Desert Warrior

THIS IS CHEVROLET’S TRUCK BUILT TO TAKE ON THE RAPTOR, SO NATURALLY WE NEED TO FIND OUT IF THE COLORADO ZR2 IS A WORTHY COMPETITOR.

- Matt Raudonikis

THE 2010 FORD SVT Raptor has a lot to answer for, and we should all be thankful for it. This factory-built pre-runner was the precursor to the current F150 Raptor from Ford Performance and was the inspiration for the Ranger Raptor that was developed here in Australia. Not only has it spawned a small family of Raptors, but competing auto manufacturers couldn’t ignore the success of this high-performance off-road pick-up truck, and we’ve seen a few similar themed vehicles from other companies.

The Blue Oval’s chief protagonist in Detroit, General Motors, took note of the Raptor’s sales and developed its own version wearing a Chevrolet bowtie badge, but rather than apply it to the full-size truck as per the Ford F150, it chose the mid-size Chevy Colorado to receive the makeover. This makes it a prime competitor to the Ranger Raptor, so we took the chance to drive one on a recent trip to the USA.

The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 (that’s ZeeArr-Two to the ’Muricans) follows the Raptor’s lead in being a pick-up with superior off-road capability than the regular model, and that added capability is directed toward higher speed, rough-road travel than, say, low-speed rock crawling or mud plugging. Think desert racing and the pre-runner vehicles used by race teams and you’re on the right track.