The new Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 feels so at home off the asphalt that it brought a patch of desert with it at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

It might not look like much from a distance, but this particular variant of the Colorado is what Chevrolet calls the most capable truck in its class – or something like that. According to the American car maker, the Colorado ZR2 offers more off-road technology than any of its rivals.

A closer look at the vehicle’s features confirms that Chevrolet puts its money where its mouth is, as the compact pick-up comes with a new lifted Multimatic’s DSSV suspension setup, and an all-wheel-drive system that can be programmed in nine different driving configurations. These including everything from Hi 4WD with locked transfer case and rear diff, to Lo 4WD with locked transfer case, rear diff, and front diff. It even offers pure RWD.

Additionally, the ZR2 includes an aluminum skid plate incorporated into the front bumper, a bed-mounted spare tire carrier, and 17×8 inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 31-inch Goodyear Duratrac off-road tires. All this while sporting a wider track for better stability off the trail.

Under the hood, there’s either the 308 hp and 275 lb-ft (372 Nm) of torque 3.6-litre V6 – mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission – or the Duramax diesel with 181 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque at its disposal. The choice is yours.

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