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Chevrolet Tracker adds V6 power and sporty manners to a ZR2
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- Waves of thick fog shroud our course up mile-high Mt. Angeles in the Olympic National Park. The dense mist, swirling across pavement and clinging to boughs of tall firs along the precipitous route, obscures all views of this spectacular setting overlooking a narrow strait that separates the Olympic Peninsula of Washington from Canada's Vancouver Island.
Yet so many vaporous clouds and a steep road could not slow the pint-size wagon that carries us up the mountain. Truth is, it zips the course and exhibits in that process rather sporty manners with a taut ride quality.
The Tracker, it seems obvious from this run, has evolved into yet another iteration and this one's fired up and feeling frisky.
Origins of Tracker trace to 1989 as a tiny open-top machine from Suzuki of Japan that was assembled in Canada under an import brand for Chevrolet called Geo. Through subsequent years, little Tracker grew into a more substantial vehicle and eventually discarded the Geo brand association in favor of a bow-tie badge from Chevrolet.
Then in 1999 a new generational platform emerged for Tracker, and with it came a conventional four-door wagon variation that joined the two-door convertible version.
These Trackers possessed more power and finesse for the suspension than previous editions, and they contained more comfortable passenger compartments.
Now, however, there's even more substance to Chevrolet's compact sport-utility with the 2001 issues because Tracker's top two four-door wagons tote a V6 engine.
The new six-pack, crafted from an aluminum alloy block with four cams on top and four valves in every cylinder, produces 155 hp at 6500 rpm and best-in-class torque of 160 lb-ft at 4000 rpm.
That's strong enough to handle a half-ton payload or tow a small trailer rig weighing up to 1500 pounds.
The V6 shows up in new trims for the four-door Tracker.
Deluxe Tracker LT becomes the top model. It flashes chrome elements in the front grille and a thick ring of contrasting body cladding around the base as protective armor. Inside, the cockpit applies luxury features including optional leather upholstery.
Tracker ZR2 sports wheel flares and a charcoal tint to grille and body cladding for a rugged posture, plus aluminum wheels and special all-season tires. The cabin of ZR2 then gets convenience features such as power windows and power mirrors.
Base issues of Tracker in either four-door or two-door format continue in 2001 editions and draw power from a twin-cam 2.0-liter four-in-line engine that musters 127 hp. In addition, the two-door Tracker spins off a new ZR2 version with the four-cylinder engine.
For traction on slippery trails away from pavement, Tracker also adds the hardware of a four-wheel-drive system to several models. It's optional for the four-door LT and standard on ZR2 in four-door and two-door formats.
A two-speed transfer case in the 4WD mechanism brings shift-on-the-fly convenience at highway speed.
In two-wheel-drive mode with all engine torque shooting to the rear axle, Tracker easily handles hard paved surfaces. Yet it does its best work when you crank it down into four-wheel-drive and venture off pavement.
The transfer case splits engine torque and applies it to both front and rear axles to prevent tires from losing traction. It also has high and low gears for four-wheel-drive, the latter reserved for serious trekking.
A pneumatic actuator engages the front differential and front axle when shifting from two-wheel to four-wheel mode. To shift into low gear of four-wheel-drive requires stopping and pulling a lever.
We used a four-door ZR2 for that hill run in the Olympic Mountains, and it also handled with confidence some soggy logging trails to penetrate the fir forests.
At one point, several fallen trees blocked our route. Confronted by the lumpy trunks, a prudent driver might assume the best way to reach beyond the blockade would be to find a path around it, but that wasn't necessary with the Tracker because it deftly climbed over the logs.
With its high stance and body overhangs front and rear angled sharply to make approaches and departures easy to clear, Tracker easily threads a path across rough terrain like this. Such a tack would not be possible in car-based wagons that lack a low range in four-wheel-drive for serious off-road work.
The purpose seems obvious: Tracker caters to those sporting an active lifestyle, providing a rugged platform and the mechanical gear to travel off pavement -- but for a relatively modest price. When properly rigged, Tracker ZR2 can haul a trailer filled with dirt bikes or ski scooters and with the hardtop wagon format for cargo can function as a weekend plaything for camping or to reach places a conventional car or car-based wagon could not go.
Its strength starts with a sturdy steel frame that stretches for the length of the vehicle and has ladder-type cross members that resist twisting to stabilize the platform when moving off-road.
Then add malleable suspension elements -- like front MacPherson-type struts with coil springs and stabilizer bar, and a rigid rear axle of five-link design with lower and upper trailing arms, plus 15-inch wheels and tires -- to set up the good vertical ground clearance, which enables Tracker to avoid obstacles like rocks, stumps and bumps when running on dirt.
Tracker also has rack and pinion steering and power brakes with front discs and rear drums, plus optional ABS.
For safety, the wagon contains dual air bags to shield front seat riders from frontal crashes. A steel frame forms a protective safety cage around the passenger compartment, with front and rear crumple zones built into the chassis, plus reinforced beams in doors, and daytime running lamps.
Riders up front sit on comfortable reclining bucket seats separated by a console with twin cupholders and storage recesses for gear. The rear bench, which folds flat in the two-door convertible when not needed for passengers to make more storage space, provides 52.6 inches of shoulder room for two riders. In the four-door hardtop version, the rear seatback splits but also folds flat to the floor.
Conveniences range from air conditioning to stereo sound and complete instruments including tachometer. Options extend to four-wheel anti-lock brakes, a CD deck and skid plates for serious off-road work.
The bottom line on new Tracker ZR2 begins at $20,550.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2001 CHEVROLET TRACKER Specs |
| Description: |
Compact sport-utility wagon |
| Model Options: |
Compact sport-utility wagon |
| Trim Options: |
2-door: Tracker, ZR2 4-door: Tracker, ZR2, LT |
| Wheelbase: |
2-door: 86.6 inches 4-door: 97.6 inches |
| Overall Length: |
2-door 2WD: 151.6 inches, 2-door 4WD: 151.8 inches, 4-door 2WD: 162.6 inches, 4-door 4WD: 162.8 inches |
| Engine Size: |
2-door: SOHC 2.0-L I4 4-door: SOHC 2.0-L I4 SOHC 2.5-L V6 |
| Transmission: |
I4: Manual/5, Auto/4 V6: Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Rear 2WD, 4WD |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS opt. |
| Airbags: |
2 (front) |
| Gross Weight: |
I4 2WD: 3483 pounds, I4 4WD: 3593 pounds, V6 2WD: 3814 pounds, V6 4WD: 3924 pounds |
| Towing Capacity: |
I4 2WD: 1000 pounds, I4 4WD: 1000 pounds, V6 2WD: 1500 pounds, V6 4WD: 1500 pounds |
| Gas Mileage: |
I4 2WD M/5: 23/26 mpg, I4 2WD A/4: 23/25 mpg, I4 4WD M/5: 23/26 mpg, I4 4WD A/4: 23/25 mpg, V6 2WD A/4: 19/21 mpg, V6 4WD A/4: 18/20 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 15,235 to $ 22,950 |
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