The Chevy Colorado delivers in the off-road arena with three trims that give this truck the packaging you’re looking for when you want to hit the trails.
The three trims offered are the Z71 package, which is less a trim level and more of a package, the new Trail Boss trim, and the venerable ZR2. There’s even a surprise fourth entry into this mix that we’ll cover as well. Do these off-road trims give you what you want in the Colorado? Let’s take a look and see what you’ll get.
Where Did All the Engines Go?
The 2023 version of the Chevy Colorado is a new generation for this truck. For some reason, GM chose to take a page out of the Ford Ranger book and reduced the number of engines for this Chevy truck to just one. This single engine covers the entire trim range, and it’s a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder model.
Even though there’s only one engine for the Colorado, there are different output levels. The Z71 and Trail Boss versions offer a midrange power level called Turbo Plus that puts out 310 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. If you go to the ZR2 version, you’ll have the Turbo High-Output level, which adds torque to 430 lb-ft.
Regardless of the trim, you’ll have an 8-speed automatic transmission to deliver the power you need to the wheels.
Are There Different Suspension Systems for the Colorado?
The three levels of off-road driving for this Chevy truck bring three ways to handle the drive out on the trails with specialized suspension settings. The Colorado Z71 has the same standard suspension as the WT and LT models; that’s not very exciting. The Trail Boss brings you a 2-inch lift and a track that’s widened by 3.5 inches. Move to the ZR2 version, and you’ll have a 3-inch lift and a similarly widened track for your drive.
Because of the variety of suspension heights, you’ll see different levels of ground clearance for this Chevy truck. The Z71 has 8.9 inches of clearance; the Trail Boss gives you 9.5 inches, while the ZR2 delivers 10.7 inches of space for you to clear obstacles.
Shocks are part of the mix when you want a good off-road ride. The Z71 and Trail Boss versions of the Chevy Colorado use standard twin-tube off-road shocks, while the ZR2 has the Multimatic DSSV dampers.
Going Off-Road Means Bigger and Better
Tires for off-road trucks don’t get much respect until they are 30-inches in size. The Colorado off-road trio brings you the all-terrain tires you need that measure beyond this mark. The Z71 and Trail Boss versions have 31.6-inch tires, and the ZR2 wears tires measuring 32.7 inches. You might find it odd that the Z71 and Trail Boss trucks have 18-inch wheels while the ZR2 has 17-inch shoes, but this is pretty common to see smaller wheels to accommodate thicker rubber in more hardcore off-road trucks.
Choose the Terrain and Set Your Chevy Truck for the Course
Modern trucks offer you the benefits of terrain selection equipment that sets the vehicle to optimum driving settings for the track you see in front of you. The Chevy Colorado Z71 and Trail Boss each have four terrain settings. These are Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, and Terrain. Move to the ZR2, and you get one additional setting called Baja. These settings make it possible for you to drive over just about everything you want when you’re ready to head into the wilderness.
Can These Off-Road Trucks Tow a Heavy Load?
Most off-road-capable trucks have the lowest tow ratings in their respective lineups. If you’re towing a trailer, you’re probably not pulling it across rough terrain. Regardless, if you need to tow with the Colorado, you can pull up to 7,700 pounds with the Z71 or Trail Boss. This is a respectable number in the midsize truck class. Move to the ZR2, and you see reduced towing to 6,000 pounds.
Payload is another important factor in trucks. The Z71 and Trail Boss models of this Chevy truck can both carry up to 1,587 pounds in the bed of the truck. The ZR2 carries a maximum of 1,151 pounds in the bed.
Here’s What You’ve Been Waiting For
Chevy added the Trail Boss trim to the Colorado, and they also brought a new ZR2 Desert Boss to the mix. This is an addition for the 2023 model year, giving us a new top off-road trim for this midsize truck. The Desert Boss version offers you 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, a specific off-road front bumper with a push bar, a bed-mounted sports bar with a sail panel and an LED light bar, an underbody camera, and Desert Boss graphics. This truck takes things a little farther and shows you what a desert runner should be.
AEV Hasn’t Gotten Their Hands on the Colorado Yet
This new 2023 version of the Colorado doesn’t include the Bison model. The Bison package uses American Expedition Vehicle upgrades to give this truck more hardcore equipment than what the ZR2 can offer. While AEV hasn’t put their hands on this truck yet, you can expect the will. This team already added the Bison package to the larger Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2, and the Colorado could be next. This gives us something to look forward to while we enjoy the four off-road variations offered for this Chevy truck.
Which Off-Road Colorado Will You Drive?
Do you need the towing and payload of the Z71 or Trail Boss for your daily truck needs? Are you looking for a truck inspired by desert racing? Do you want the classic hardcore off-road package of the Colorado? These questions all have different answers and will take you to different places in the lineup of this Chevy truck. Did you notice that the off-road versions of the Colorado now outnumber the regular models two-to-one? There are more ways to have a trail-riding version of this truck than to have one that’s just a regular truck. That’s truly an interesting little factoid.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.