Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 Yearlong Arrival: Is This The General’s Best Off-Roader?

While there has been a lot of chatter surrounding hybrids, electrification, and the ever-increasing attractiveness of crossover SUVs, it’s difficult to miss just how popular the growing class of factory off-road pickups has become. Every brand offers them, from the smallest Ford Maverick Tremor to the mammoth Silverado HD ZR2 and everything in between.

Keeping up with this trend, we haven’t been without an off-road pickup in the fleet for some time. We just wrapped up a stint with a 2022 Ford F-150 Raptor and prior to that tested a 2021 Ram 1500 TRX. While the pair of desert dominators proved exciting, it’s now time to turn our attention to the unstoppable 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2, which was named Pickup Truck of the Year by our sister publication, Four Wheeler. Now, we’re going to spend the next 12 months sorting out whether the Silverado ZR2 has what it takes to run with the big dogs or if it’s better suited to the bunny hills.

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Well Equipped Out of the Box

Chevy’s Silverado ZR2 comes fit with some of the best off-road equipment offered right off the lot. At the core of the ZR2 package is a 2-inch lifted suspension and Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) dampers. The shocks are an upsized 1.57-inch (40mm) version of the units originally found on the Colorado ZR2. Chevy is also the only manufacturer to include both front and rear electronic locking differentials on a half-ton pickup.

Also included in the ZR2 package are 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires, unique 18-inch aluminum wheels with Oxide Gold accents, a robust skidplate package, and a high-tuck performance exhaust. A high-clearance steel front bumper gives the truck an impressive 31.8-degree approach angle, while the removable end caps can further boost the approach angle and ease of replacement. Off-road drive modes are also added, including the EV-like off-road one-pedal-drive Terrain mode, which is unique to ZR2 in the Silverado lineup.

Upgrades don’t just stop at the functional bits. Chevy also fits the Silverado ZR2 with design elements that help it to stand out in the corral of standard Silverado pickups. Chief among these is a more aggressive hood with a tall black insert. A ZR2-specific grille is fit with integrated lighting (no, not Raptor-esque clearance lights, thankfully) and a red-accented Chevy “flow-tie” emblem. Naturally, red-painted tow hooks and ZR2 badging finish off the exterior. Inside, Silverado ZR2 pickups are fit with a singular interior style, Jet Black with Graystone leather, with yellow contrast stitching throughout.

We added only a handful of options to the base Silverado 1500 ZR2. Chief among these was Chevy’s Technology package, which for $1,970 adds a rearview camera mirror, a.0 15-inch multicolor head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and a power adjustable steering column. Other options include a power sunroof ($995), MultiFlex tailgate ($445), and the gorgeous Glacier Blue Metallic paint ($395).

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Now With Standard Duramax Diesel Power

One option that has been missing from the Silverado 1500 ZR2 since its 2022 debut was the Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six engine. However, Chevy rectified this wrong in 2024 by making the Duramax engine standard for the ZR2.

Available in Silverados since 2019, the Duramax diesel received a refresh for 2023. A 10.1 percent increase in horsepower (from 277 hp to 305 hp) and 7.6 percent gain in torque (from 460 lb-ft to 495 lb-ft) was achieved from revised tuning and internal changes. These included new steel pistons with a revised combustion bowl design, new high-pressure fuel injectors, a retuned turbocharger compressor wheel, and improved thermal control features.

The Duramax diesel engine not only offers the highest torque available in Chevy’s Silverado lineup but also the best fuel economy. Our Silverado ZR2 is EPA-rated to achieve 20/22/21 mpg city/highway/combined. In our limited time with the truck thus far, we have managed to meet or exceed these figures on the regular. Seeing as the EPA has rated non-ZR2 four-wheel-drive Silverado pickups as high as 27 mpg, we’re optimistic there’s more to be had.

Unsurprisingly, maximum towing is lower for the Silverado ZR2 than its standard-trim compatriots. Fit with the Duramax diesel engine, our test truck offers a maximum tow rating of 8,700 pounds (down from 8,800 for 6.2-liter V-8-powered trucks) and 1,550 pounds of payload (up from 1,520 pounds).

What’s In Store for the Silverado ZR2

We have a full slate of grand adventures planned for the next 12 months of our Silverado ZR2 stewardship. Of course we have a slew of epic off-road adventures in mind, so many in fact that we’ll likely struggle getting through the list. We’ll explore beyond the truck’s strong off-road prowess and dive into daily life with Chevy’s flagship pickup by maxing out the truck’s towing capacity, filling its bed to the brim, and braving the daily commute in the concrete jungles of Southern California. We also plan to push the limits of the Duramax engine’s fuel economy potential along with diving into the added pressures of living with diesel exhaust fluid. The one thing we know for sure is we won’t have any issues racking up the miles, as the bright Glacier Blue Silverado ZR2 has already become a favorite of our West Coast fleet, and the fun has only just begun.