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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 rocker-panel protection to prevent/reduce body damage from high-siding incidents. Unfortunately, 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 five centimetres.
But it鈥檚 the Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) dampers that really separate the ZR2 from lesser Colorados. Designed by sa国际传媒-based Multimatic (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鈥檚 immediately noticeable, with almost none of the jittery ride motions expected from an off-road-capable truck. On the street, the ride quality is shockingly smooth.
The ZR2鈥檚 powertrain has nine different control settings that range from rear-wheel-drive only for normal highway driving, to low-range four-wheel-drive, where the front and rear differentials plus the transfer case are 鈥渓ocked鈥� 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-litre V-6 with 308 horsepower and 275聽pound-feet of torque. It feels considerably peppier in the ZR2 than in other GM vehicles, such as the Cadillac XT5. A 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel producing 186 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque is optional.
The V-6 is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the turbodiesel uses a six-speed.
Fuel economy is rated at 15.0聽l/100 km in the city and 13.0聽on the highway (12.5/10.7 for the turbodiesel).
As a functional workhorse 鈥� it is a truck, after all 鈥� the ZR2 can handle up to 500 kilograms of payload or pull up to 2,275 kilograms. A trailering package is standard.
The base extended-cab ZR2 retails for $46,700, 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 spray-on 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鈥檚 pushed.
Also optional is a seven-speaker Bose audio system plus a dealer-installed bed-mounted spare-tire carrier and off-road sport bar for mounting extra lights.
If history and habit are anything to go by, it鈥檚 probable that many Colorado ZR2 owners won鈥檛 be spotted venturing far into weeds, crawling over king-size boulders or blasting over desert sand dunes. But when used as to its full capabilities, this Chevy could be one of the more viscerally entertaining and rewarding experiences on any surface of the planet.
