Midsized Might, OEM Off-Roader
What’s the most popular vehicle in North America? With an increasing call from governments, activists, scientists and more to go green, it’s perhaps surprising that it is not a small, economic hybrid like the Toyota Prius, but rather, the pickup truck. What was once a humble, utilitarian tool for work has taken on a number of new guises over the decades. Pickups can still be used for work, but these days they can rival luxury vehicles and even performance vehicles. There’s a pickup truck for virtually every occasion and way of life. But what if you wanted to take things off the asphalt? Well, there’s certainly more than enough options there too. We’ve all heard jokes about pickup truck owners and lift kits. But it does allow for a great segue into the importance of a good suspension setup for any off-road vehicle. What the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 does, is give you that great setup straight from the factory. But as we learned, this isn’t a Jekyll and Hyde situation where it’s fantastic in one environment and awful everywhere else. And even sweeter – that suspension featured on this all-American brand comes right out of Canada. More on that soon.
The ZR2 is the top-of-the-line trim available on Chevy’s midsized Colorado. Not only does it look absolutely badass, but it’s got the capability to match. Whether you’re an experienced off-roader or just thinking about dipping your toe into the dirt and mud, the ZR2 comes well equipped for the job. Factory features include boron steel skid plating under the body, reshaped wheel arches, steel front and rear bumper, front and rear locking differentials, a front winch attachment point, and a two-inch lift over the base truck, thanks to that aforementioned suspension. It’s made by Canadian automotive supplier Multimatic, who, among many exciting things, build the Ford GT – which is yet another American icon that’s has a Canadian connection. Or the competing Jeep Gladiator. These ‘DSSV’ dampers have a proven track record, finding a home on vehicles including the Ferrari SF90, Mercedes-AMG GT, Aston-Martin One-77, and Chevrolet’s own Camaro ZL1 1LE.
Without getting too technical (as I also cannot fully explain how they work…I’m a writer, not an engineer), the suspension setup on the ZR2 allows the truck to excel both on and off the road. Toronto’s terrible roads were a walk in the park for the ZR2, absorbing the roughest potholes far better than a non-luxury vehicle has any right to. Cornering, even at speed, is done with minimal body roll, despite the raised height. Working in conjunction with drivetrain, depending on how you set things, lets you drive this with a near unbridled level of enthusiasm and confidence. All of this capability doesn’t mean there’s any compromise in capability however. The Colorado still has available max towing of 7,700 lb with its diesel engine, or 5,000 lb on the V6 in our test unit. The max payload is rated at 1,100 lb. So, forgive the cliché, but you can work hard - and play hard – without worrying too much about breaking things.
Those aforementioned off-road features were on full display when we took the ZR2 off road. Granted, it wasn’t much more than an incline into a field…but hey, this thing doesn’t belong to us. The ZR2 tackled a that slippery mud slope with ease, and crawled its way over a rocky dirt path and the occasional fallen tree trunk with ease, even for a novice off-roader like myself. The chunky, durable tires were made to withstand far worse terrain than this and didn’t cause any concern. As well, together with that trick suspension, made for quite a comfortable ride off the road.
Under the hood lies a 3.6L V6 - the standard engine on the Colorado ZR2. It’s good for just over 300 horses and 275 lb-ft of torque. This is an engine that pushes you to push the pedal too. There is an optional 2.8L 4-cylinder turbodiesel as well. You do get less horsepower (186) but in return, torque is increased to a very punchy 369 lb-ft. You’ll also get far better fuel economy. Our V6 gave us a return of roughly 14 L/100km during a week of mixed driving. No one buys a pickup truck for the fuel economy, but with the diesel offering as good as 7.9L/100km, that’s nearly twice as good when it comes to your gas bill.
There are enough people in the world who will often live by the idea that ‘they’ don’t make ‘em’ like they used to. In some ways, the Colorado lives up to that. It’s decidedly old school – to a fault. It’s great that the truck gives you full control over its drivetrain and locking differentials when you’re tackling terrain. But its interior is quite dated. You have to use a turn-key ignition for instance. There are certainly modern touches, like a wireless phone charger (that was too small for my phone) and a number of USB ports, Chevy’s well-equipped infotainment system, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, but the interior and the fuel economy are not exactly up to modern standards.
Midsized trucks sometimes take the back seat to their full-sized counterparts. But a modern midsized is still incredibly capable. Probably far more capable than most truck buyers actually need. The Chevy Colorado is no different. But this one excels both in real life and when you just want to have some fun. While the fuel economy and interior could use some modernizing, the way this thing drives and looks more than make up for it. The base Colorado starts at just over $24,000. The range topping ZR2 however, is nearly double that at $47,798 – and our tester with options and all, wound up at $54,508. If off-roading is in your blood and you need something for work and play, the Colorado is a seriously strong choice to consider. All we’d want out of it in the future is a little more modernization.
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