When it’s time to get the tools situated in the back after a long day’s work or prep one of the lake toys for a getaway, it’s quite easy for us to be reminded here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis just why the Chevy Colorado ZR2 is so incredibly awesome! Every little way that it makes life easier allows it to stand out tremendously apart from the competition, and it excels at making everyday life simpler.
Both Edmunds and Motor Trend named the Colorado ZR2 their “truck of the year”, and a deep dive into its various features backs up this choice. It is beyond capable in every area you’d expect from a large truck, while also being fully equipped to take you so far off the beaten path you could lose your sense of direction! Pushing a bit harder into the boulder-crushing and canyon-traversing side of things, the ZR2 offers options for those who love to conquer the wild without sacrificing in the technology or luxury departments.
In a market where large size seems to dominate the approval of manufacturers, a model that is a bit scaled-down off the bat can adequately draw attention away from the big boys such as The F-150 or our own Chevy Silverado. The features included are formidably practical while also providing the gritty extras built to bear down and take on the challenges of the trail. The “miracle workers from Montana” at AEV Outfitters have expertly forged five boron steel skid plates to protect the valuables on the underside.
There is also a front skid plate and transfer case skid plate, fuel tank, and rear differential skid plates, along with AEV’s “secret-sauce simmered” stamped-steel front and rear bumpers. Ground clearance is such an important trait when dealing with the unpredictable ruts and washouts off-roading offers up, and the ZR2 is dressed to the nines in that aspect with a suitable 12.2 inches. There are 17 tie-downs in the bed to aid with tackling large loads, and the 35-inch tires built to traverse through the rough stuff are the largest in its class.
The steep climbs, declines, and obstacles that off-roading provides can force the truck to suffer a rough bottoming-out episode. Unexpectedly damaging the undercarriage is another event you want to prevent when you have numerous hurdles in your path. The ZR2’s breakover expertly maintains its traction while traversing very uneven terrain. You’re also going to literally need to break out the tablet and “write home” about the comfort level the ZR2 now offers, beginning with five driver modes fit to take on any type of road condition.
With an average of just 23.8 days on the market, the ISeeCars research group had recently expertly analyzed over 463,000 separate new and used vehicle transactions that rendered the Colorado ZR2 as one of the best-performing in the bunch. Receiving adequate warning of anything in your front or rear scope won't be a problem thanks to 10 onboard cameras, including underbody units to closely keep an eye on the rocks you’re currently crawling over.
The ZR2 is surprisingly agile even with its large footprint, and is capable of a full-on impulsive tear through dunes or drag over sharp edges. Diehard truck lovers are going to appreciate the fact that Chevy really crammed everything they could into the finished product, while also performance testing them in the incredibly demanding Chad Hall Best in the Desert series. Also flexing hard with its 6,000-lb towing capacity and 364-mile range, this year’s ZR2 assures that your off-road experience is just as enjoyable as navigating the urban confines of asphalt!