Chevrolet recently pleased off-road enthusiasts by adding a ZR2 version to its popular Silverado full-size pickup truck.
As is the case for its Colorado ZR2, the manufacturer once again called on the Canadian company Multimatic to assemble a suspension specially for it, in addition to giving it a range of robust components to compete with the Ford F -150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX of this world.
The Car Guide hit the road to the California desert, specifically the Joshua National Park area to test drive the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2.
Photo: Louis-Philippe Dube
It’s rumbling under the hood
While magnet motors and kilowatt-hours take over the auto industry, sometimes it’s good to know that an engine like the 6.2L V8 is still alive (and popular) at GM. And it is this engine that was chosen to drive the ZR2 version of the 2022 Silverado.
Far from saying that electrification and off-road driving are not compatible (see our review of the GMC Hummer EV), the sound and robustness of the V8 offer a unique experience in itself in the Silverado. Needless to say, the 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque are more than enough to move this full-size truck. And even if rivals like the Ram 1500 TRX and the Ford F-150 Raptor push the note on this front, the mechanical ancestor of GM offers incomparable reliability – a quality prized by fans of off-road driving.
The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, hooked up to the 4×4 system consisting of a two-speed Autotrac transfer case and electronic locking differentials front and rear.
Formidable off-road skills
The Multimatic DSSV suspension (which stands for Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve) is the piece de resistance of the ZR2 arsenal. Basically, a traditional shock absorber forces a piston through a chamber filled with pressurized hydraulic fluid. Ports in the piston as well as shims control the speed at which the piston travels through the chamber. With DSSV technology, a series of valves control the liquid in separate chambers inside the shock absorber, thus allowing precise modulation of the behavior of the latter according to the driving mode adopted.
Photo: Louis-Philippe Dube
A series of additional components join this suspension, including front skid plates, ground clearance raised to 11.2 inches, 33-inch tires and a series of driving modes specific to off-road driving. The approach and departure angles are 32.8 degrees and 23.3 degrees respectively.
There was a time when off-road riding was particularly nerve-wracking for some, whether it was the bumpy experience itself, or that fear of getting stuck. The ZR2 seems to make off-road riding easy. Locking differentials front and rear give the ZR2 the ability to overcome the steepest obstacles – and do so as if it were coming out of an underground parking lot.
The suspension travel is ready for big drops. Ride modes like ‘off-road’ and ‘terrain’ also give specific calibrations to the suspension to do its job.
Photo: Louis-Philippe Dube
To anticipate what the trail has in store for the driver, a series of cameras offer views from all sides to the front, sides and rear. On the other hand, these are deactivated from 16 km/h, which can be annoying when driving on trails at variable speed.
At high speed, the comfort for the passengers is very surprising, even when exceeding 100 km/h in the middle of the desert. This is due to the responsiveness of the suspension, which not only dampens imperfections, but also keeps the truck on its path, even after the unexpected.
Photo: Louis-Philippe Dube
Comfortable on-road ride, but not without compromise
The capabilities of the Silverado ZR2 and its suspension are touted as offering the best of both worlds, the best off-road capability and everyday on-road driving. However, once on the winding roads of California, the Silverado was very comfortable, perhaps even a little too comfortable. It must be said that the suspension, although it is quick to react, sometimes struggles to contain the roll effect at the start of a turn.
This driving experience takes place in the new interior design of the Silverado which is frankly improved. Yes, the seats offer superior comfort (and support) for those long days on the trail, but the ergonomics and finish have definitely been improved.
Photo: Louis-Philippe Dube
The dashboard is dominated by a large 13.4-inch touchscreen. A configurable 12.3-inch instrument cluster is also positioned behind the steering wheel. It’s hard to fault the infotainment system at all – it’s devilishly intuitive, clear and fast. What’s more, the engineers were careful to leave a series of analog levers below this screen to control on-road and off-road systems like the locking differentials without having to go through menus to activate them.
The Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 pushes the boundaries of the full-size off-road truck, offering a good mix of tradition and new technology in a capable truck that may be more understated in style and power than its rivals, but at a still attractive starting price of $75,248.