The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado is all-new for 2023, improved in all ways from styling, to capability, to technologies as well as its capabilities on and off-road. And as expected, the ZR2 comes along with it, better than ever and this year gains a new top-do Desert Boss variant.
When it comes to Colorado the ZR2 has from its inception meant the biggest, the best, and over the top mechanicals that take its off-road cred to a level well beyond anything that competitors have thrown at it or given up trying.
At the top of the trim lineup for the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado, the ZR2 is 3.5-inches wider in stance and track, sits 3-inches higher and has terminally unique body work to accentuate not only its muscular looks but to give it better functionality deep off-road.
Styling touches include wider fender flares front and rear to wrap huge 17-inch wheels and 33-inch all terrain tires. A unique gloss black grille is surrounded by a body color facing. The hood features a flat black power dome design element.
Functional is the lower front-bumper with a cut-away design to allow for better approach to objects and a there’s a robust full under-body skid plate package. Included here are LED fog lamps as well as headlamps.
New for 2023 is the ZR2 Desert Boss package which takes it a step further with 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, a special off-road bumper and front fascia. At the cargo box is a tubular sports bar with sail panels as well as a roof-mounted light bar.
On all ZR2s, the cab is protected by substantial full length rock rails and at the rear a unique bumper design offers a better departure angle. To that, the ZR2 has some pretty good digits. It has an approach angle of 38.3 degrees, departure of 25.1 degrees, break-over angle of 24.6 degrees and a total ground clearance of 10.7-inches.
These are all aided by its 3-inch factory lift and Multimatic DSSV spool-valve damper suspension system. Making all this work well are unique cast-iron control arms at the front. You get both front and rear locking differentials and a special rear axle ratio of 3.42:1
Add this to a wide array of traction and drive modes tied to its electronically controlled four-wheel drive transfer case. These include Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road and expands here to Terrain and Baja – all of which tune the throttle mapping, transmission and four-wheel drive system to best match the situation.
Power for the ZR2 comes exclusively from the High Output 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine which has 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque that comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 2.8-liter DuraMax diesel and 3.6-liter V6 are no longer available.
The interior of the ZR2 is one of the nicest you will get with the new 2023 Colorado. The new dash features a 11.3-inch-diagonal color infotainment touchscreen and an 8-inch digital color instrument cluster, both of which are customizable.
The 11.3-inch center screen features an Off-Road Performance Display allowing you to monitor off-road performance with readouts for altitude and GPS guidance, pitch, roll and tire pressure, as wells as g-force, wheel slip indicator and transfer case status. There are up to 10 camera view including a segment-first available underbody camera.
In an exclusive shade called Artemis, there’s generous soft trim wrapped surfaces including knee pads on the doors and center console. Heated leather seats feature a two-tone treatment with color accent stitching. Special patterned trims are found on the dash and console and fir the first time a sunroof is available. Best yet, you can option red or yellow seat belts – because you just wanted that.
To be available by spring of 2023, Colorado ZR2 is to be built in Wentzville, Missouri. Pricing and information about option packages will be along closer to that time.