When GM introduced the ZR2 option on the Chevrolet Colorado in 2017, off-roading fans in North America rejoiced – this was a specially-engineered specimen. And, it had to be because it was competing with the likes of the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and the Nissan Frontier PRO-4x, both of which were staples of the midsize pickup segment for many years.

Fast forward to 2021, there will be more challengers: a V6-powered Ford Ranger Raptor that produces 350 horsepower and the Jeep Gladiator, which is offered with a highly-coveted manual transmission.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 that Chevrolet Canada graciously loaned me for a week doesn’t boast the most powerful powertrain in the midsize pickup segment. And, much to every off-roader’s dismay, there’s no available manual transmission drivetrain.

Despite both the powertrain and drivetrain shortcomings, I couldn’t help feel intimidated - and excited - when I first approached this fully-optioned $55,000 ZR2 (CAD).

Aggressive Exterior Styling

My tester for the week was an all-black ZR2 that featured the $3,200 ($5,000 CAD) Midnight Special Edition, which comes with 17-inch gloss-black aluminum wheels on very beefy Goodyear Wrangler tires, all-terrain sport bar, and off-road lights.

The Midnight Special Edition is a welcome addition to what’s an already aggressive exterior styling. The most notable feature has to be the very attractive and blacked out front grille, featuring the lettered Chevrolet brand name.

Anthony Abbondanza / HotCars.com

Moreover, the ZR2’s design team had extreme off-roading in mind when they conjured up this very unique front bumper setup. Add the very useful rock sliders and skid plates to a 50 mm factory lift, and you’ve got yourself a quite formidable-looking off-roading beast.

But does it drive as well as it looks?

Related: 2021 Chevy Colorado ZR2: Costs, Facts, And Figures

Off-Roading Prowess

Simply put, the 2021 Chevy Colorado is on its off-roading game. I drove this midsize pickup from Montreal to the hilly -and snowy- terrain of the Eastern Townships a few hours southeast of Montreal, and boy was I impressed with its overall handling of the road less traveled.

Anthony Abbondanza / HotCars.com

On my way to the very picturesque town of Sutton, 10 minutes north of the Vermont border, I found myself driving on snow-covered dirt roads riddled with potholes. Swallowing up every imperfection in the road, I gained more confidence and decided to test my luck going off-road.

While the 4WD auto system is more than capable, the ability to individually control the front and rear differentials came in handy during situations where my rear tires got stuck in a dirty mix of four-feet of snow and mud.

Anthony Abbondanza / HotCars.com

Of course you can’t talk about the ZR2 without mentioning the famous Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) a chassis suspension technology that is also found in some of our favorite sports cars, like the Ford GT mk2 and the Mercedes-AMG GT.

Related: AEV Prospector XL: Costs, Facts and Figures

But that’s not all. You also get the 2-speed Autotrac transfer case and cast iron control arms among other off-road goodies.

After about a week testing driving the ZR2, it soon became clear to me why although spending $55,000 on a midsize pickup may be steep for some, that it is indeed money well spent –especially if you’re a serious off-roader.

Powertrain, Drivetrain, and Performance

Admittedly, the ZR2 performs better off-road with the available 2.8L turbo inline-four cylinder diesel engine, which produces 180 horsepower and very impressive 369 pound feet of torque. My ZR2 on the other hand had a rather capable 3.6L V6 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that delivered 308 horsepower at 6,800 RPM and an unimpressive 275 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 RPM.

Anthony Abbondanza / HotCars.com

Many complaints about the Colorado ZR2 revolve around the engine options and understandably so. This wonderfully-engineered machine could have benefitted from a V8 engine.

Shortcomings aside, the V6 was still quite fun to drive off-road –and surprisingly on it as well. While it’s by no means fast by any stretch of the imagination as it takes 9 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph in the diesel-power variant versus a reported 7 seconds in the V6 gas-powered variant, this ZR2 is more than capable of smoothing out corners without tossing your personal belongs from one side of the cabin to the other.

Speaking of the cabin…

Outdated Interior Styling And Technology

There’s one big elephant in the room…

The interior is not only outdated, but also on the cheaper side when considering how much this vehicle does cost.

Yes, the front and back seats are spacious and somewhat comfortable.

Yes, there’s some good storage space found inside the center-console bin and under the crew cab’s rear seat.

But, let’s be honest. The interior styling could use a makeover.

Seen as possible saving graces are the intuitive touchscreen displays, one of which is an 8-inch screen that is a convenient arm’s-length away. Other features include a Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a very decent 6-speaker sound system.

Is It Worth The Money?

After spending about a week with Colorado ZR2, I quickly learned there was more to this pickup’s aggressive looks. It was about what was inside – or more accurately, underneath the ZR2 that counted. That’s where GM decided to invest its money. The brilliance of the chassis and the inclusion of the DSSV make the ZR2 one of the better off-roading pickup trucks in the midsize segment.

Sure, spending over $50,000 is a little steep for anyone in the market for a midsize pickup truck. But, if you consider yourself a true off-road enthusiast, then the money is well worth spending.

 

Other Highlights 

  • EPA Fuel Economy (Combined 17 MPG)
  • Front Suspension Type (Independent)
  • Rear Suspension Type (Multi-Leaf)
  • Anti-Lock Braking System (4-Wheel)
  • Towing Capacity (5,000 Pounds)
  • Hill Descent Control
  • Rear Axle (3.42 ratio)