The local scene of “pickups with a bed that no employer would buy for his workers” welcomes a new player – the new generation of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. It joins the Ford Ranger Raptor, Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, and Toyota Hilux GR in the subcategory of pickups that blur the line between work vehicles and well-equipped off-road adventure machines.
The Colorado, which was previously marketed here in its ZR2 version in the latter stages of its previous generation, enters this clash fully adhering to all the protocol rules of the sporty off-road pickup genre: a pumped-up exterior with prominent fenders, a bulging hood, rugged two-tone paint, 17-inch rims wrapped in 33-inch off-road tires, and more.
Under the hood, there's also a power unit uncommon in pickups or work vehicles in general – a 2.7-liter turbo gasoline engine that produces 310 horsepower and 59.4 kg/m of torque. Compared to the outgoing generation, which was equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, it adds two horsepower, and its torque figure is significantly higher than the previous 38.1 kg/m.
As in the outgoing generation, it comes with an 8-speed gearbox, front and rear differential locks, a transfer case allowing the choice between rear-wheel drive, permanent four-wheel drive with two transfer ratios, and an automatic four-wheel drive mode where the system distributes power based on tire grip.
The off-road accessories list also includes independent suspension with control arms at the front and leaf springs at the rear. Both ends are equipped with DSSV shocks, replacing the usual shock absorber structure (typically discs or a series of oil passages) with valve-controlled shocks to adjust spring load for damping. Additionally, there's a system for deflating tire pressure, for those who find getting out of the vehicle to do it manually too outdated.
With its raised stance compared to the regular Colorado (which is not imported), it offers 27.3 cm of ground clearance, an impressive approach angle of 38 degrees, and a modest departure angle of 25 degrees due to the truck bed design. To assist with precise off-road driving, it is equipped with a set of underbody-protected cameras, including cleaning nozzles.
The equipment list includes an 11-inch digital dashboard, an 11.3-inch multimedia system with wireless Android and Apple connectivity, a BOSE sound system, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, keyless start, a wireless charging pad, electric front seats that are ventilated and heated, and more. On the safety feature list, which the previous generation completely lacked, there is automatic braking, lane departure correction, blind-spot vehicle alert, rear cross-traffic detection with braking, and adaptive cruise control.
The price of the new Colorado ZR2 sees a significant jump compared to the already high price of the outgoing model, which stood at NIS 350,000. The current model raises the amount to NIS 420,000.
Its competitors in this segment are also priced similarly, with the cheapest being the Toyota Hilux GR at NIS 373,000 (weaker and less enhanced compared to others, but it also sold the most units this year – 118). The Ford Ranger Raptor comes with a price tag of NIS 485,000, having sold 23 units this year, while the Jeep Gladiator Rubicon starts at NIS 400,000 and sold 16 units this year.