2022 Chevy Colorado: Three Ways to Go Off-Road

Most people know that for many years now, the Chevy Colorado has been one of the best midsize trucks around for going off-road. It’s designed with all of the reliability, performance, and muscle you’d expect from a Chevy truck, but its overall engineering and the available ZR2 trim have made it the perfect choice for conquering the trail. If you are looking for a Chevy in Lexington, KY, to take off-road, then the Colorado is a great choice – particularly since the 2022 model is better than ever before.

The big change for this year that has a lot of us excited is the addition of a Trail Boss package for the LT and Z71 trim levels of the Colorado. This is essentially an upgraded off-road version of the Colorado that is undoubtedly going to be perfect for a lot of drivers that want something to take on the trail without committing to the ZR2. In the past, the ZR2 could feel like the only choice if you wanted to go off-road with the Colorado, but now you have three different options.

Let’s take a look at what each of them has to offer.

Your Engine Options

Before we start digging into all of the off-road options, let’s quickly take a moment to go over the three engines available for the Colorado. The standard engine is a 2.5L four-cylinder that offers 200 hp and 191 lb-ft of torque and comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission. There’s also an available 3.6L V6 engine that delivers 308 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed automatic, as well as an available 2.8L Turbo-Diesel with 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

All three of these engines can do a great job going off-road, but there are some things to consider. You’ll get the best towing capacity with the turbo-diesel option, but the available V6 is also great for pulling weight behind you while offering the best payload. While the standard engine is fine for getting around town, we’d generally recommend one of the other two to really optimize your off-road capabilities – and don’t forget to make sure you opt for four-wheel drive rather than the standard rear-wheel drive.

The LT Trim

Since the Trail Boss package is available on both the LT trim and the Z71, we’ll take a look at what each of these trims has to offer, then focus more on what Trail Boss brings to the table. The LT can have any of the three engines available, though there are some restrictions based on the cab and bed size configuration you choose. It comes with 17-inch wheels and 17-inch all-season tires, along with a spotter mirror and an EZ-Lift and Lower tailgate that is lockable.

If you choose the available four-wheel drive, it comes with an Autotrac two-speed transfer case for low-speed traction. The LT has an 8-inch infotainment display, cloth seating, and a 6-way power driver’s seat. An auto-dimming rearview mirror is standard, along with numerous USB ports, and the LT features single-zone climate control. Overall, this is an excellent midsize truck, but you can see it does not have a ton in terms of off-road capability.

The Z71 Trim

The Z71 trim features a number of upgrades from the LT, which makes it a great option for a lot of drivers. These include cloth and leatherette seating that can be more durable, a color driver information display instead of the monochromatic display on the LT, and automatic climate control. The Z71 also features a wireless charging pad, remote keyless entry with remote start, and an HD rear vision camera that can provide a clearer image behind your vehicle than the standard rear camera. This comes in handy when you’re on the trail and need to reverse through a tight area or watch out for obstructions behind you.

The Trail Boss Package

What really elevates these two trims to an impressive off-road pickup is the Trail Boss package that is now available for both of them. This lets you pick the truck that has the features you want while still getting the kind of off-road functionality you’re looking for. First and foremost, the Trail Boss package adds a 1-inch factory-installed suspension lift to the Chevy Colorado, giving you better ground clearance for getting over obstacles on the trail.

The Trail Boss package also includes front and mid-vehicle skid plates to protect the underside of your truck, along with numerous aesthetic details. For example, the tow hooks are red instead of black, with ZR2 accessory wheels in black and Chevy emblems in black. The front air dam is also removed from the Colorado when you choose the Trail Boss package, which eliminates the chance of damaging it when going over objects on the trail. All of these features come together to make either trim a great option for going off-road.

The ZR2 Trim

If you really want to take the Colorado’s off-road performance to the next level, however, then you need to check out the ZR2 trim. This has been offered for many years now and is the gold standard for off-road performance with a midsize truck. For starters, the ZR2 has a 2-inch higher stance than standard Colorado models, which gives you even greater ground clearance than models with the Trail Boss package. You also get a 3.5-inch wider front and rear track on the ZR2 compared to the standard Colorado for greater stability.

You get front and rear electronic locking differentials on the ZR2 for improved off-road performance beyond the Trail Boss package. The ZR2 comes with Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) damper technology to help improve the feel of the suspension and allow for a more comfortable ride on the roughest terrain. Plus, standard features on the ZR2 include a trailering package and integrated trailer brake controller, which makes it easy to take a boat or camper with you to a campsite before going off-road.

It’s worth noting that there are some limitations on the ZR2 trim, but all of them are designed to improve off-road performance. For example, only the 3.6L V6 and turbo-diesel engines are available for it, and every ZR2 model comes standard with four-wheel drive. While the other two trims can come with an extended cab and long box or a crew cab with either a short or long box, the ZR2 is only available with an extended cab and long box or the crew cab with a short box.

Which One is Right for You?

With all of these different options in mind, figuring out which one best meets your needs can be a bit tricky. If you want a great truck without all of the bells and whistles, then the LT with the Trail Boss package makes for an affordable and reliable off-road option. On the other hand, if you want to enjoy a bit more sophistication on the trail, then the Z71 with the Trail Boss package is a terrific choice that is going to work well for a lot of people.

The ZR2 trim continues to be the perfect expression of total off-road performance for the Colorado, however, and is hard to beat. There’s no denying that the ZR2 is the trail master and also delivers fantastic tech, safety, and comfort features that match or surpass what even the Z71 Trail Boss has to offer. So if you want the best combination of everything you can get with the Colorado, then the ZR2 is the way to go. If you’re still not sure what you want, then come visit us at Dan Cummins Chevrolet Buick of Georgetown today, and we’ll help you figure out which of these three options is right for you.

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