2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 Tows Off the Beaten Path
Heavy-duty pickups like the Ram 2500 Rebel and Ford F-250 Tremor prove that off-pavement adventures and serious towing jobs don’t have to be mutually exclusive pursuits. Now, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD is getting in on the action with the arrival of the ZR2 and ZR2 Bison variants.
Related: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD: New Face, New Interior, More Diesel Power, ZR2 on the Way
The off-road-oriented versions were revealed alongside the refreshed 2024 Silverado HD, but Chevy left all other details under wraps — until now. Already offered for the half-ton Silverado 1500 and mid-size Colorado, the ZR2 adds off-road chops to the heavy-duty pickup without many compromises in the towing and payload departments.
Under the Hide: Powertrains and Capability
The ZR2 and the more rugged ZR2 Bison will be available on the Silverado 2500 HD’s crew-cab models and will come with standard four-wheel drive. The ZR2 shares two powertrain options with the standard 2500 HD: a 6.6-liter V-8 with 401 horsepower and 464 pounds-feet of torque and a turbo-diesel 6.6-liter V-8 with 470 hp and 975 pounds-feet; both are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
How Do Towing and Payload Stack Up?
According to Chevy’s estimates, the maximum towing capacity for the ZR2 with the turbo-diesel engine is 18,500 pounds, and the gas-powered ZR2 can pull up to 16,000 pounds. While the ZR2’s gas engine can tow as much as similarly configured Silverado 2500 HD models, the turbo-diesel falls short of the standard HD’s 20,000-pound maximum with the same engine. Meanwhile, the payload capacity for the ZR2 tops out at 3,397 pounds, while the standard 2500 HD can haul up to 3,576 pounds. Shoppers deciding between the Silverado 1500 ZR2 and the new HD ZR2 should consider their towing demands: The 1500 ZR2’s towing capacity is significantly lower at 8,800 pounds.
Off-Road Bits
The Silverado HD ZR2 features a set of off-road upgrades to tackle unpaved trails. The ZR2 gets a modified suspension with a higher ground clearance (up to 11.8 inches for the ZR2 Bison versus 10.12 inches in the standard HD), which improves the pickup’s approach, departure and breakover angles. The ZR2’s suspension is further set apart with unique front upper and lower control arms and steering knuckles. Like the Colorado ZR2 and Silverado 1500, it also employs Multimatic DSSV dampers; the unique shock absorbers were originally designed for off-road racing and blend off-road capability with on-road comfort, says Chevy.
The ZR2’s larger steel transfer-case skid plate and front aluminum skid plate are intended to protect the pickup’s underbody on rough terrain. An Off-Road mode optimizes performance by automatically adjusting the vehicle’s antilock brakes, traction control, stability control, throttle progression and transmission shifts.
ZR2 Bison Roams Farther
The ZR2 Bison was developed alongside off-road parts and accessory manufacturer American Expedition Vehicles. The Bison takes the Silverado HD’s off-road capability up a notch with unique 18-inch AEV wheels, stamped-steel front and rear bumpers with integrated tow hooks, and a stamped-steel underbody skid plate to protect the steering rack, exhaust and transfer case. The Bison also gets branded with unique badges for the exterior and the AEV logo on the front-seat head restraints.
Spotting a ZR2 in the Wild
The HD ZR2 shares familiar styling elements with the 1500 ZR2 and the Colorado ZR2 models. It sports a unique ZR2 grille and wheel-opening moldings with integrated mudguards and wears ZR2 badging and a modified version of the brand’s bow-tie emblem called “flow-tie”. The flow-tie was first used on the 2018 Camaro and offers an airflow and aerodynamics advantage, according to the brand. The HD ZR2 rides on standard 18-inch wheels with 35-inch Goodyear tires specifically designed for improved traction off-road.
The ZR2-specific interior comes with leather upholstery and features a dark color palette and dirt-resistant materials. On the tech front, the off-road trim gets a 13.4-inch center touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster — both displays are also found on the standard Silverado HD’s higher trims. A 15-inch head-up display with an off-road inclinometer is available.
Pricing and Release Date
Pricing for the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 and ZR2 Bison will be announced before it arrives this summer. The 2024 Silverado 2500 HD currently starts at $45,295 for the regular cab and $48,795 for the crew cab.
Among the Silverado HD ZR2’s rivals, the 2023 Ford Super Duty F-250 with the Tremor Off-Road Package (available on King Ranch and higher trims) starts at $82,245; the 2023 Ram 2500 Rebel starts at $68,020; and the Silverado’s cousin, the 2023 GMC Sierra AT4, starts at $70,995.
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