The Silverado ZR2

It has fewer horses than the TRX or Raptor R but the Canadian-designed suspension could make this your next full-size off-road 4x4.

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Words by Perry Mack Photos courtesy General Motors

Approximately five years ago, Chevy introduced the Colorado in the ZR2 trim. For the first time and never since, a truck manufacturer encouraged journalists to jump a 4x4 truck multiple times on a test track. The Colorado ZR2’s key feature was the Canadian-designed Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) Dampers, which instantly made this vehicle the best off-road mid-size pick-up.

It performed flawlessly off-road through sand and dirt (and airborne) at high speeds and the suspension was exceptionally roadworthy for the highway. As a bonus, it was released in both gas and diesel options.

Chevrolet was so confident in this new Colorado that they let us drive it head-to-head against the Ford Raptor (on-road), which was why we expected to see a Silverado ZR2 within a couple of years. We were excited to drive the Colorado ZR2 but were salivating for a Raptor competitor that could also be offered in diesel. Two years passed, then three, four and five. Now, in 2022 we’ll get our half-ton Chevy ZR2. The halo model for the Silverado half-ton trucks.

The success of the Colorado ZR2 in racing and dealership sales cemented Chevy’s desire for a Silverado ZR2 and since 2019, Chevy began competing with a version of its new truck on the off-road racing circuit. Since 2019, Chad Hall Racing has been abusing a Silverado Trail Boss, custom outfitted with a resized-for-half-ton Multimatic suspension mated to the stock 6.2L V8 with no engine upgrades other than custom intakes and exhaust.

This off-road beast will come with front and rear e-lockers, a 2.5” lift with beefier springs to accompany the Multimatic DSSV, chassis upgrades and a new terrain mode, One-Pedal Driving. When the driver reduces pressure on the accelerator pedal (gets off the gas) the ZR2 begins to actively slow down and will come to a complete stop even on a downhill grade. Key off-road features like a lift, 33” tires and new steel front bumper improve the approach angle to 31.8 degrees, breakover to 23.4 degrees and departure angle to 23.3 degrees.

With the requisite red tow hooks, they have wisely built the bumper with removable (read replaceable) end caps in the event drivers ‘nudge’ something on the trail. They also tucked the dual exhaust tips inboard of the bumper to prevent damage.

Then there are the skid plates for when the 11.2” ground clearance is still lacking. As off-roaders know, if you don’t occasionally use the skid plates, you’re just not pushing yourself or your truck hard enough.

Then there’s the power. The one engine option is GM’s naturally-aspirated 6.2L V8 producing 420 hp and 460 lb ft of torque mated to a ten-speed transmission. It is a solid, reliable and powerful engine that we have long admired. 

Of course, we wanted to be offered a supercharged competitor to the Ram TRX with 702 hp or the soon-to-be-released Ford Raptor R, which is rumoured to have a 5.2L supercharged V8 capable of churning out 725-750 hp. Nevertheless, there’s a large gap between what we would like to be offered and what we can afford, more of a chasm than a gap. While the 700-plus supercharged ZR2 is financially unobtainable, that battle for power supremacy would have been enjoyable to watch and test drive.

Before we close the paragraph on engine options for the Silverado ZR2, let’s mention that Chevy does have a 6.2L supercharged V8 that it could drop in. Last year, it was rumoured they are prepping it for a Silverado ZRX to compete with the Raptor, maybe we’ll see it in two, three or five years?

While we like the addition of the ZR2 to the Silverado lineup, it’s not much of a desert running competitor to the Ram TRX or Raptor R. Aside from horsepower, it doesn’t have the enhanced stance, nor the 35” tires like the TRX nor the optional 37” tires under the Raptor.

Where it does get close is in trail running and rock crawling performance where the ZR2 with 33” tires (Goodyear Wrangler in LT275/70R 18) has angles and ground clearance compared to the Raptor and TRX running 35” tires. If the Multimatic DSSV in the Silverado performs on the road as well as it does in the Colorado, it will best the Raptor and TRX.

Chevy says they are providing a complete and capable off-road pick-up truck that excels at both high-speed desert running, trail running and rock-crawling while still providing a sweet ride on the drive home and can work or play with its 1440 lb payload or 8900 lb towing capacity. The specs say this is true, but we’ll still wait for the test drive to confirm their claim.

The exterior is aggressively styled and accessorized but we also appreciate other functional features like 12-tie downs in the bed and the six-position Multi-Flex tailgate. The front-facing camera for spotting obstacles on the trail and when cresting hills is included and almost a necessity to compete with other off-road trucks. It will only be offered in a crew cab with either a standard bed or short box however that isn’t to say Canadians will get both options. If we only get one, it will be a crew cab with a standard box.

The interior is far from breathtaking in appearance but features like the extra-thick bolsters in the bucket seats will keep occupants in the seats over rough terrain. The customizable 36 cm (14.3 in) centre console screen and 31 cm (12.3 in) dash screen are dazzling and can keep drivers and passengers entertained with a full suite of information and infotainment features - without ever leaving the driveway.

For all that GM has told us, there are still some key tidbits that haven’t been revealed like the fuel economy, wheel travel and pricing. We expect the pricing to be around $68,000 CAD making it an expensive truck but more affordable than a Raptor at roughly $73,000 CAD or the TRX at $94,000 CAD.