Car and Driver Declares Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 “Donkey Strong”

The Colorado was completely redesigned for the 2023 model year. Chevrolet kept interest in the model by adding the off-road-focused ZR2 and the ZR2 Bison, the latter of which added several aftermarket pieces from American Expedition Vehicles.  In late December, Car and Driver published a review of the 2023 Colorado ZR2, which is generally the most off-road-focused Colorado grade you will regularly find in the Chevrolet of Spring Valley inventory. Car and Driver spent plenty of time off the pavement with the ZR2, prompting them to spend a whole paragraph equating it to a burro. 

The basics of the ZR2 include standard 4-wheel drive and the most potent version of the 2.7-liter turbocharged engines that power all Colorado models. The TurboMax produces 310 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm and 430 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm. The ZR2 also  comes standard with the Off-Road Package, which includes: 

• Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) Multimatic suspension dampers
• 3-inch factory-installed lift with high-performance suspension
• Off-road front fascia, rear bumper, and fender flares
• Taller/wider stance

Also part of the deal are standard 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires on 17-inch wheels. The Drive Mode selector adds a Baja mode for fast running over unpaved terrain. It holds gears longer and enables sliding in either two- or four-wheel drive. 

The big tires, wider stance, and 3-inch lift certainly have the ZR2 looking the part, and Car and Driver found it wasn’t just for show: “…off-road, it scampers up hills and over loose surfaces.” They mention that the big tires and robust engine take a toll on the ZR2’s thirst, with an EPA estimate of 16 mpg across the board.

Car and Driver has said nice things about the Colorado instrument panel in previous articles, so here they concentrate on the fact that the controls for drive modes and locking the front and rear diffs are easy to find, even as they note that the headlight controls are now found within the touchscreen interface. They note that, as can be expected, cabin space is tighter than the Silverado, but Car and Driver concludes by stating: “For most loads and trails, though, the Colorado ZR2 is all the truck you need.”

If venturing far off the pavement is one of your favorite pastimes, or you want it to be, the Colorado ZR2 deserves your close attention, and you will find them at Chevrolet of Spring Valley.