Home > Motors

Jumped, Slid, ‘Not Raced’: Off-Road Testing the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2

Come along for an adventure with our Motors Editor Bryon Dorr as he puts the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 to the test on hundreds of miles of the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno race course.
2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2(Photo/Josh Walker)
Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

You’re going to want to join us on this off-road adventure from Vegas to Reno testing the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2. We put the new midsize Chevrolet pickup through the paces over 700 miles across Nevada, with over 300 of those miles on some rugged off-road desert terrain.

We retraced most of the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno race course, with Chad Hall in his new Colorado ZR2 race truck on 35s leading the way.

Watch the action here:

2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Impressions

For around $50,000 the 2023 Colorado ZR2 isn’t inexpensive, but it’s loaded with creature comforts and capability upgrades. You get things like a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled seats, a good sound system, Wi-Fi, USB plugs, and a ton of drive tech, like fun and useful driving modes.

You also get magic shocks, skid plates, rock sliders, 33-inch tires, selectable lockers, and more off-road content that makes it truly capable. We used all the comfort and capability features of this truck on our adventure — and came away impressed.

The trucks on this adventure were brand new, low mileage (ours had about 300 miles on it when we started this adventure), and pre-production. We weren’t exactly kind to them, and pretty much the only issues we had were some blown tires as well as lightbar mount bolts that could have used some Loctite. The trail was rough and the rocks were sharp!

  • Engine: 2.7L 4-cylinder turbo HO
  • Power: 310 horsepower; 430 lb.-ft. of torque
  • Transmission: 8-speed automatic
  • Wheelbase: 131.4"
  • Approach/Break-Over/Departure Angles: 38.3, 24.6, and 25.1 degrees
  • Ground clearance: 10.7"
  • Max trailering: 6,000 lbs.
  • Curb weight: 4,940 lbs.
  • Payload: 1,310 lbs.
  • MPG: 17 City / 21 Highway / 19 Combined

Pros

  • Multimatic DSSV dampers
  • 3" lift
  • 33" tires
  • Baja Mode w/Performance Shift
  • Loads of torque
  • Hugely upgraded interior

Cons

  • Fuel economy
  • Power delivery lag
  • Center console accent stitching rubs elbows raw
  • Weak sidewall tires
  • Not enough hard buttons for important functions

You can read my full in-depth review on the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. And, if you don’t need the off-road chops of the ZR2, consider one of the other models of third-gen Colorado, all of which I also reviewed.

P.S.: Be sure to watch the end of the video to get a little taste of the surprise Chevy shared with us, which you can also read about on GearJunkie.

2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2

2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Review: Tested Over Hundreds of Miles of Desert Racecourse

To review the 2023 Chevy Colorado ZR2 we drove from Vegas to Reno, mostly off road. It impressed us, but we also found its faults. Read more…

2023 Chevy Colorado Review

2023 Chevy Colorado Review: Sights, Sounds, and Sensations From Behind the Wheel

We crawled around the entire lineup of 2023 Chevy Colorado pickups in Southern California, experiencing all but the ZR2 from behind the wheel. Read more…

2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison

Unofficially Official: Second-Gen Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison Coming, on 35s

Camoed truck rolled in front of a group of journalists on the 2023 Colorado ZR2 first drive is little doubt the Colorado ZR2 Bison edition, but Chevy isn't talking. Read more…

Subscribe Now

Get adventure news and gear reviews in your inbox!