Chevy Colorado ZR2 Boasts “Enough Impressive Oomph To Conquer Gnarliest of Terrains”

 The midsize truck market has seen a great amount of change over the last five years, as what used to be on the smaller side of things grew exponentially larger, and drivers began demanding more tech features along with a higher level of comfort inside the cabin. The Chevy Colorado has long been a favorite for those looking for a truck that isn't stretched out to XXL proportions, and the ZR2 offers up off-road-ready specifics that have forged their way into a very sizable and loyal following. 

There remains the choice of either a diesel-powered 2.8-liter Duramax engine or an optional 3.6-liter gasoline V6, with a 6-speed automatic for the inline-four diesel and 8-speed for the V6. Front and rear locking differentials on top of a switchable 4-wheel drive system are a few of the traits that thoroughly prepare the ZR2 for the demands of the trail, as well as its 7000-lb towing rating. Just a short trip away from us here at West Chevy of Knoxville provides the amazing outdoor excursion to Windrock Park, offering more than 73,000 acres of challenging and versatile terrain to test your rig skills on. 

For difficult destinations such as this the diesel would prove to be the best, and if sticking around where you'll be driving on more pavement the gas engine offers a great choice. Handling tricky corners with minimal roll and boasting a completely revised grille, the front fascia now boasts a look that you can't miss as it comes up on you into plain view. Well-chiseled and now hollowed-out to provide drastic improvement for airflow, there is an air of simplicity here that draws visual attention to the end of the truck that will be proceeding towards boulders and other hazards first. 

The WT, LT, and Z71 models now feature updated center bars, skid plates, and lower fascias. Red tow hooks are now standard equipment, and you can choose from Bright Blue Metallic, Cherry Red Tintcoat, and Sand Dune Metallic for sand-running and fire-road ready new exterior colors. The LT model receives a new Chevy Infotainment 3 system with an 8-inch diagonal color touchscreen, Bluetooth audio streaming for 2 active devices, voice command pass-through to phone, and Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto capability. With an extremely maneuverable size and offering a very comfortable ride over most surfaces, the Edmunds auto review team praised the ZR2 for its consistently excellent fuel economy, and its ability to return an EPA rating of around 20 mph while exhibiting crushing performance off-road all day long. 

Great features offered on base-level trims are another way that models like the Colorado provide an added luster: the standard features on the base WT include air conditioning, cloth upholstery, and vinyl floor covering, power windows, 7-inch infotainment, two USB ports, and a 6-speaker sound system. The LT adds all of these great options, plus a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, power-adjustable driver's seat, 8-inch touchscreen, and two additional USB ports. 

2019 Colorado ZR2 Bison Test Drive Proves It to Be Most Off-Road Ready in its Class

Auto journalist Gary Gastelu has completed in-depth tests of just about every type of vehicle in existence, and we knew that he was going to enjoy getting his hands on the pre-customized Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison. All of us here at West Chevy of Knoxville have long admired the work that American Expedition Vehicles has done on cars for years now. The Brute Double Cab was an amazingly-built Wrangler Unlimited that was converted into a pickup, and a close look at its custom accessories let one know that they could work wonders with something such as the ZR2.

The raw goods are a steel set of bumpers with a winch mount in the front, wide black fender flares, black 17-inch alloy wheels, a Chevy branded grille, and five boron steel skid plates. All the additives mean about 200 extra pounds added to the truck, but it is evenly enough spread so the balance is not too upset. Gary immediately billed the ZR2 as “the most off-road capable vehicle Chevrolet has ever made”. Thanks to front and rear locking differentials, a two-inch lifted suspension and Multimatic “spool valve” dampers the truck is capable of anything ranging from high-speed off-roading to taking jumps and crawling over obstacles such as rocks.

The official ground clearance for the Bison is 8.9 inches, which at first may not sound impressive but is measured under the suspension mounts instead of right in the center of the truck. The Bison is available in extended and crew cab versions and with either a 3.6-liter V6 or a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel. As Gary began his test drive he thought that the control layout was spot-on, and what it is missing in luxury elements is ideal with off-road handling in mind.

This video does a great job of getting all of the ways underneath and showing us the five boron skid plates that prevent the underside from taking a severe beating during off-road duty. The track that the Bison was tested on was far from a breeze: rocks of all sizes were strewn all over, and you see the truck navigate a massively washed out puddle turned-into-stream. Gary is even shown catching sizable air on a tabletop, putting about everything you could imagine to the test during landing. The bison is a rather limited-edition truck for the 2019 year, but we want to invite you to the lot here this fall: check out the full range of trucks for sale, and see which one will be the perfect fit for your growing family or business!

FourWheeler Network Features 2019 Chevy Colorado Bison Braving a Blizzard

The folks on staff at the Four Wheeler Network Blog was incredibly excited last month to put the ZR2 Bison to the test in an element that would surely show how capable it really is of slogging through any condition. The crew had previously familiarized themselves with the ZR2 during last year's “Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year” test, where it took home first place. The 2019 Bison received massive upgrades through expert Montana-based outfitter AEV that the group was itching to try out: on top of front and rear electric lockers, Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve shocks, a 2-inch taller ride height, and 3.5-inch-wider track width, the Bison also received a custom-stamped steel front bumper.

It also proudly boasts fog lights and space for a winch, rear bumper with dual recovery points and matching contours for the widened fender flares, hot-stamped Boron steel skid plates protecting the oil pan, fuel tank, transfer case, and AEV badging located throughout. The weather was a bit dreary, but the team was determined to pack as much adventure as they could into the time-space of the weekend. The 62-inch bed was more than enough space for the camping gear needed for the trip, but with heavy snow in the forecast, they chose to test the carrying ability of the back seat.

They easily stacked sleeping accommodations, photography, recovery gear, and the Dometic CFX 35W electric cooler into the back, and excitedly hit the road. The goal for travel was between Mojave and Bishop, California, on mostly dirt roads. They noticed that the first leg of their trip allowed for carrying speed through obstacles that would slow non-off-road-equipped vehicles to a snail's pace. When the trail eventually because very slick, steep, and riddled with rocks, the increased track width and skidplating allowed for much more confidence and stability, and AEV's 17-inch aluminum wheels came complete with Goodyear DuraTrac tires, known for their primo ability in mud and snow.

The team was literally stuck with the Bison in feet of snow, and nearly knee-deep powder and the poorest visibility in existence required the employment of both locking differentials to keep moving at all. What was rated highest and most useful after this trek were many components that one expert along for the ride admitted “would make him sell his Jeep”. The grabby tires, front and rear electric-locking differentials, and skidplates all were integral in allowing the truck to pass through the worst of winter conditions. Follow along closely with the gang's adventures here, and make sure to pay us a visit here at West Chevy during the spring to check out the capabilities and off-road candor of the mighty ZR2!

Colorado ZR2 AEV Revamp: Extras Abound With Teeming Features and Off-Road Capability

All of the spots around Knoxville that are great for off-roading are going to now really meet their match: The Colorado ZR2 was already a very awesome truck, just begging to become much better. All of us here at West Chevy was full aware that when Chevy took the liberty of collaborating with AEV, a vehicle that was now more off-road ready than ever before was going to be given the opportunity to fully roar to life. By being consistently innovative and thoroughly tough, the Chevy namesake has gained more than a quarter of all midsize truck sales in just under four years, and in past models, the Colorado line introduced an all-new V-6 gas engine with 8-speed transmission combination. To complete the job of protecting the most important of undercarriage elements over rough and jagged terrain, the Bison model now proudly features five different skid plates that house the fuel tank, engine oil pan, transfer case, as well as front and rear locking differentials.

Custom made by the ingenious and all-around dynamite manufacturer AEG, these skid plates are made up of incredibly durable hot-stamped Boron steel. This is the main ingredient used to shield the truck from various obstacles it can encounter during adventurous off-road jaunts. Offering a fully stocked suite of equipment to make sure its off-road abilities shine strongly, the ability to maneuver like a truly midsize truck, and the driving range of a high-performing diesel engine, the ZR2 is on deck to now provide excellent off-road capability in multiple scenarios. Multimatic DSSV patented these awesome dampers, and them along with the front and rear locking differentials are two other qualities that make this one of the best vehicles to conquer the back roads of Tennessee that aren't able to welcome traffic from anything other than the most trusty and able of vehicles.

The experts at AEV have been closely following the Colorado since its early origins, and knew full-on ahead of time that the first use of the hot-stamped Baron steel would be a legendary truck in many ways. Many drivers who already had cause to be very excited about the Colorado are bound to take to the rugged can-do vibe and appearance that the new front and rear bumpers add, and there is a multitude of extra equipment on board to appeal to those with the ultimate sense of wanderlust. The modified rear axle with 3.42 ratio, front and rear tracks widened by 3.5 inches, and a factory suspension that sports a two-inch lift over a Colorado Z71 are all other elements that will have you packing your camping and climbing gear quick, to depart the city in a hurry.

Getting rapidly off of frequently traveled roads in a truck is always a bonding time with yourself that can't be beaten: properly kicking up some dirt and traveling on trails in the Knoxville area are bound to be a pastime that you will be eager for all week! The 2.8 -L Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and is capable of putting out 186 horsepower, with 369 lb-ft of torque. Buyers also have the option to choose a crew or extended cab configuration, and to purchase an available third-party accessory snorkel for the ZR2 Bison direct from AEV. We hope that you come to pay us a visit here at West Chevy soon, and see for yourself in depth the features and off-road prowess of the brand new truck that Cnet deemed ideal for “just you and your pals, living off the grid for days or even weeks at a time.”

West Chevrolet’s Wild Summer Truck Report: 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Test Drive

Appropriately named after what is unquestionably one of the most rugged and adventuresome states in the nation, the Colorado is the new king of the action-driver's / off-road niche. This is a vehicle for achieving high speeds in the desert, crawling over looming rocks in the wild, and your routine-seeming daily commute as well. Here in Knoxville, we have the Smokies close by and accessible for multiple off-roading opportunities, and some of the most fun you can have during summer is in the wild with a more-than-able machine.

The well-equipped ZR2 comes standard with front, rear and center differentials, 31-inch tires, a 3.5-inch wider track than the previous Colorado Z71, and a 2.0-inch lift. Just about everyone that has test driven this beast agrees on one very important fact: the shocks in this truck are out-of-this-world superior. They are Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve dampers, and their original development was intended for use in Indy and F1 cars. Inside are spring-activated spool valves, that are used to prevent extreme overheat.

As compression takes place, the shocks gradually become stiffer. If you are in a truly extreme off-roading situation, you will be able to actually catch air with confidence. The landing is nearly always the toughest part of jumping in an actual truck, but the most skilled of ditch and creek desperadoes claim that they really enjoy the stickiness the ZR2 possesses right when it lands. If the feeling of a suave sports car is what you get a hankering for every once in a drive, you can leave the ZR2 in two-wheel drive, switch the stability control to Off-Road Mode, and attain more of a drift as you embark across dirt or other obstacle-ridden terrains.

You can get the ZR2 with the 308-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, or opt for the 4-cylinder turbo diesel for just over $3,000 extra. Either one you choose can be paired with an extended cab or crew cab body, and both are appropriately matched to automatic trannies. The very responsive V6 is great to use when you are in a situation needing very high speeds, but the diesel setup really shows its efficiency level when you embark for a highway cruise. For a diesel-driven option, this is really not that noisy of a ride, and you’ll also enjoy the heated seats, wireless charging pad, and built-in Wi-Fi that comes along for the ride. Every unit has a tow rating of 5,000 pounds, and payload ability of 1,100.

In essence, the Toyota Tacoma is a rival product that is a fairly trusty rock climber, but the real issue at stake is the power, and the ZR2 has much more of it. You’ll notice a better-rounded appeal in the ZR2 than the Ford F-150 Raptor as well, while the sales and service staff here at West Chevrolet will be happy to help you along with a lease or sale of one. Get ready to experience just how thrilling the warm-weather months can be with a truck that has 8.9 inches of ground clearance at the bottom of the rear shocks, and other cool features such as a bed-mounted tire carrier. This is the season to definitely savor what some deem as unexplorable, and the Colorado ZR2 is most definitely the truck to take you.