The innovative and capable ZR2 namesake is now returning to the third-generation Colorado and has its rebellious and thrill-seeking eyes on the Ford Ranger Raptor and incoming Toyota TRD Pro. Starting with the expert and back-country knowledgeable AEV Outfitter’s expertise, the Colorado ZR2 is amazing at outperforming the competition courtesy of class-leading ground clearance and class-exclusive 35-inch tires.
Multimatic dynamic spool valve DSSV dampers offer highly repeatable and consistent characteristics that also bring amazingly enhanced tunability to the table. The Carbuzz.com auto review experts spent a crevice and ravine-conquering week with the ZR2 Bison this spring and first off remarked at just how amazed they were with its ability to dominate many challenging types of terrain. Their tester was painted in a bee-keeping & boisterous Nitro Yellow, with its presence being smartly announced with its 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels.
These are snugly wrapped in 35-inch Goodyear Territory Mud-Terrain Tires, which you’ll only spot elsewhere on tough-terrain titans such as the Jeep Gladiator. Boron skid plates and rocker protectors, AEV bumpers, wider fender flares, and Chevy’s “Flowtie” badge are a few of the other unique and obstacle-inclined additions to the mix. There’s also a full-size spare tire mounted in the bed, prepped and fully ready for any unexpected punctures not aligned with your plan! The tall proportions enjoyed with the Bison’s secure build provide some of the best clearances for off-roading in the entire segment.
There’s now an extra 1.5 healthy and much-needed inches of ground clearance from the standard ZR2, along with a 38.2-degree approach angle and 26.9-degree breakover. These steep-incline-ready stats healthily beat out the Gladiator Rubicon and Mojave minus their own AEV suspension and tires. The ZR2 comes very well-equipped in its standard form, with a few optional extras that add a luxury touch to the rock-conquering excitement. You can add perforated leather as part of a ZR2 Convenience Package III, which automatically adds the Safety Package by default.
This offers the watchful high-tech eyes of a rear armrest, driver seat memory, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless charger along with blind-zone steering assist and rear cross-traffic braking. The on-board technology is top-notch offering an 11.3-inch touchscreen as standard across the range, which is powered by Google. This is the base of operations for the HD Surround Vision camera system, which features a built-in camera underneath the truck. There’s even a sweet built-in washer to eliminate any mud you may pick up on the lens while conquering the nearest outdoor playground.
The 61.7-inch bed is comparable to other trucks in the mid-size segment, with its summer-ready towing capacity rated at 6,000 lbs. Th
e payload for the ZR2 trim is 1,423 lbs, and the engine arrives at the plateau with a unique and throaty growl that is very impressive for a 4-cylinder. As this crew had unfortunately misjudged a narrow trail covered with mud from the previous night’s rain, the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison confidently trudged forward with ease!
