With the freshening up of the all new 2022 Chevrolet Silverado comes a new off-road model slotting in above the Z71 Trail Boss and giving RAM Rebel and even to some degree the Ford Raptor something to compete with. Enter the 2022 Silverado ZR2.
Bringing the ZR2 ultra off-road moniker over from the Colorado to the new 2022 Silverado also brings many of the same good things the smaller ZR2 has been known for – a truckload of chassis, powertrain and suspension upgrades that really mean business.
These start with front and rear electronic locking differentials to go along with its standard 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, the ZR2 also gets an enhanced suite of off-road software toys including Terrain Mode, which allows one-pedal rock crawling among other things.
The hardware is where it’s really at though. Like the Colorado ZR2 the Silverado gets the exotic Multimatic DSSV dampers. The huge 40mm spool-valve dampers feature three separate spool valves to control damping and three connected chambers for fluid flow.
A raised suspension has special springs front and rear that along with its 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler LT 275/70R18 off-road tires give the ZR2 increased front and rear suspension travel and better working angles all around with a 31.8 degree approach, a 23.4 degree break-over and 23.3 degree departure.
Contributing to those are a unique steel front bumper with removable end caps and a dual exhaust finish out that places the tips out of harm’s way. As expected there is also a collection robust skid plates front to rear.
Though buffed up for off-roading the ZR2 didn’t suffer too much in the capability department, still offering a payload of 1,440 pounds and a tow rating of 8,900 pounds.
While not quite as loud and in your face as the Rebel or Raptor, the ZR2 does have visual cues that set it apart from other Silverados. It gets its own design of 18-inch alloy wheels with painted black pockets, a raised black hood design element spells power with the 6.2-liter emblem and a special grille design with integrated LED lighting is more rugged looking.
The cabin too gets its share of upgrades including a Jet Black and Graystone leather treatment with lots of ZR2 logos, accent stitching and a full length console with the new electronic toggle shifter that comes with high-line 2022 Silverados.
In that way, there’s an all-new interior for 2022 with a completely redesigned dash that allows more of the big digital display action that RAM and Ford have been flaunting. Instead of going to the huge portrait style screens though, Chevrolet brings a 13.4-inch-diagonal infotainment touchscreen and configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Full specs haven’t yet been released nor has pricing, both of which we expect will be told closer to its arrival date on the lots in spring of 2022.
