Blog Posts

April 13, 2022

Jerry Hirsch

Contributor

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 delivers excellent off-road capability blended with on-road comfort instead of brute force. Chevrolet

Finding white space in the half-ton pickup truck market to sell a new model is a nearly impossible task. Automakers already sell a dizzying selection of configurations—gasoline, diesel, electric, work vehicle, desert runner—if a buyer wants something, it’s available.

But Chevrolet might have discovered a tiny sliver of untapped demand that it can exploit with the 2022 Silverado ZR2.

The General Motors brand introduced the truck as its marquee off-road variant, and at first glance, it might seem in direct competition with the Ford F-150 Raptor and the Ram 1500 TRX.

But a 150-mile test, both on and off-pavement in California’s Joshua Tree National Park, demonstrated that the capable ZR2 fills a niche attractive to a larger slice of truck buyers. Perhaps the best way to describe this segment is as an “all-rounder.” The competition tangentially includes the Raptor and TRX, but will more properly range from the newly redesigned Toyota Tundra TRD Pro to the F-150 Tremor and to the standard four-wheel-drive Ram 1500 and that truck’s Rebel trim.

Here’s why. The Silverado ZR2 is the best at almost nothing but is very good at nearly everything.

Begin with off-roading, which Chevrolet will use as its primary marketing pitch. The ZR2 handles nearly all rough terrain and feels equally at home, whether desert running or rock crawling.
The Silverado ZR2 is equally at home rock crawling or desert running. Chevrolet

Chevrolet engineers made multiple modifications to the standard Silverado to exact that performance. The ZR2 variant is available as a crew cab with a short (68-inch) bed.

It starts with a newly designed suspension that smooths ruts, softens landings and rides better on pavement than the standard Silverado, even on top of Chevrolet’s improvements to the base truck for the 2022 model year.

The Silverado ZR2 uses a beefier version of the Multimatic 40 millimeter DSSV (Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve) spool-valve dampers the automaker deploys in the smaller Colorado ZR2 pickup. The Multimatics use sophisticated technology, including three separate spool valves to control damping paired with three connected chambers for fluid flow. In addition, they are matched to retuned springs to increase the maximum front and rear suspension travel.

The truck also sports front and rear electronic lockers, off-road chassis and suspension calibrations, including Terrain Mode, allowing one-pedal rock crawling.

There’s a skid plate set to protect the underbody from the inevitable bumps and scrapes. The dual exhaust has been placed before the rear bumper to eliminate potential damage. Chevrolet redesigned the front bumper, adding clearance that enables a 31.8-degree approach angle. The corners of the bumper are modular for easier repair. The truck rides on 18-inch wheels with 33-inch off-road tires.

2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2

The Silverado ZR2’s 11.2 inches of ground clearance and skid plate offer peace of mind on rugged terrain. Chevrolet

Silverado ZR2 Horsepower and Fuel Economy

GM’s 6.2-liter V8 engine rated at 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque powers the truck in concert with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It is a good, smooth powertrain but not tops in the segment for drivers looking for raw power.

The 2022 Raptor’s twin-turbo V6 churns out 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque while the TRX’s 6.2-liter supercharged V8 returns 702 and 650, respectively. Both are faster than the Silverado, and while the Chevy’s torque is plenty to crawl over rocks and up steep hills, the over-the-top TRX has considerably more.

Chevrolet comes in the middle when it comes to fuel economy estimates, but none of these off-road optimized trucks are known or purchased for their efficiency. The EPA rates the ZR2 at 14 mpg in city driving, 17 mpg on the highway and 15 mpg combined. The Raptor’s estimates are a touch better at 15 mpg city, 18 highway and 16 combined. The TRX isn’t even close, offering ten mpg in city driving, 14 on the highway and 12 combined.

The Silverado ZR2 has 11.2 inches of ground clearance, a 23.3-departure angle, a 31.8-degree approach angle and a 23.4-degree breakover angle.

2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2

The new suspension and Multimatic damper systems work well for dirt trails and highways. Chevrolet

The Ford Raptor tops the first two measures with 12 inches of ground clearance and a 23.9-degree departure angle; its 31.0-degree approach angle and a 22.7-degree breakover angle fall a few tenths behind. The TRX offers a ground clearance of 11.8 inches, a departure angle of 23.5 degrees, an approach angle of 30.2 degrees and a breakover angle of 21.9 degrees.

But here’s the rub. These minor differences won’t have a significant effect on the trail. So Chevrolet made a worthy compromise to get better highway and daily driving performance from the Silverado ZR2.
Silverado ZR2 Payload and Trailer Rating

And that’s where “all-rounder” comes in. It also has more utility than its rivals, including a maximum payload rating of 1,440 pounds and a trailer weight rating of 8,900 pounds. That’s enough for just about any trip to the garden center and to haul most gear or a medium-sized trailer.

While the Raptor provides a touch smaller payload limit of 1,400 pounds, its trailer rating is almost 8% smaller at 8,200 pounds. The Ram TRX has a maximum payload of 1,310 pounds and maximum trailer tow of 8,100 pounds. Thanks to its hybrid powertrain, the TRD Pro tops them all with a maximum towing capacity of 11,175 and a payload limit of 1,600 pounds, but it’s nowhere near as fast.

All truck builders have worked to bring their interiors up to the level of nicely appointed SUVs and passenger cars. A lack of attention to interior materials and design plagued previous Silverado versions, but Chevrolet is stepping up. The ZR2 has nicely bolstered leather front seats that improve comfort on the roughest terrain and still feature upscale stitching patterns and composition.

The Silverado ZR2 features the 2022 Silverado’s new, and much improved, infotainment and dashboard layout. Chevrolet

Plenty of Tech, Safety and Style

Like its Silverado siblings, the ZR2 has updated technology that starts with a 13.4-inch-diagonal horizontal touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch-diagonal digital, configurable instrument cluster. The new design is easy to reach, functional and intuitive. Chevrolet also has turned the screens and instrumentation into a horizontal format. That’s easier for a driver to use and still gauge traffic with minimal distraction. Many feel vertical designs tend to direct the driver’s eyes down, away from the road.

The Silverado ZR2 offers a suite of advanced drivers assistance systems, including forward collision alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, following distance indicator and auto high beams. It also has standard side blind zone alert with trailering and rear cross traffic braking and rear pedestrian alert.

Chevrolet also gave the truck a pizazz to set it apart from other Silverados. Designers mounted a contrasting black raised insert in the middle of the hood. It serves no physical purpose but creates a dynamic look. They also gave the ZR2 its own hood. The designer said the X-wing fighters of Star Wars inspired the pattern. The Chevrolet bow-tie logo in the grille is hollowed in the middle to allow more air to flow through to the engine compartment. In addition, the ZR2 has a unique wheel design. The interior is Jet Black/Graystone leather with complementing dark trim.

Again, Chevrolet’s goal was to build a truck as capable on-road as it is off-road. As a result, the Silverado ZR2 works well as a commuter, a toy hauler, navigating technical trails, or speeding across the sand.

At $69,295, including a $1,695 delivery fee, buyers must be prepared to pay more for the Silverado ZR2 to get its versatility and utility. Depending on the frequency of off-roading and the difficulty of routes potential buyers plan, other truck choices might provide enough capability but at a lower cost.

The ZR2 is approximately $10k more dear than a 2022 Silverado Trail Boss Z51 with the 5.3-liter V8—but optioning one to the equipment level of the ZR2 would cost significantly more. In that respect, the ZR2 is a sound value, and buyers looking for one of the best combinations of off-roading ability, hauling capacity and everyday comfort should consider the new Silverado ZR2.