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It was not that long ago when Off Road Xtreme got to experience the 2023 Colorado test drive. This opportunity included the ZR2 model which was awesome. The all-new Colorado is a terrific platform and we are excited about the truck’s potential. Speaking of potential, Chevrolet and Advanced Expedition Vehicles (AEV) just debuted specifications on the 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison.
Front 3/4 view of the Colorado ZR2 Bison with headlights on and mountains in the background.
The vehicle’s performance and rugged capabilities are what really make the 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison special. Not to mention it comes factory equipped with beefy 35-inch tires and a wazoo assortment of five skid plates. And of course, the truck was thoroughly tested and proven by off-road racing champion Chad Hall in competition as well as underwent severe testing on the Rubicon Trail.
We can remember when Chevrolet first introduced the Colorado ZR2 AEV concept Bison on the second-generation platform back in 2017. The 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison is a whole other animal, and we want to pull back the skin to see what this machine is made of.
What Makes The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison Special?
Chevrolet calls the ll- new 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison America’s ultimate off-road beast, and here is why. Built to conquer any terrain, the Bison is loaded with AEV off-road enhancements to enable even higher levels of performance and extreme capability.
Ultra-wide track width and ultra-high, best-in-class 12.2 inches of ground clearance are the distinguished features here. Compared to the ZR2, the Bison gets 2-inch taller tires, sits 1.5 inches taller, and has better departure and breakover angles. Besides the high-performance Multimatic DSSV dampers equipped on the ZR2 chassis, the Colorado Bison features segment-exclusive front and rear jounce control dampers. This makes for a huge uncompromised suspension upgrade that benefits both on and off-road.
What Else is the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison Packing?
- AEV heavy-duty winch-capable front bumper
- AEV rear bumper and AEV fender flares
- AEV 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels with segment-exclusive 35-inch OD Mud/Terrain tires
- Boron steel skid plates and rocker protectors contribute to best-in-class underbody protection
- Best-in-class approach angle (38.2 degrees), departure angle (26 degrees), and breakover angle (26.9 degrees)
- Standard 2.7L Turbo High-Output powertrain
- Power-locking front and rear differentials
- Multimatic DSSV dampers and the ZR2 chassis
- Best-in-class ground clearance of 12.2 inches
- Racing-inspired spare tire carrier and spray-on bedliner
- “Flowtie” front badge and Bison exterior identification
- Interior distinction with AEV badge on the front headrests and all-weather floor liners
ZR2 Versus ZR2 Bison Chassis And Suspension
| Front Suspension: | Independent coil-over-shock with Multimatic DSSV dampers; Multimatic Jounce Control Dampers on Bison |
| Rear Suspension: | Solid axle with semi-elliptic two-stage multi-leaf springs and Multimatic DSSV dampers; Multimatic Jounce Control Dampers on Bison |
| Rear axle: | Power-locking front and rear differentials |
| Steering Type: | Electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion |
| Brake Type: | Power-assisted four-wheel discs with Duralife™ long-life brake rotors; standard ABS; hill descent control |
| Wheel Size: | 17 x 8-in. aluminum (ZR2) 17 x 8.5-in. aluminum (ZR2 Bison) |
| Tire Size: | LT285/70R17 MT – 33-in. OD (ZR2) LT315/70R17 MT – 35-in. OD (ZR2 Bison) |
Rear 3/4 view of the Colorado ZR2 Bison with a spare tire in the carrier in the bed of the truck.
ZR2 Versus ZR2 Bison Exterior Dimensions
| Wheelbase (in. / mm): | 131 / 3338 |
| Overall Length (in. / mm): | 212.7 / 5402 – ZR2 214.1 / 5437 – ZR2 Bison |
| Overall Width (in. / mm): | 84.4 / 2144 (with mirrors) 80.2 / 1938 (without mirrors) |
| Overall Height (in. / mm): | 81.8 / 2078 |
| Track (in. / mm): | 66.3 / 1684 (front) 66.3 / 1684 (rear) |
| Ground Clearance (in. / mm): | 10.7 / 272 – ZR2 12.2 / 311 – ZR2 Bison |
| Approach Angle (deg.): | 38.6 – ZR2 38.2 – ZR2 Bison |
| Departure Angle (deg.): | 25.2 – ZR2 26.0 – ZR2 Bison |
| Breakover Angle (deg.): | 24.8 – ZR2 26.9 – ZR2 Bison |
What Else Has AEV Been Up T0?
This special project marks another successful venture between American Expedition Vehicles and its OEM partners. Most recently, several other AEV collaborations were revealed. The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 Bison is a first for GM to issue an AEV package on the full-size platform. Not to ignore the GMC twin, the 2024 GMC Sierra HD AT4X now offers an AEV Edition. The AEV Prospector XL Tray Bed Adventure Rig made a limited-run comeback. And the AEV Level II Package integration on 20th Anniversary Edition Jeep Wrangler Rubicons was also a big deal!
Some of the recent AEV vehicle collaborations.
The Mid-Size Truck Game Is Strong!
What a time to be alive! Who would have ever thought the mid-size truck wars would be a thing in this day and age? There are even rumors of a RAM mid-size truck player jumping in at some point. Not only that, but we have the major OEMs producing potent off-road variants in the form of ZR2, Raptor, and TRD Pro. It appears the 2023 and 2024 truck models have been what we were waiting for!
