The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Brings the Off-Road Chops

The Chevrolet Silverado pickup already has the benefit of owning one of the most recognized and long-running nameplates not just in the truck world, but in the passenger vehicle world in general. So it has that going for it – which is nice. 

According to Chevrolet, however, it’s not quite nice enough and they have upped the ante with this: the ZR2 model. 

Originally getting its start on the smaller Colorado, the ZR2 moniker has made the jump to the larger Silverado and brought a whole garage’s worth of upgrades to it. 

It starts with the obvious: it’s hard to miss the 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, 18” wheels and added ground clearance courtesy of redesigned bumpers and a number of suspension tweaks including Multimatic spool-valve dampers. For the uninitiated: originally popularized in race cars, spool-valve dampers help reduce issues surrounding metal fatigue in traditional dampers and also allows for specific damping characteristics across a wide range of suspension travel. It also allows for more wheel travel, which is important for an off-roader like this. 

Also important, of course, is the powertrain. To that end, the ZR2 is available only with a 6.2-litre V8 good for 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, fed to all four wheels (of course) through a 10-speed automatic transmission. 

Since the Silverado ZR2 is made to excel off-road, it comes available only with a four-door crew cab and five-foot bed because a longer bed means a longer wheelbase, making tougher, tighter trails that much harder to navigate. 

Inside, we find the standard fitment of a massive 13.4” infotainment system and 12.3” digital gauge cluster as well as premium Bose audio, leather seats and ventilated front seats. The ZR2 is a big, wide, tall vehicle and threading it through tight city streets and into tight parking spots is made easier by a standard high-definition surround-view monitor. 

Of course, as much off-road fun as can be had with the ZR2, it remains a pickup that needs its practical elements. It gets Chevrolet’s Multi-Flex tailgate that can be open in a myriad of ways as well as a hitch-view guidance system to make backing up and hooking up that much easier. 

The Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 has it all and is a great look at how far the Silverado – and pickups in general – have come.