GM's Diesel Domination: Exploring America’s Last Light-Duty Diesel With The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2

While there has been plenty of buzz here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse surrounding electrification, the intense popularity of factory off-road pickups has become a force to be reckoned with! Every major brand now boasts its own version, with the Motor Trend staff noticing just how awesome and ideal for challenging terrain the Silverado 1500 ZR2 is. They are eagerly prepared to spend the next year with it, seeing if it is truly outfitted to hang with the big guns of the off-roading realm.

The Silverado ZR2 comes with a preparatory 2-inch lift and Multimatic Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve dampers. Mulimatic’s amazing and expertly-trained motorsports division has a notable history of designing, constructing, and campaigning race models for stiff competition worldwide. The shocks are a very sweet pair of upsized 1.57-inch versions of the units found on the outgoing ZR2 model. We stand proudly behind our unique trait of being the only manufacturer to include front and rear locking differentials on a factory-grade half-ton.

33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires are precisely locked and loaded for trail action of the gnarliest grade, and the 18-inch aluminum wheels with Oxide Gold accents are just begging to be dipped to strut their stuff in muddy or sandy conditions. There’s a beefy skid plate package to protect the vitals on the underside, along with a new high-tuck performance exhaust. Seeing add-ons such as this without an aftermarket badge is amazing: a wicked-cool high-clearance steel performance bumper makes for a 31.9-degree approach angle, also flaunting removable end caps that aid with the approach angle.

Off-road drive modes have been very game changing in today’s industry, and this ZR2’s one-pedal-drive terrain setting smashes the task of tackling inclines that could render an average sedan worthless within seconds! There’s a ZR2-specific grille fit with very nice integrated lighting and red-painted tow hooks to round off the exterior look. The Motor Trend crew reached in just a bit deeper into the arsenal of available extras to construct their ideal tester, which included the rearview camera mirror and power-adjustable steering column from the Technology package. 

The 3.0-liter turbodiesel inline-six engine was the burly benefactor of a 10.1 percent horsepower bump this year, with this team also easily meeting the EPA-rated expectations of 20/22/21 mpg combined. The crew is planning to brave daily commutes in LA, along with taking on a few off-road challenges that will clearly gauge the Silverado ZR2’s aptitude. The Edmunds.com review crew was thrilled with the Silverado’s best voice recognition in the business, and the very responsive infotainment system. A Black-Out package will also become available for the HD Custom trim, and the Silverado HD Midnight Edition gets a brand-new set of 20-inch wheels. 

Buyers will have a choice of Regular Cab, Double Cab, and Crew Cab body styles, plus three varieties of bed length. When the Hagerty car buffs reported back about getting their hands on the current-model ZR2, they claimed that the suspension “eats up just about anything you can throw at it on the trail without compromising its highway manners.” This inline-6 emits a very telltale growl right at first idle, and every bit of its unique personality never lets you forget you’re driving a diesel. Everything included here along for the ride in the ZR2 feels consistently special, and will always remain unique for its superior performance and daily-drive practically. 

2023 Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison Honed to Ultimate Trail Guide with AEV’s Expertise

The majestic and jaw-dropping scenery at Yellowstone leads to a memorable trip, with photographers, hikers, and over 4 million wilderness enthusiasts worldwide flocking there annually. After being hunted with so much a fervor that it was nearly extinct, the American bison has now been spotted more frequently roaming here, impressing all the park’s occupants with its stability and lay of the land. Here at Mid Missouri Powerhouse, we love our very own common sighting of the Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison, and the fact that its own population is about to double in size.

The new Silverado was expertly developed by the off-road specialists at American Expedition Vehicles: These are the ones you can trust with every nook, rut, rock, and boulder that could ever show up in your path. The existing ZR2 already comes locked and loaded with the best brush protection as the five underbody skid plates, rocker-panel protectors, and replacement front and rear stamped-steel bumpers are up for the damaging elements you come across frequently in the wild.

These sturdier bumpers allow for steeper approach and departure angles, and you’re already sailing ideally headstrong with a ground clearance of 11.2 inches. The new Bison also boasts a tweaked body-colored grill bar and a matte-black panel on the Multi-flex tailgate, in addition to custom AEV and Bison badging for the interior and exterior. With this truck there is plenty to be excited about when you are planning a trip to nearby off-road spots here in Missouri such as Flat Nasty off-road park of the Ozarks: here you’ll be greeted with 850+ Acres of rugged land to explore.

All these skid plates and extra protection will definitely get some use at this primo local-area playground, as well as the exclusive 6.2-liter V8 that cranks out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. While the rivalries fester in the competitive models of the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 TRX, the Chevy Silverado ZR2 Bison’s specific drive mode settings for rock crawling should keep it appropriately ahead and on top of other archrivals. You’ll also be guaranteed to navigate deep enough into the wild to make good use of the recovery points, adding a practical solution if you ever find yourself needing a strong-armed pull.

There are still fairly solid rumors of an upgraded Duramax diesel engine arriving just in time for the 2023 model year, and potentially paired with the delightfully lethal ten-speed automatic transmission. While some firm critics may claim that the ZR2 doesn't have quite enough expert-grade off-road chops to cut it in the extreme wild, examples from AEV Outfitters in the past have absolutely proved otherwise. We’ll keep you posted here on the blog about other developments regarding this off-road beast and wish you all the best during your search for the perfect vehicle right here at the Powerhouse!