360 Magazine was recently given the exciting opportunity to test drive the brand new 2018 Chevrolet Colorado 4WD ZR2 Crew Short Box. In our opinion, the vehicle, which is priced around $45,000, is worth every penny. The car is well-equipped with an 8-inch, state-of-the-art infotainment system (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, back-up camera, Bose stereo and Wi-Fi hotspot). This ergonomical four-seater weighs in at 4,758lbs and is stocked with 17″ wheels alongside of a fob with auto start option.
At 360, we don’t have anyone on our team that fits the description of ‘lumberjack’ but we decided to give it a go so we could see for ourselves if the vehicle was suited for the lifestyle of the market consumer. In order to act the part, we had to look the part, of course. We channeled our inner lumberjacks and adorned ourselves in overalls and flannels before making the drive down to a small town called San Marcos that is located near the border of Mexico and the United States. San Marcos is home to So Cal Axe, one of the only axe throwing cages on the West Coast. While there, we learned the proper technique required to successfully propel an axe onto a bullseye. After a few hours of chucking axes at targets, we retreated to Hotel Z (http://www.instagram.com/staypineapple/) located in San Diego’s Gas Lamp district. We changed out of our sweaty flannels and into some navy blue apparel and made our way to Petco Park for the opening game of the San Diego Padres. We rolled up to the game in style. Heads turned as we pulled up in the Chevrolet Colorado which is coated in Kinetic Blue with a flashy yet functional spare tired propped up on the back of the truck. The Padres may have lost the game but the 360 team sure felt like winners riding around in that beautiful truck.
The next morning, we decided to continue our lumberjack adventures by heading north to San Luis Obispo [SLO] and we put the vehicle’s gas mileage, which boasts 19mpg city/25mpg hwy., to the test. With a capable 3.6 liter V6 engine (308hp and 270lbft of torque), we maneuvered our way up to Cal Poly (http://www.facebook.com/Cal-Poly-Loggers-190833514320167/) to witness the student logging and axe competition. Cal Poly, an agriculture school founded in 1901 with over 20,000 undergraduates, recently hosted and competed in AWFC (Association of Western Forestry Clubs). They prepared an entire complex to be utilized for all of the traditional lumberjack sports. The expo included everything from sawing, chopping, axe-throwing, birling, pole climbing, technical events such as wood identification, and much more! Each competitor has the opportunity to earn points for the overall team. Cal Poly did exceptionally well this year, as we took second place overall. Keep in mind, there were teams from all over the western region competing; some came all the way from Montana and British Columbia to compete. Overall, the week was filled with focused and fun-loving loggers. We had a blast watching the events and even getting involved in a few ourselves. We wouldn’t have wanted to spend our Spring Break anywhere else! However, our limited lumberjack experience made us feel like mere city slickers compared to the advanced skills of the other participants.
Shortly after, we bolted over to the neighboring town of Morro Bay to check out the Morro Rock. We were greeted by cheers and screams of “go mud bogging!” while cruising down the embarcadero. Upon arrival at the La Cuesta Inn (http://www.lacuestainn.com/) in SLO, we learned about Pismo Beach (one of the only beaches in Northern America which allows for off-roading vehicles on the beach). Subsequently, we arrived at the State Park and paid $5 for an all day pass and plopped off the pavement onto the sand. On the road, it feels like a sedan (but with a flatbed). Off the road, the Multimatic DSSV suspension (same
dampers used on the 2014 Camaro Z/28 and some of the Formula One vehicles) was able to easily adapt to knee-deep sand and dove head first into 3-feet of the Pacific. Clearly, the suspension is infinitely tunable to the demands of the driver while some monster trucks and cars got stuck while overheating. Our ZR2 seemed to rival all of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicons which were staggered throughout the coastline. We became an instant showstopper. Once the adrenaline faded, we headed to our hotel room at The Lofts (http://www.slobrew.com) which is situated right above the Slo Brew tasting and live performance venue.
To sum up our experiences with the 2018 Chevy Colorado ZR2 not only can adapt to most terrains but to most lifestyles: from a concrete safari to an off-road excursion. Finally, General Motors has a crafted a crawling and trail running beast which can dress itself up for a night on the town. This is a phenomenal factory truck which needs no modifications and can take loads of abuse. With precise steering, good cornering, strong braking system and excellent off-road capabilities, this is our preferred midsize truck for anyone in the market to floss and look like a boss on tough trails. This vehicle not only brought out our inner lumberjack but also proved to be a great car for all sorts of uses.
(*featured image shot by Owen Duckett)
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