Used Car of the Day: 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2

by Tim Healey

Published: June 16th, 2025

used car of the day 2017 chevrolet colorado zr2

I pick cars for this series based on how interesting they are, and normally a seven-year-old Chevrolet Colorado wouldn't be on my radar.

But when it's an oil-burner with off-road chops, like this 2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, well, that's different.

This one is still pretty stock, save for a bed rug and a tonneau cover that appears aftermarket. But I suspect Chevy hasn't sold many of these. Not to mention that this one has under 25K miles -- another thing that makes this unit unusual.

It appears that the only real issue is that a new radiator was installed after the original was taken out by road junk. The seller says the truck has been well-maintained and recalls have been done. Among the features are Bose audio and navigation.

This one is for sale in the Ann Arbor/Detroit area for $35,900. Click here for more.

[Images: Seller]

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Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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7 of 15 comments

Redapple2 on Jun 17, 2025

A nice new Colorado can be had for ~ $43K. They re offering 3.9%. So, new will be cheaper - total nut. Seller is putting a $10,000 premium on the diesel. I d go the Frontier way. Last of the real V 6 s. $40,000

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- See 2 previous
- Redapple2 on Jun 17, 2025
  
  I like diesels but they are so choked down that they might not be worth the extra cost (pricey engine option and the fuel) and hassle (DEF, frequent troubles, and the dealership usually has only 1 guy thats good with diesels)
  
  Like
- SCE to AUX on Jun 17, 2025
  
  Small diesels are radioactive. They look good on paper, but then reality bites.
  
  Like
- Lou_BC on Jun 17, 2025
  
  @SCE to AUX - Depending on use, the 2.8 is a better bet in the ZR2. It has much better power characteristics than the V6.
  The only place the V6 is better is in soft sand where you need RPM or on the freeway where you need RPM.
  The V6 comes with Chevy's infamous 8 speed. That alone should make buyers squeamish.
  
  Like
Kjhkjlhkjhkljh kljhjkhjklhkjh on Jun 17, 2025

The diesel is not worth it at this price. As a 2018 colorado zr2 gas owner I drove the diesel and it is +unacceptably slow+. Add to that A zr2 diesel came with us on a 990 mile trip to the desert and it struggled to keep up once the speed limit was 60-70. worse, while being slow I averaged the SAME MPG in my gasser over the total 990 mile trip from Eugene > Lakeview > hwy140 > Denio > Fields station > Alvord > frenchglenn > +5500 foot climb to Steens Kieger overloook > back down > Round Barn > and back home.

it also lacks ::
ACC
Auto wipers

Get a toyota

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- See 1 previous
- Lou_BC on Jun 17, 2025
  
  As I said up thread, the V6 is better in sand or high speed. Both are situations where you need RPM.
  I've wheeled with V6 ZR2's. In technical terrain, the diesel is better. Same goes for high altitudes. The turbo compensates for altitude. The diesel is much nicer on steep downhill grades. You barely need to touch the brakes.
  Add in a bare minimum 30% fuel economy advantage.
  
  Like
- EBFlex on Jun 18, 2025
  
  It did not struggle to keep highway speeds and it did not have the same MPG as the gasser. You’re insane.
  
  Like

Recent Comments

Redbat01 "Has High Price Derailed Your Sports Car Dreams?" People expect so much more of cars today. And so, they have to pay the price. How many of us would be content with a little two seater with a buzzy four-cylinder engine, solid axle rear suspension, rough ride and an ill-fitting convertible top? But that is what a sports car was back in the 1950s and '60s. (I still think Sunbeam Alpines - the ones with the big fins in the back - are the coolest of them all!)
EBFlex No....you can find plenty of used "fun" cars that are very reasonable with low miles.What does give me pause is the outrageous insurance and yearly registration fees. I shouldn't have to pay for a full year of road use when I can't use the car for half the year. Another factor is interest rates. The dolt that runs the fed is keeping them high for purely political reasons. They need to come down ASAP.
1995 SC I actually really like these. I love the Busso V6. And I will continue to admire them in someone else's driveway like all Alfas. I really want a 4c, but I don't quite hate myself enough
1995 SC I actually know a guy with one of these. Coolest Tercel ever. I don't mean anything derogatory by that.
1995 SC A Miata can be had for under 30. GTIs are still reasonable as is the Jetta GLI. GR86 is reasonable. Plenty of choices out there. If you look at things like the Mustang now versus even back in the 90s sure, it costs more, but it's performance envelope is also vastly higher.