TRUCKS

The Off-Road-Focused Chevy ZR2 Silverado Isn’t All It’s Cracked up to Be

Chevrolet Colorado created the ZR2, which has exploded into the midsize truck world as the most powerful off-road-focused truck in its class. The luxury carried has been carried over, but the same can’t be said of this full-size truck.

Why isn’t the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 a best-in-class pickup truck?

If we’re looking at performance off-road trucks as a class, the ZR2 Silverado falls short of the Ram 1500 TRX and Ford F-150 Raptor. Now that Ford has the F-150 Raptor R, there are three trucks ahead. Still, the Silverado ZR2 may be the perfect off-road truck for most consumers. Let’s see why.

Team, any premium off-road truck must have many qualities to be competitive. These qualities are:

  • Too much power
  • Excellent comment
  • Great frames
  • Impressive ground clearance
  • Luxurious cabin
  • latest technology

Does the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 offer all of these qualities?

Chevy stuck a proven winner under the hood of this full-size truck

Chevy Silverado ZR2 | Chevrolet

Before we get to the ZR2 Silverado’s off-road accessories, let’s take a look at that powertrain. This off-road truck uses a 6.2L V8 engine that is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine generates 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.

Unfortunately, that’s this truck’s biggest weakness compared to the Ram TRX and Ford Raptor models. All three other trucks use Specialized powertrains to give them incredible power numbers.

How does this Chevy off-road truck fare in other classes?

Rear corner view of the new full-size 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison, showing how much a full charge would cost
2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison | Chevrolet

comment

The suspension used for the Silverado ZR2 uses custom DSSV multi-valve dampers. This system is race-proven and absorbs the rigors of off-road trails with ease. Suspension travel is 9.8 in the front and 10.6 in. in the rear. TRX and Raptor models each offer at least 13 inches of travel.

Tires

The Chevy uses 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires, which provide an excellent ride. These tires are used on other luxury trucks and SUVs, including the GMC Hummer EV, Ram TRX, and Ford Bronco. The Raptor can ride on 37-inch tires, the TRX rides on 35s, and the Hummer EV can ride on 35- or 37-inch tires. Also, the ZR2 is limited to a top speed of 98 mph, while the TRX and Raptor top speeds of 118 mph.

ground clearance

Ground clearance is extremely important when driving off-road. The Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 offers useful off-road angles:

  • Departure angle – 23.3 degrees
  • Approach angle – 31.8 degrees
  • The angle of refraction is 23.4 degrees

Does the Silverado ZR2 beat Ram and Ford trucks in any class?

While the 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 isn’t the best Ram 1500 TRX or Ford F-150 Raptor in any off-road class, it does have an edge in one area. The Silverado has a maximum payload of 1,440 pounds and a towing capacity of 8,900 pounds. By comparison, the Ram TRX tows up to 8,100 pounds, while the F-150 Raptor only tows 8,200 pounds.

Maybe Chevy shot too high with this full-size truck?

Blue 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison
Blue 2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison | Chevrolet

Instead of pitting the off-road-focused Silverado against the Ram TRX and Ford Raptor, maybe this Chevy truck is better off compared to other off-road pickups. Full-size Chevy’s equipment and performance are comparable to the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Ford F-150 Tremor, and Ram 1500 Rebel GT. This is where the Chevy Silverado ZR2 belongs.

Then, check out how much fun this can be, or learn more about the new ZR2 Silverado in this video below:

Related

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button