2022 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2

The Chevy Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab is a trim level of the Colorado trim lineup. A price of $43,795 is expected for this truck. Its price is higher than most of its rivals, but the towing capacity and fuel economy get better, especially with the diesel powertrain.Talking about some of its features, its Multimatic shocks and electronic differentials, along with dual-zone climate control, a Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus system with an 8" diagonal HD touchscreen, Bose speakers, and even more are quite exquisite. They are detailed in the below table. 

Which trim should you buy?

Specifically, we're talking about the Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab, which is trim in itself. In the Colorado line-up, this trim comes in at the top. This vehicle has more off-road capability as well as more sturdy construction. Due to its design structure and its excellent ground clearance, this truck can handle even the most difficult terrain. The Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab is a great trim, but the pricing seems a bit high compared to other Colorado models. 

2022 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab Release date

In terms of the release date, there has not been much information from the brand. We are expecting that the 2022 model of the Chevrolet Colorado will reach showrooms by Fall this year. This has been the trend with all GM releases and we expect it to be on time. However, deliveries are expected to start a bit later than that. Unprecedented delays due to the pandemic and the general economic slowdown have affected car manufacturers and hence we can totally understand the reason for these delays.

There are two powertrain and transmission options for the 2022 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab. There will be a 3.6 L V6 engine standard that delivers around 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. In addition to this, you can also opt for a diesel powertrain that comes with a 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel 4-cylinder engine that can generate 181 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain option is reviewed separately. Additionally, the vehicle includes four-wheel drive as standard, which will greatly ease off-roading and cornering. 

The V6 engine of the LT is capable of towing 7000 pounds on its own with the trailer package.On the other hand, it has exceptionally fast acceleration from 0-60 in only 6.8 seconds. The ZR2 Crew Cab handles well on flat roads, but there is some hesitation when downshifting. Although the steering wheel isn't the greatest, the suspension works great on both types of roads. With the availability of electronic differentials, equal torque is also delivered at sharp corners, reducing rotational differences.

Chevy Colorado is undoubtedly the fastest truck in its class, but the price tag is high. The Ford Ranger has a very good performance that is almost as good as the ZR2 Crew Cab, but it is also much cheaper. Every truck here has an AWD drivetrain as standard. The Chevy Colorado is also available in a diesel trim level, which increases its towing capacity, but reduces its acceleration. The standard AWD drivetrain helps the vehicle perform better on-road, which gives the driver more confidence. 

In terms of fuel economy, the GMC manufactured Canyon and Colorado are behind its competitors. However, we may have to concede that their engine power is much greater than the others. On a single gallon of fuel, the 2022 Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab will take you 16 miles in the city and 18 miles on the highway. There is a fuel tank capacity of around 21 gallons on the ZR2 Crew Cab, which is sufficient and can prolong the range of your truck.

MPG figures for the Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab are somewhat disappointing. Although it makes more power, the fuel economy is significantly lower than the Canyon, which makes the same amount of power as well. In terms of economy, the Ford Ranger Lariat is the best truck, but the Toyota Tacoma leads in overall range because it has a bigger tank and coupled with decent economy numbers, making it one of the best pickups.

Considering it is a performance truck, there is not much to excite you when it comes to the interior of the Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab. This truck sits quite high up, which makes it challenging to enter its cabin due to its height. There is nothing bad to say about the space offered in the front. Nevertheless, the rear seats aren't that spacious, so most people find them disappointing. But it would still be better than its competitors in terms of rear spacing. The dashboard and instrument panel design may feel a little old-fashioned. 

In general, the materials used in making this truck seem sturdy, just as they should be in an off-road vehicle. Standard on the ZR2 Crew Cab is leather upholstery for the seats and steering wheel. A dual-zone automatic climate control system is also a standard feature inside. The front seats are power-adjustable in six directions, but there could be a little more at least at this price range. Nevertheless, this cabin has a great deal of additional storage space. Overall, the cabin is average, with decent comfort in the front space, but it lacks a premium feel.

The Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab has superior front and rear space offered compared to its competitors. Yet, there are issues with the rear seating for tall people, since it is not adequate in terms of legroom. In this class, the cargo capacity of Colorado will again be decent enough, but its rivals offer more. We are still quite happy with the interiors of the Colorado as some optional extras do fix its issues. Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

• Cruise control 
• 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat 
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Remote keyless entry
• Tilt and telescopic steering column

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Despite the high price tag, the infotainment features are somewhat restricted, and you cannot expect much from this class. It comes with an 8" diagonal HD touchscreen and a 4.2" driver information display. It also has a Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system is based on the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus. A wide variety of other features are included, including 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, Bluetooth music streaming, voice recognition, in-vehicle apps, and much more. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Bose premium sound system
• Apple Carplay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth music streaming
• Voice commands

Despite its large size, the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab has one of the most appealing design languages in its class. A few cosmetic changes made to the Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab in 2021 made it more stylish and muscular than before. Coming to the side, this truck looks very appealing, and the blacked-out grille with Chevy branding really stands out on the front. It comes standard with 17" aluminum wheels, ZR2 Off-Road Package, a remote locking tailgate, projector-beam headlamps, DRLs, and body-color heated power outside mirrors. With the ZR2 Crew Cab's chassis, there is an additional 48 mm of lift right from the factory, making it unique to this trim.

As far as body weight is concerned, the Ford Ranger is significantly heavier than others in its class. There is no information on Colorado's weight yet, but we assume it will be slightly lower than the Ranger as per previous years’ data. The Colorado's wheelbase is the longest in its class, and the Ranger Lariat's ground clearance is the best. The Ford Ranger's width gives it the appearance of being a pretty big truck. Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:

• 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
• Body-colored heated power outside mirrors
• Remote locking tailgate
• ZR2 off-road package
• Daytime running lamps

The Chevrolet Colorado's safety class has been average for quite a few years now. The NHTSA gave it a 4-star rating for 2021 MY, which is nothing to worry about, but it is also not the best. The IIHS, on the other hand, also gave it an overall ‘Good’ rating. The IIHS, however, rated the headlights very poorly. You can expect the new 2022 ZR2 Crew Cab to be decent, but not top of the line when it comes to safety. Besides that, it has been packed with features that will give you a boost of confidence. Some of the standout safety features are as follows:

• Tire specific low tire pressure warning system
• OnStar Chevrolet connected services
• HD rear vision camera
• Post-collision safety system
• Dusk sensing headlamps
• Lane departure warning system

2022 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab vs 2022 Ford Ranger LARIAT SuperCrew

There are several advantages to the Ford Ranger over the Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab, including a lower price and more ground clearance. Comparing directly, the Ranger's interior is slightly better and its fuel economy is better as well. Although the Chevy Colorado has more power, it comes at a higher cost and its off-roading capabilities are a bit better as well. Similarly, Colorado's towing capacity is higher than Ranger's.

2022 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab vs 2022 GMC Canyon Denali Crew Cab

The GMC Canyon has a more stylish appearance than Colorado, but the latter has a more muscular appearance. Additionally, both of these trucks come from the same parent company, which explains their similarities in terms of features and specifications. While the interior of the Canyon is slightly better, the fuel economy is also better. Despite this, we think the Canyon will be a great purchase in the end.

2022 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab vs 2022 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab Limited

There is no doubt that the Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab can perform better in off-road and hauling conditions, compared to the Toyota Tacoma Limited. Moreover, the ZR2 Crew Cab is more powerful than the Tacoma. Although the Tacoma is somewhat superior to the ZR2 Crew Cab, in other, more practical aspects. The ZR2 Crew Cab has better power and has excellent off-road abilities, but you can also save some money by choosing Tacoma, as it offers decent features and performance.

The new Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab has enough power and good off-roading capability to be a great pickup truck. It has some disadvantages that prevent us from giving it a complete buy recommendation. Safety ratings aren't up to par, and the interiors lack the quality and premium factor that comes with a car of this price range. Similarly, paying a little more for additional power and towing capacity won't gain you much. It would be wise to check out other competitors before making a final decision.