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2022 Silverado 1500 ZR2: An Elite Rookie?

A blue 2022 Chevy Silverado 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2 is shown off-roading on a dirt trail.

The 2022 Silverado 1500 is slated to be the most ambitious yet, and this year’s model isn’t a simple copy and paste of last year’s. As your local Claremore Chevy dealer, we are very excited about this model because it is bringing a lot of new things to the market, like the addition of the all-new ZR2 trim. Chevy was set on developing a variant of their beloved pickup truck that was aimed at the kind of driver who has a knack for off-roading. That’s right, the ZR2 is an off-roading oriented Silverado 1500, and we’ve got the rundown on what you can expect from this trim that is tailored towards perusing the trails rather than the pavement.

Although off-roading capability is the main appeal of the ZR2, it’s also a generally powerful pickup truck with an even sleeker look than its peers. With a standard V8 engine and a plethora of off-roading features, the ZR2 is one of the top-tier trim levels for the Silverado and utilizes the most powerful powertrain configuration that you can get for it. Along with an exceptional level of performance for conquering the trails, it also gives drivers the highest supported towing capacity of the Silverado 1500. Let’s first begin by discussing said powertrain.

Playing With Power

There are four available powertrain configurations for the Silverado 1500, but the ZR2 includes the best of the bunch. Out of the four engines, the 6.2L V8 impresses the most with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. This 420 hp is the most that the vehicle supports, and the 460 lb-ft of torque matches the diesel option seen on other available trims. Out of the four engines, this is one of them that includes a 10-speed automatic transmission instead of the 8-speed automatic transmission.

Off-roading is no issue for the Silverado 1500 with this V8 engine, but it also greatly benefits from a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 lbs. Again, this matches the same towing capacity as the turbo-diesel I-6 that is available on other trims, which is quite impressive for the maximum of a gasoline engine. Overall, you won’t have to worry about forgoing the very best performance to gain the off-roading feature-set.

Another aspect of the off-roading experience that we’d like to discuss is the 2-speed transfer case. Off-roading enthusiasts will know best that a 2-speed transfer case is a must for some of the more difficult off-road tasks. This includes traversing steep and rough terrains such as hills with far more ease. It’s also highly necessary to purchase a vehicle with a 2-speed transfer case if you’ll be bringing a trailer of any kind onto a trail or even off the road for a moment. The 2022 Silverado 1500 ZR2 includes a Terrain Mode selector with this, so you can set the 2-speed transfer case according to the terrain that you’re traversing, whether it’s snow, mud, or anything else.

The black interior of a 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2 shows the steering wheel and infotainment screen and steering wheel.

Fantastic Off-Roading Features

Chevy has designed the ZR2 with several off-roading amenities not related to the powertrain or terrain selector. The ZR2 includes what makes an off-roading vehicle unique such as proper ground clearance and skid plates. These are custom designed for the ZR2 that gives the undercarriage of your Silverado a protective plate so that you can climb over rocks without the worry of ruining it with scratches or severe damages. The front and rear bumpers have been designed with strong steel that will bring a layer of durability to both ends of your vehicle, and the aforementioned ground clearance means that you still won’t have to worry too much about this. With a 31-degree angle applied to the front bumper, you’ll have plenty of room to tackle rock climbing, and it contributes to the ZR2’s stellar ground clearance.

Of course, you’ll need tires that are ready for the trail too. The ZR2 swaps out the Silverado 1500s set for four 33-inch all-terrain tires that match the usefulness of winter tires, with the added benefit of year-round usage if you see fit. However, on the trails, all-terrain tires are perhaps the best decision that you can make, and you’ll love the set found on the Silverado 1500 ZR2. Both front and rear locking differentials are present on the ZR2, and this means that your wheels will always spin while synchronized with each other. One wheel won’t be spinning faster or slower than the others, and this allows for continuous movement through terrains such as mud, snow, and so on.

Lastly, there are shock absorbers for the ZR2 that will alleviate the impact of obstacles and prevent the driver from losing control of the vehicle while off-roading. The result of this is also a ride that’s generally more stable feeling, and you won’t feel as many vibrations throughout the cabin while traversing on a harsh trail. Drivers who have experienced a vehicle without shock absorbers may tell you how terrible it is, so this feature is one that you’re sure to appreciate as time goes on.

Silverado Tech

As the ZR2 is one of the Silverado 1500 trims, it includes the best features that are shared throughout the other trim levels. For example, the Silverado 1500 ZR2 includes a 13.4-inch screen with its infotainment center, which is the largest that Chevy offers. This outmatches the 7-inch screen that comes standard on the base model and other cheaper trim levels. The infotainment center also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which has a wide array of uses both on and off-road. This is the best way to access your music library while driving, and you can even utilize navigation, which will be immensely helpful on certain trails.

Lastly, Super Cruise also comes with the ZR2, which also makes its very first appearance on other Chevy vehicles this year. When driving on a compatible road, in which there are over 200,000 miles of right now, Super Cruise will temporarily alleviate you from steering, accelerating, and braking, all being taken care of autonomously. It’s worth keeping in mind that while this feature is revolutionary and heavily researched by Chevy, no safety tech can outmatch a driver that’s fully aware of their surroundings.