Chevy Colorado ZR2 Billed By Motor Trend as “The Best Off-Road Small Truck Money Can Buy”

It's the smallest In the lineup, but brand-new suspension upgrades and cladding make the Chevy Colorado ZR2 the truck that Motor Trend claims is “The best money can buy”! The fully boxed frame gives the Chevy Colorado ZR2 a stronger body resulting in better payload. Additional skid plates provide extra protection for the underbody, so rocks and other obstacles aren't scraping up some of the most vital parts of the truck. The V-6 powered Chevy Colorado ZR2 get you an 8-speed automatic transmission tuned for the challenges of off-road driving.

When this transmission is paired up with generous power, you've got the winning formula to create one of the best off-road trucks in existence. The 3.6-liter V-6 comes standard and is a very capable option for O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson drivers who crave the thrill of high speeds in the cactus and red-sand rich desert. There's also a diesel option: the Colorado ZR2 is available with a 2.8-liter turbodiesel capable of meeting your rock-crawling needs. This is also a truck that has the most power and torque in its league: the 3.6-liter V-6 cranks out 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque, and the 2.8-liter turbodiesel has 181 hp and 369 lb-ft, offering up two high-octane options to power the best small off-road truck.

Locking differentials allow both wheels to travel at the same speed, so when traction is lost for one wheel, both will still keep spinning no matter what the amount of resistance. With a locking differential, since equal power is transferred to both wheels, the wheel that is in contact with the ground has the ability to rotate along with the free wheel, providing added traction which is ideal for off-roading. Multimatic DSSV spool-valve shocks proved plenty of ground clearance for the task of crawling over large rocks, and the grit to deal with jumps and other obstacles that would cause a normal pickup to experience bottoming out after impact.

Motor Trend's Stefan Ogbac also was very appreciative of what's known as the “Chevy Swagger”, and took a quick liking to the illuminated bowtie badge that the ZR2 proudly sports that can get other rigs ahead of you to rapidly step aside. Our chief rival in the form of the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is the one that this article claims we beat out easily: the ZR2 rises above day-to-day expectations, and provides a great daily driver or option to veer off the pavement ferociously in. We are lucky to live in a state that offers an abundance of locations to properly put the Colorado ZR2 to the test, and are enthusiastic about the many positive reviews such as this one praising its ability and candor!

The Truth About Cars Blog Provides In-Depth Look at Base-Level Colorado ZR2

The various trails nearby to Tucson are a constant testing grounds of sorts for off-road trucks, and many of the customers that visit us here at O'rielly Chevy are looking for a rig that can kick up sand and crawl rocks without a twinge of regret or shortcoming. We thought it was actually a very great idea for an article to see just how a base-level ZR2 fared during testing, and the folks on staff at TheTruthAboutCars.com did just that. Right off the bat, the DSSV dampers and off-road kit make it quite a bit more capable than many base models, and we love the friendly digs directed in automaker Ford's direction within.

The topic this article really tackled full-on was if the extra gear that that Bison touts is worth the extra spend, or if our fellow Arizona truckies are better off scoring a base level ZRT and modding it on their own. It is true that the Bison is technically an option package, and not just offered as an additional trim. Once you set your sights on down the line at the AEV additions, you see that more robust skid plates, brand new wheels, and a few tweaks in styling is a grave success for those wandering off roads that tend to be heavily traveled.

The skid plates really do offer primo protection and are one of the most well-engineered avenues of defense in existence for a truck that is slated to experience quite a bit of rougher elements on the ground during the journey. What these experts claim is that in a world where a set of bumpers run close to $3,000 and skid plates are about as much, the Bison option is viable. What matters really boil down to in a close-up examination of an off-road truck with these capabilities is that very little of what makes up a Bison is available as standalone parts and makes the AEV route that much more attractive.

Heavy volumes of automotive truth are doled out with the sentiment preached here that says, “Not every base model has aced it”, and the ones that have made the automotive landscape that much better. While we understand the very deep and dedicated craze that is fueling the full-size truck frenzy, it is undeniable just how valuable the snug and boulder-crawl capable appeal of trucks like these are. We are amazed at the new rise in towing ratings and horsepower that the full-size club brings, and many are spellbound by what the biggest and baddest can offer up. But we can also attest that there is nothing quite as satisfying as a midsize marauder that is eager to leapfrog over rocks and win victory over the wilderness: the ZR2 is undoubtedly groomed for the most challenging of tasks! 

Colorado ZR2 Bison Created With Aid From AEV for the Ultimate in Off-Road Adventure

Details regarding a very detailed pre-emptive strike against the competing Ford Raptor have been circulating around the office and on the lot here at O'rielly Chevy, where more off-road equipment has been added to the bad and burly ZR2. Based on the AEV concept seen during last year's SEMA show, the new ZR2 Bison features very awesome and able custom gear from American Expedition Vehicles. First setting apart the new Bison from ordinary ZR2s is a winch mounting plate underneath with “Chevrolet” spelled out across its width, as well as an AEV steel bumper with fog lights.

There are now larger fender flares positioned over very cool customer 17-inch black wheels, and 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires, an AEV steel rear bumper with integrated tow hooks, and Bison decals on the bed. For the most proper and fitting in rock climbing  equipment, Chevy traded the ZR2's aluminum skid plates for a total of five new steel units that cover both differentials, the transfer case, engine oil pan, and the fuel tank. New logos of a charging bison and the AEV name now appear on the tailgate and headrests.

For the most part, the Bison has similar traits to the standard ZR2's equipment, sporting the usual Multimatic remote-control reservoir dampers, cast-iron control arms, front and rear electronic locking diffs, a two-inch lift, and a 3.5-inch-wider front and rear track then is found on the lower-model Colorado Z71. Engine selections are the turbo-diesel 2.8-liter inline-four with a six-speed automatic transmission, or the 3.6-liter gasoline V-6 with the 8-speed automatic, in crew-cab or extended cab body types. This is the truck that the folks at Jalopnik called “A plated pickup to power through anything”, and raved about the strength of the newly installed protective plating.

The skilled folks at AEV are the ones who turned the Jeep Wrangler into the fully-fledged off-road ready AEV Brute, and are currently tinkering with Dodge Ram pickups as well. Since the main ingredient is the skid plates, it's hard not to notice that they are constructed of very hard, durable hot-stamped Boron steel. This makes an enormous difference for anyone who Is going to be taking their truck off road: oil pans and differentials can be some of the first items to crack, and this armor for the underbelly is wildly sensible. Crawling rocks and racing through the desert at dusk are popular forms of recreation right here in the Tucson area, and you will be more than excited to embark on your own adventure with the trusty and battle-ready 2019 ZR2 Bison!