2024 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison Receives AEV Upgrades to Compete Against Ranger and Tacoma

The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado has become even tougher thanks to a new collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles. Chevy will once again offer the ZR2 Bison model with AEV off-road enhancements for the new Colorado that debuted last year. The ZR2 is Chevy's most off-road-ready trim level, and AEV takes it to the next level with the Bison package. The list of off-road upgrades includes Multimatic DSSV dampers, front and rear jounce control dampers, a winch-capable front bumper, locking front and rear differentials, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels with 35-inch mud-terrain tires, and boron steel skid plates.

These massive tires contribute to what Chevy claims are the "best-in-class" approach angle (38.2 degrees), departure angle (26 degrees), and breakover angle (26.9 degrees). Ground clearance is also best-in-class at 12.2 inches. This means that the Colorado ZR2 Bison should have no trouble leaving the Ford Ranger Raptor and Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro stuck on the trail.

However, when it comes to pure power, the Ranger and Tacoma do outmatch the Colorado. AEV doesn't upgrade the engine for the Bison, so it uses the same high-output 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Visually, the Bison stands apart from the standard ZR2 with unique bumpers, fender flares, a "Flowtie" Chevy badge, a racing-inspired spare tire carrier, spray-in bedliner, and Bison badging. The interior features AEV badges on the front headrests and all-weather floor mats. Like other Colorado trims, the ZR2 Bison comes with an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with built-in Wi-Fi, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

Chevy states that the Colorado ZR2 Bison underwent extensive testing by Chad Hall, a champion off-road racer, in both competition and on the challenging Rubicon Trail, which is Jeep's home turf. No pricing details have been provided for the Bison package, but we know that the 2024 Colorado ZR2 is already quite expensive, starting at $48,295. While the Tacoma's cost remains unknown, it's likely that the Bison will be priced similarly to the Raptor, which starts at $55,365.

The Bison was highly sought after in the previous generation, quickly selling out and forcing AEV to increase production. It's unclear if this new model will also be produced in limited numbers, but it's expected to find plenty of eager customers.