I am not, nor will I ever be a truck guy, or to be politically correct in these “challenging times”, a truck “person.” I don’t have anything against trucks, but I don’t own a farm, carry tools to a construction site, tow a huge trailer or anything like that so I never see the need for one.
Besides, for me at least, there is an annoying side to owning a truck. This was no more evident than in a recent week when Chevy delivered me a 2021 Colorado. As soon as my wife, and adult daughter, saw what was in the driveway they both said, (almost in unison) “Oh, let me get my list.” That’s because whenever I get any truck for a week, I spend more time going to the home improvement store buying things that somehow, we suddenly, absolutely, cannot live without. There are landscape timbers, bags of dirt, paving stones, large Roman statues, well you name it.
There are also visits to thrift stores, secondhand shops and the like looking for used furniture and odds and ends; like we needed another nightstand in the guest room to go with the two that are already there (“but it’s the same color”).
I guess I should take some time to mention the Colorado. Because if I was going to own a truck (and to be clear I have no plans too), then I’d put the Colorado on the list. I’d want a midsized pickup that doesn’t need to take up more than one parking spot and can be easily maneuvered in that parking lot.
I’d also want a truck that could go off the pavement, because in my mind a good truck should do just that. A proper pickup is one that can just as easily drive across a pasture, construction site, or charge through the desert jumping over rocks and kicking up dust. The Colorado I had for my week checked all those boxes.
Specifically, I had the ZR2 which is the top of the Colorado lineup that Chevy says stands all on its own. The lineup is offered in extended-cab and crew-cab body styles. There are two bed lengths (short bed and long bed) and four trim levels available: Work Truck (WT), LT, Z71 and ZR2.
While the rest of the lineup seems very capable, the ZR2 is completely different. It’s the off-road version that has front and rear tracks that have been widened by 3.5 inches and a suspension lifted by 2 inches along with functional rock sliders. There are also fender flares and the front and rear bumpers have been modified for off-road clearance. There’s also standard front and rear electronic locking differentials, an available diesel engine and the first off-road application of Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) damper technology.
Something else that separates it from the rest of the lineup is the ability to buy factory race-proven parts which focus on desert running while keeping low speed off-road performance.
While the rest of the lineup holds course (other than the base model being eliminated), for 2021, the ZR2 gets a new front fascia that has a more prominent, wide-open grille that stretches out wider and lower than the previous version.
Under the hood, the ZR2 gets a 3.6-liter V6, delivering 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque (the base models get a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder with 200 horses standard, though the 3.6 can be optioned in and a 2.8-liter turbo diesel can be had on all). And I forgot to add that for 2021 the six-speed manual was dropped (boo) in favor of an 8-speed automatic (6-speed for the diesel).
The ZR2’s Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires are mounted on 17-inch wheels and add nicely to the overall off-road ready look. Inside the interior crew cab configuration seems roomy enough, though the overall look could use a bit of an update. This update, which will hopefully be soon, should include something that’s becoming pretty standard across the industry, push button starting. Having to use an old-fashioned stick-and-twist key is head scratching in this day and time.
On the road those off-road ready tires don’t make for a quiet ride, but you don’t buy an off-road vehicle of any kind to be swaddled in quiet comfort, do you?
Since I don’t live near any desert, I didn’t get a chance to charge off road kicking up sand as I went. But I have no doubt the ZR2 could do so and not miss a beat. In fact, equipped as it is, I would put this Colorado ZR2 up against just about anything Jeep has. And that’s saying quite a lot.
I did however get plenty of time in parking lots of thrift stores and home improvement warehouses. Lots; as in I have to go now as my wife just called and her and my daughter found a couch we absolutely cannot live without. No idea what I’ll do with the one we bought the last time I had a truck.
The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado 4WD ZR2 crew cab
MSRP: $43,200
MSRP: $44,890
Engine: 3.6-liter V6, 308 horsepower @6800 rpm, 275 ft-lbs. torque @ 4000 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed shiftable automatic
Fuel Mileage (EPA): 16 city, 18 highway, 17 combined
Fuel Mileage (as tested mixed conditions): 16 mpg
Base Curb Weight: 4715 lbs.
Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs.): 5000
Exterior Dimensions
Wheelbase (in.): 128.5
Length, Overall (in.): 212.7
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in.): 76.7
Height, Overall (in.): 72.5
Cargo Bed Length (inches): 61.7
Cargo Bed Width at Floor (inches): 57.8
Cargo Bed Width Between Wheelhousings (inches): 44.4
Cargo Space/Area (cubic feet): 41.3
Interior Dimensions
Passenger Capacity: 5
Front Head Room (in.): 41.4
Front Leg Room (in.): 45.0
Front Shoulder Room (in.): 57.5
Front Hip Room (in.): 55.0
Second Head Room (in.): 38.3
Second Leg Room (in.): 35.8
Second Shoulder Room (in.): 56.2
Second Hip Room (in.): 53.3
Warranty
Basic: 3 Years/36,000 Miles
Drivetrain: 5 Years/100,000 Miles
Corrosion: 3 Years/36,000 Miles Rust-Through 6 Years/100,000 Miles
Roadside Assistance: 5 Years/100,000 Miles
Maintenance: 2 Years/24,000 Miles
Greg has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.