2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Gets 430 LB-FT From a 2.7-Liter Turbo-Four

Chevrolet revealed the long-awaited ZR2 trim for its new mid-size Colorado pickup in a press release Thursday. The off-road-focused truck returns with its signature Multimatic DSSV dampers, a skid plate, and specific fascias. It also gets a new 2.7-liter turbo inline-four making 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque.

Upgrades specific to the ZR2 trim include LED lights, improved approach and departure angles, specific cast-iron control arms, electronic locking differentials, a 3.42 ratio rear axle, rocker panel protection, and 17-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch mud-terrain tires. Add Desert Boss package—new for 2023—and you get bead-lock-capable wheels, a different front bumper, a roof-mounted light bar, an underbody camera, and specific badging.

Buyers who plan to tow with the Colorado ZR2 will be interested to know the diesel has been dropped for this newest model. Chevy claims this 2.7-liter four-pot, now the truck's only engine option, can pull 7700 pounds as standard, though, which is just as much as the outgoing diesel model. The only transmission available is an eight-speed automatic, which the carmaker says has been refreshed to deliver smoother shifting and quicker downshifts.