more viscerally entertaining and rewarding experiences on any surface of the planet.