2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2: The Super-Sized and Wickedly Talented Wilderness Warrior

Here at West Chevy of Knoxville, we know just how popular off-roading has become in the last few years. 

People who have been cooped up are now finally free, and yearning for a little bit of off-road adventure! The most capable Chevy Silverado 1500 out there by far is the ZR2 trim, which turns up the heat and proudly secures itself as a segment leader.    

Some of the extras that allow you to do so much more than smooth cruising on the open road are a two-speed transfer case, Multimatic spool valve shock dampers, off-roading springs, front and rear locking differentials, hill descent control, 33-inch MG tires, along with skid plates that are in place to protect the oil pan, differential, and all-important transfer case. Things can get even more overland and rocky-road ready with the power liftgate, rear camera mirror, head-up display, and 180inch gloss black wheels. 

The engine choice for the current model Silverado ZR2 is one that we couldn't be happier about: it is the 6.2-liter V8 powertrain mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission, cranking out 420 steep-hill hungry horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. The Max towing limit is 8,900 pounds, and all the vitals have been thoroughly covered as far as achieving the optimal angles to provide successful clearance of the sudden roots, rocks, and water-carved ravines that you’ll encounter during the journey. 

10.7 inches of ground clearance and an approach angle of 38.3 degrees will assure that you can square off righteously with any incline needed to claim full-on backcountry victory, and anyone behind the wheel will see the advantages over the competition in the form of the Ram TRX and Ford F-150 Raptor. Since we have always had so much love for the essence of hefty trucks and how they can go the extra mile, the aggressively styled Silverado ZR2 is excellent at letting everyone that lays eyes on it no right away it is anything but run-of-the-mill. 

Once its differentials were fully locked, the Car and Driver team had a blast taking the 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 to the famed and desolate location of Joshua Tree, where shifting into Terrain Mode enabled the perfect 1-pedal trail driving setup that was ideal and intensely focused for the task at hand. The truck’s various high-resolution camera views get the job of providing a virtual spotter for planning the way through very technical terrain, which the tailpipes are routed up a little bit higher to perfectly accommodate. 

Once in deep sand, the Multimatic spool-valve dampers were “extreme experts in residence” of keeping the rear axle from drastic hopping and jolting around. Engage the new electronic joystick shifter on the console and prepare to easily clear, lurch, and blast your way up steep inclines and through washed-out brush: The Silverado ZR2 has more than generous game-changing grit and precision!

2022 Silverado ZR2 Arrives Fresh From the Factory With Multimatic Dampers, 6.2-Liter V8

The 2022 Chevy Silverado ZR2 is ready to announce itself as the most off-road ready truck in its class! 

The Silverado ZR2 is now equipped with advanced Multimatic DSSV dampers and completely retuned springs to deliver greatly improved front and rear suspension travel. You’ll also benefit from front and rear e-lockers for enhanced traction, while the high-approach steel front bumper now has removable front-end caps. 

Motor Trend called the ZR2 “amazingly rugged and ready'' after they took it for a spin and loved the off-road capability. 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires are ready to roll, and underbody skid plates are in place to protect undercarriage. The most intense roads and trails demand appropriate clearance, and the Silverado ZRZ is up to the task with 11.2 inches of ground clearance, a 31.8-degree approach angle, 23.4-degree breakover angle, and 23.3 degree departure angle. The exhaust is positioned behind the bumper to avoid the dents and dings that come with frequent bumps.

 The new redesign lowers the headlamps and adds animated lighting sequences that are active when you start the vehicle or walk away. All LT trims and up now have built-in Google compatibility, which is quickly accessible with the push-to-talk button right on the wheel. The High Country now boasts Super Cruise, which provides hands-free navigation on most major thoroughfares in the US. With all its amazing technology and off-road capability, the ZR2 is perfect for the rock-crawling and canyon-climbing crowd!

2019 Colorado Bison Hailed by Autoweek as “Beefy, Full of Purpose”

The folks on staff at Autoweek last week recognized truthfully that GM simply “can't build trucks quickly enough,” and the special editions and upgrades are topics that are frequently asked about here at West Chevy of Knoxville. There are more than a dozen trims and special editions for Chevy's full-size trucks, but the inclusion of mid-level models has been going strong as of late. Last year, the brand we love to represent made huge news with our off-road focused ZR2, and followed through with Midnight and Dusk versions.

The Bison marks the first-time of the very exciting collaboration with expert aftermarket producer American Expedition Vehicles, or AEV. These are incredibly skilled folk who have been cranking out Jeeps and Ram trucks for more than two decades, including perhaps the most famous model of all, the Brute. Looking back through time and the very thrilling evolution of truck history, the very first GM Bison was a prototype gas-turbine semi-tractor trailer, constructed especially for the 1964 World's Fair. During the 1970's and 1980's, the Bison nameplate was used on a heavy-duty Class 8 truck, and now three decades later, it's a very special edition model to be proud off, with unworldly off-road ability.

The suspension was not modified under AEV's careful watch, so the factory 2-inch lift and Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve dampers remain in place, alongside the stock-size 265/65R-17 Goodyear tires. Stamped steel bumpers alongside sliders and skidplates that provide a solid mass of protection for the truck's underbelly are fitted splendidly, and the task of halting traditional weight gain from adding components was really completed well by the experienced engineering team. The skidplates are designed for a high level of resistance to gauging, and provide a very high yield strength, to absorb any kind of hit, and bounce back with vigor.

The brand-new wheel flares provide more necessary coverage for tires and give the Bison some impressive shoulders. There is an available snorkel for the Bison, with its own pre-filter system located high up to improve the constant quest for clean air. Tackling the toughest of off-road terrain without the fear of excessive body damage, the testing team from Autoweek reveled in the excitement of the rock-filled trails near Florence Junction, Arizona for their in-depth analysis and driving location.

With the use of 4WD high range, the dirt two-track that led to the bigger rocks was conquered with ease, and big dips in the road did not stand a chance at washing out the front end. All things considered, the team concluded that the Bison is by far the “most capable, and most purposeful, 4WD midsize pickup truck.” Not worrying about the precious zones of your truck while taking it through the most challenging of territories is just one of the benefits of the Bison revamp: we have seen for years now that anything with AEV's blessing is pure grit and gold!