The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison is the biggest the brand has ever gone with its midsize truck, chucking an enormous amount of off-road equipment at the platform to the degree that it compromises the vehicle’s ability to actually be a pickup. We didn’t engage low range in our time with the ZR2 Bison, but we did spend some time blasting down unpaved roads when not using it as a daily driver (I.e., how most owners will).

(While we did subject this vehicle to our regular routine, we didn’t drive it enough to warrant  full-fledged, traditional review. What follows is a quick rundown of what can be deduced from our time with it.)

Let’s focus on the hardware side of the ZR2 as it’s the physical equipment that matters most here. All ZR2s get a 3” lift over the base Colorado height, Multimatic suspension, front and rear locking differentials, and the 2.7L TurboMax engine (which makes 310 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque). Chevy’s collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) gives the ZR2 bonus features in the form of heavy duty front and rear bumpers, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, 35” Goodyear Wrangler Territory M/T tires, boron steel skid plates, rock sliders, and a bed-mounted tire carrier (since the spare no longer fits under the truck). Most of the other tidbits that come along with the AEV moniker is purely aesthetic or for the purpose of fancying up the place, though it’s worth noting that the increase in off-road hardware results in a decrease in both payload and towing capacities (down to 1,050 and 5,500 pounds, respectively).

While the ZR2 presents a reasonable value proposition in the midsize pickup realm with its $46,800 starting MSRP, the ZR2 Bison seen here comes in at a pricey $64,730 (of which $11,700 is the Bison package alone). It’s a hefty price for what is largely capable via the aftermarket, though the backing of a factory warranty on a midsize GM pickup that has 35” tires and lockers is a solid proposition, even if the price is high enough to scare away most buyers. Here’s some of our thoughts after spending a week with the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison.

Yay

Near-unmatched off-road capability for a stock midsize pickup; good road manners for a vehicle on 35” tires; ride quality is decent given the suspension; midsize truck size with fullsize truck presence; turbo noises galore; factory warranty to back what would be aftermarket upgrades

Nay

Bed-mounted spare tire hampers pickup usability; rearward visibility is pitiful due to location of spare tire (a digital rearview camera should really be included for the price); passenger seat lacks power and lumbar adjustment; poor gas mileage (13.5 MPG indicated over our loan); engine feels out of place given the vehicle’s price tag and persona

The Takeaway

Easily one of the most off-road capable factory-built vehicles on sale today, let alone in the midsize pickup segment, the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison is a fantastic effort in the way it integrates hardcore four-wheel-drive components and upgrades into a still-usable-every-day package, though the experience is let down by an underwhelming engine and some sub-optimal packaging decisions.