2022 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss vs. Colorado ZR2: Capacities Comparison
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One of the biggest changes applied to the 2022 Chevy Colorado was the addition of the new Trail Boss package, which brings some added capability to the Colorado LT and Z71 trim levels and bridges the gap to the ultra-capable Colorado ZR2 variant. With 2022 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss deliveries beginning, we decided to see how the vehicle stacks up to the more capable Colorado ZR2 model with regard to its towing capacities and payload ratings.
Payload
First, let’s focus on these two trucks’ respective payload ratings. The Colorado Trail Boss variant with the highest payload is the LT Crew Cab Short Box with the 3.6L LGZ V6, which has a max rating of 1,536 pounds. Meanwhile, the Colorado ZR2 in this identical configuration has a max payload of just 1,250 pounds. The ZR2 Bison in this same configuration has the lowest rating of the three at 1,100 pounds.
The Extended Cab Long Box body style with the LGZ V6 offers the highest payload for the ZR2 at 1,350 pounds – which is still less than the Colorado Trail Boss LT Crew Cab Short Box. The Colorado Trail Boss Z71 Crew Cab Short Box with the LGZ V6 finds itself in the middle of the road with a rating of 1,482 pounds.
| Engine | Colorado LT Trail Boss | Colorado Z71 Trail Boss | Colorado ZR2 | Colorado ZR2 Bison | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extended Cab Long Box | 2.5L I-4 LCV gasoline | $35,590 | - | - | - |
| Extended Cab Long Box | 3.6L V-6 LGZ gasoline | $37,075 | $40,590 | $43,795 | $49,545 |
| Extended Cab Long Box | 2.8L I-4 LWN diesel | - | - | $47,515 | $53,265 |
| Crew Cab Short Box | 3.6L V-6 LGZ gasoline | $38,590 | $42,090 | $45,395 | $51,145 |
| Crew Cab Short Box | 2.8L I-4 LWN diesel | $44,490 | $46,685 | $49,115 | $54,865 |
| Crew Cab Long Box | 3.6L V-6 LGZ gasoline | $39,490 | $42,690 | - | - |
| Crew Cab Long Box | 2.8L I-4 LWN diesel | $44,815 | $47,035 | - | - |
| Max Payload Extended Cab Long Box (pounds / kg) | 2.5L I-4 LCV gasoline | 1,380 / 626 | - | - | - |
| Max Payload Extended Cab Long Box (pounds / kg) | 3.6L V-6 LGZ gasoline | 1,504 / 682 | 1,474 / 668 | 1,350 / 612 | 1,100 / 499 |
| Max Payload Extended Cab Long Box (pounds / kg) | 2.8L I-4 LWN diesel | 1,430 / 649 | 1,415 / 642 | 1,190 / 539 | 930 / 422 |
| Max Payload Crew Cab Short Box (pounds / kg) | 3.6L V-6 LGZ gasoline | 1,536 / 697 | 1,481 / 672 | 1,250 / 567 | 1,100 / 499 |
| Max Payload Crew Cab Short Box (pounds / kg) | 2.8L I-4 LWN diesel | 1,471 / 667 | 1,422 / 645 | 1,190 / 539 | 930 / 422 |
| Max Payload Crew Cab Long Box (pounds / kg) | 3.6L V-6 LGZ gasoline | 1,458 / 661 | 1,444 / 653 | - | - |
| Max Payload Crew Cab Long Box (pounds / kg) | 2.8L I-4 LWN diesel | 1,375 / 624 | 1,367 / 620 | - | - |
| Max Trailering Extended Cab Long Box (pounds / kg) | 2.5L I-4 LCV gasoline | 3,500 / 1,588 | - | - | - |
| Max Trailering Extended Cab Long Box (pounds / kg) | 3.6L V-6 LGZ gasoline | 7,000 / 3,175 | 7,000 / 3,175 | 5,000 / 2,268 | 5,000 / 2,268 |
| Max Trailering Extended Cab Long Box (pounds / kg) | 2.8L I-4 LWN diesel | 7,700 / 3,493 | 7,700 / 3,493 | 5,000 / 2,268 | 5,000 / 2,268 |
| Max Trailering Crew Cab Short Box (pounds / kg) | 3.6L V-6 LGZ gasoline | 7,000 / 3,175 | 7,000 / 3,175 | 5,000 / 2,268 | 5,000 / 2,268 |
| Max Trailering Crew Cab Short Box (pounds / kg) | 2.8L I-4 LWN diesel | 7,600 / 3,447 | 7,600 / 3,447 | 5,000 / 2,268 | 5,000 / 2,268 |
| Max Trailering Crew Cab Long Box (pounds / kg) | 3.6L V-6 LGZ gasoline | 7,000 / 3,175 | 7,000 / 3,175 | - | - |
| Max Trailering Crew Cab Long Box (pounds / kg) | 2.8L I-4 LWN diesel | 7,600 / 3,447 | 7,600 / 3,447 | - | - |
| Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined mpg) | 2.5L I-4 LCV gasoline | 19/24/21 | - | - | - |
| Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined mpg) | 3.6L V-6 LGZ gasoline | 17/24/19 | 17/24/19 | 16/18/17 | 16/18/17 |
| Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined mpg) | 2.8L I-4 LWN diesel | 19/28/22 | 19/28/22 | 18/22/19 | 18/22/19 |
Towing
Now we’ll turn our attention to what is arguably the more important metric: towing. The Colorado Trail Boss variant with the highest maximum towing capacity is the Extended Cab with the Duramax turbodiesel 2.8L LWN I-4 engine, which has a rating of 7,700 pounds. The maximum towing capacity for the Colorado ZR2 in any configuration, meanwhile, is 5,000 pounds. It’s also worth noting the Trail Boss’ tow rating falls to 7,000 pounds when equipped with the LGZ V6.
Fuel Economy
The Colorado Trail Boss is also slightly more efficient than the more extreme Colorado ZR2. When equipped with the LGZ V6, the Colorado Trail Boss has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined. The Colorado ZR2 with the same engine is rated at 16 mpg city, 18 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined.
Next up is the fuel-sipping diesel. When equipped with this engine, the Trail Boss is rated at 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. In the ZR2, these figures fall to 18 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined.
The Colorado Trail Boss can also be ordered with the 2.5L LCV I-4, which has EPA-estimated ratings of 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. This engine is not offered on the Colorado ZR2.
Off-Road Features
| RPO Code | Feature | Colorado LT Trail Boss | Colorado Z71 Trail Boss | Colorado ZR2 | Colorado ZR2 Bison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ULV | AEV Embroidered Seat Headrests | - | - | - | S |
| T3U | Fog Lamps | A2 | S | - | S |
| VJQ | Front Recovery Hooks | S | S | - | - |
| W0H | Front Red Recovery Hooks | S1 | S1 | - | - |
| UGA | Front Red Recovery Hooks | - | - | S | S |
| S3X | Off-Road Lights | - | - | A11,12 | - |
| SCU | Off-Road Sport Bar | - | - | A11,12 | - |
| NY7 | Transfer Case Shield | - | S | S | S |
| SIQ | Performance Front Skid Plate | S1 | S1 | - | - |
| SIR | Performance Mid Skid Plate | S1 | S1 | - | - |
| PZ9 | Fuel Tank Skid Plate | - | - | - | S |
| PZG | Front Skid Plate | - | - | - | S |
| PZL | Rear Differential Skid Plate | - | - | - | S |
| PZN | Transfer Case Skid Plate | - | - | - | S |
| S6L | Off-Road Rocker Protection | - | - | S | S |
| Removed Front Air Dam | -3 | -3 | S | S | |
| BPH | Fender Flares | - | - | S | S |
| B7O | Wheel Moldings | - | - | - | S |
| BPH | 2-Inch Taller And 3.5-Inch Wider Stance | - | - | S | S |
| BPH | Off-Road Front Fascia and Black Rear Bumper | - | - | S | S |
| ULV | AEV Front And Rear Bumpers | - | - | - | S |
| SG1 | Black Bowtie Emblem Package | S1 | - | - | - |
| BPH | "CHEVROLET" Lettered Grille With Flowtie | - | - | S | S |
| SB9 | Black "CHEVROLET" Tailgate Decal Lettering | S1 | S1 | A1 | A1 |
| SMG | Black Colorado Emblems | S1 | S1 | - | - |
| JHD | Hill Descent Control | - | S | S | S |
| SE0 | 17-inch High Gloss Black Wheels | S1 | S1 | - | - |
| RIF | 17-Inch Gloss-Black Aluminum Wheels | - | - | A11,12 | - |
| R34 | 17-Inch Graphite And Oxide Gold Aluminum Wheels | - | - | S | - |
| RIG | 17-Inch AEV Dark Graphite Aluminum Wheels | - | - | - | S |
| RM7 | 17-Inch Steel Spare Wheel | S | S | - | - |
| S4P | 17-Inch Aluminum Spare Wheel | - | - | S | S |
| S4M | 17-Inch AEV Spare Wheel | - | - | - | S |
| S4S | 17-Inch Gloss-Black Aluminum Spare Wheel | - | - | A11,12 | - |
| QHR | 255/65R17 All-Season Tires | S | - | - | - |
| QHE | 255/65R17 All-Terrain Tires | - | S | - | - |
| QJ2 | 265/65R17 All-Terrain Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Tires | - | - | S | S |
| QDC | T175/90D18 Compact Spare Tire | S | - | - | - |
| ZAO | 255/65R17 All-Season Spare Tire | A4 | S | - | - |
| ZJP | 265/65R17 All-Season Spare Tire | - | - | S | S |
| LCV | 2.5L I4 Gasoline Engine / Six-Speed Automatic | S | - | - | - |
| LGZ | 3.6L V6 LGZ Engine / Eight-Speed Automatic | A | S | S | S |
| LWN | 2.8L I4 LWN Turbo-Diesel Engine / Six-Speed Automatic | A5,6 | A5,6 | A | A |
| G80 | Automatic Locking Rear Differential | A7,8 | S | - | - |
| G93 | Driver-Selectable Full-Locking Front Differential | - | - | S | S |
| G94 | Driver-Selectable Full-Locking Rear Differential | - | - | S | S |
| NQ6 | Electric Two-Speed AutoTrac Transfer Case | S | S | - | - |
| Z82 | Trailering Package | A8,9 | A8 | S | S |
| JL1 | Integrated Trailer Brake Controller | A10 | A10 | S | S |
| Z71 | Off-Road Suspension Package | - | S | - | - |
| SQS | Front 1-Inch Leveling Kit (LPO) | S1 | S1 | - | - |
| BPH | DSSV Multimatic Suspension Dampers | - | - | S | S |
- Dealer installed.
- Included and only available with PCM LT Convenience Package.
- Front air dam can be removed by owner.
- Included and only available with 3.6L V6 LGZ or 2.8L I4 LWN diesel engine.
- Requires Crew Cab configuration.
- Requires Safety Package and Trailering Package.
- Requires Trailering Package when 3.6L V6 LGZ or 2.8L I4 diesel engine is ordered.
- Included with Crew Cab Long Box.
- Requires Automatic Locking Rear Differential and 3.6L V6 LGZ or 2.8L I4 diesel engine.
- Requires Trailering Package. Included with 2.8L I4 LWN diesel engine.
- Included and only available with ZR2 Dusk Special Edition.
- Included and only available with ZR2 Midnight Special Edition.
Conclusion
The main point to pull from these numbers is that the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss offers a mix of off-road capability and towing and payload capacities. This makes it the ideal choice for Colorado buyers who desire some additional ruggedness but still want strong towing and payload performance from their truck.In comparison, the ZR2 with its Multimatic DSSV dampers sacrifices towing/payload performance for off-road capability, making it the better choice for seasoned overlanders and rock crawlers. The Trail Boss is also slightly more fuel-efficient than the ZR2 due to various factors like ride height and aerodynamics.
Alas, as we reported previously, the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss package is currently unavailable to order for the 2022MY due to the immense popularity of the model.
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Who cares! You can’t find any to buy anyway! WTF GM!
… this chevy colorado or S10 in South America is also launched in China as SAIC-MAXUS Bull Demon King, but the design is uglier
That is an ugly ugly truck in the first picture the red one.
Lol it looks even worse now that the nex gen ranger has been shown.
Typical Ford guy
“(PEC) Trail Boss Package no longer available until further notice.” Nice timing GMA…..lol #SpaceFiller
Negative people. Always, it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease, so they say. Ugly? You want to talk about ugly, look at the Dodge, in general. When they came out with that style, only about 30% or less of the public liked that style, but Dodge stuck with it, because the public didn’t like any of the other styles whatsoever! Ford, on the other hand, seems to only, at some point in time, eventually copy GM, and put every single vehicle that they manufacture, and call it a F series truck, so that they (in their minds) think that they are the best selling truck. Everyone knows that they aren’t. General Motors, in the last real world comparison that I saw, if they had the same size of fuel tank, would get 200kms more per tank than the Dodge or Ford. Ford, also, after having the Twin I Beam suspension, and Dodge, having that stupid straight axle, finally changed to the IFS very similar to what GM has had since the early 60’s. Seatbelts were pioneered by GM also. Door guard beams, structural components. GM has always, and still is a leader. GM has always had the highest resale by far. Buy your GM take care of it, and you’ll see the difference in the resale values, and that’s where you’ll see ugly!
What a negative and hating comment
7 mpg difference between the z71 and the zr2. Really tires and aero not this much off on the highway