The mid-size Chevrolet Colorado has a lot to offer for potential pickup buyers. And the off-roading ZR2 and ZR2 Bison trims make a Ford F-150 Raptor arguably unnecessary. But while the Colorado offers good towing capacity and fuel efficiency, its V6 can leave some owners wanting more power. The aftermarket has thankfully responded. Both Lingenfelter and Mallett Performance offer supercharger kits for V6-equipped Colorado’s. But now, Lingenfelter’s supplier Edelbrock has stepped in to compete as well. And as Truck Trend reports, the Edelbrock-supercharged Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 may make a V8 option utterly pointless.

Edelbrock Supercharger Kit Details

Edelbrock doesn’t just bolt a supercharger to the engine and calls it a day. In addition to the powder-coated supercharger, the company fits an air-to-water intercooler. This cools the inlet air for more reliable, less destructive performance. The supercharger also includes an integrated bypass valve to control airflow, which keeps fuel efficiency losses low. The kit also includes the necessary belts, hoses, and other such components.

Edelbrock claims the kit can boost the 3.6-liter V6 from 308 hp and 275 lb-ft to 345 hp and 306 lb-ft. Please note, Chevrolet’s figures are measured at the engine, and Edelbrock’s are at the rear wheels. Edelbrock claims that, if measured at the engine, the supercharger kit would boost power by 24%.

To help reduce worries over long-term reliability, Edelbrock offers the kit with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. The supercharger’s self-contained oiling system doesn’t have to be serviced for 100,000 miles. And the entire package is emissions-legal in all 50 states—even the V6’s cylinder-deactivation system still works.

Edelbrock-Supercharged Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Compared to the Competition

Despite Lingenfelter using an Edelbrock supercharger to create the ZR2-L, the Michigan tuner claims its kit can put out more power. Company owner Ken Lingenfelter claims the ZR2-L is capable of 443 hp ‘at the crank’, or roughly 44% more powerful than stock. Although significantly more powerful than Edelbrock’s claim, Lingenfelter has not revealed details about their kit’s cooling upgrades.

Mallett Performance claims its kit offers a better chance at long-term reliability than Lingenfelter’s. Although the Mallett supercharger is the same type as Lingenfelter’s, the North Carolina tuner uses a different sourcing company. The Mallett kit is good for a claimed 361 hp and 332 lb-ft at the rear wheels, which is also more than Edelbrock’s. But like Edelbrock, Mallett also upgrades the stock engine’s cooling system to compensate for the supercharger.

However, Edelbrock’s kit is significantly cheaper than either two.

Edelbrock Pricing and Performance

Lingenfelter hasn’t released ZR2-L pricing yet. Mallett’s kit is available for $7200. Edelbrock’s kit, on the other hand, rings in at just under $5,000.

Edelbrock’s kit can be fitted to any 2017-2020 Chevrolet Colorado, ZR2 or not, with the V6 engine. The V6 in previous model years had a different engine block, and Edelbrock doesn’t offer a kit for it (yet). It is worth noting that Mallett Performance’s supercharger kit has been offered since 2015.

In their road test, Truck Trend noted that the Edelbrock kit noticeably improved the engine’s pulling power, especially when trying to merge and pass. The supercharged Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 recorded a combined fuel efficiency of 15.43 mpg. That made it more efficient than the publication’s Ford F-150 Raptor, and only slightly less efficient than a stock ZR2, according to Motor Trend.

Better passing power, with minimal fuel efficiency changes? Who needs a V8?