The 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison is a better, higher-riding version of the regular ZR2. The Bison has 35-inch off-road tires and Multimatic hydraulic bump brakes to soften hard landings. The cow-themed truck also has more giant fender flares, AEV steel bumpers, and a spare tire carrier on the bed. We will do it. Now is when people use pickup trucks the most. Automakers are spending a lot of money on off-road versions of their cars, which adds to the wide range of options they already have, such as small, electric, and luxury cars. The mid-size segment is most likely the most competitive, as Ford, GM, and Toyota have just released new versions of their own cars. Before the dust settles, the bow-tie brand is coming out with the 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison, which is bigger and better. Chevy has already shown us the range for the 2023 Colorado, and we’ve had a chance to test-drive the ZR2. The Bison is like a ZR2 but stronger. Chevy has made Colorados with animal themes in the past. The previous generation ZR2 was also offered in a “Bison” trim, which came with wheels, badging, steel bumpers, and skid plates that were only available for that trim from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV). The ’24 Colorado ZR2 Bison still has improvements made by AEV, such as more giant fender flares, a full-width steel front bumper with a place for a winch, and a steel corner plate-equipped back bumper. There are five skid plates made of boron steel under the car. The standard ZR2 only has three metal plates. The Bison’s extra protection for the fuel tank and rear differential will make drivers feel safer on rough ground. There is also a set of steel rock rails. The most exciting thing about the show is the Bison’s feet. Chevy goes from LT315/70R-17 to 35 inches for the Goodyear Wrangler Territory Mud-Terrain tire size. The only other car with a bow-tie badge and 35s from the factory is the Colorado ZR2 Bison, only available on the heavy-duty Silverado 2500HD ZR2. The regular ZR2 and the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor have 33-inch wheels, which is more significant than any other mid-size car. Chevy had to make the front panels of the ZR2 more comprehensive to make room for the 35s. The front axle of third-generation Colorado was moved forward 3.1 inches to fit the bigger tires. A company representative told Car & Driver that the main reason for the stretch was to check 35-inch tires. The front and back tracks of the Bison are almost an inch wider than those of a regular ZR2. The Bison is 1.5 inches taller than its cousin because it has bigger tires and a small suspension lift. The Bison Can Jump The Multimatic spool-valve shocks used in the Bison are similar to those used in the regular ZR2, but they have been changed to take into account the extra weight of the truck. Chevy says that the Bison weighs about 300 pounds more than the Elk. We thought it would be different after seeing a prototype in the Nevada desert, but it has the same front travel of 9.9 inches and rear travel of 11.6 inches. The Bison has 12.2 inches of ground clearance, 1.5 inches more than the regular ZR2. The Bison has a more significant break-over angle (26.9 degrees vs. 24.8 degrees) and departure angle (26.0 degrees vs. 25.2), but the AEV bumper lowers its approach angle from 38.6 degrees to 38.2 degrees. In our review of specs, you can see how the base ZR2 stacks up against the Ranger Raptor and the Tacoma TRD Pro. The hydraulic front and back bump stop on the Colorado ZR2 Bison, which Multimatic also makes, take this vehicle to the next level of off-road craziness. Chevy calls them “Jounce Control Dampers,” they are made to stand up to the roughness of going off-road. If one of the Bison’s tires goes flat, a full-size, 35-inch spare tire is in the luggage bed. The spare tire carrier on the new truck is at the front of the five-foot-two-inch box instead of in the middle, where it was on the old truck, which also had a spare tire in the bed. Even though the new place may seem less attractive, most of the truck bed’s functional space is still there. Still basically a ZR2 Unfortunately, the Bison’s powertrains do not improve because of the facelift. It has the same 2.7-liter four-cylinder high-output turbocharged engine as the regular ZR2, which makes 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque (on 87-octane fuel, mind you). The car must also have an automatic gearbox with eight speeds, all-wheel drive, and electronic locking differentials in the front and back. The Bison can pull up to 5500 pounds, which is 500 pounds less than the ZR2, and it can carry up to 1050 pounds, 230 pounds less than the ZR2. The Bison’s inside is almost the same as the normal ZR2’s. The only change is that the AEV logo is stitched into the headrests and floor mats. The only other things that both cars have in common are a fully digital gauge cluster and an 11.3-inch tablet with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that can be used without a cable. Standard driving aids include automatic emergency braking, high beams that turn on automatically, and help to stay in your lane. Adaptive speed control is an extra feature. The 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison production is scheduled for the third quarter of this year, and orders will begin in the fall. Chevy says the price will be announced closer to the truck’s release date, but we fully expect the Bison to cost more than $60,000.
