The battle for the best midsize off-roader just keeps heating up. Briefly overshadowed by the announcement of the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor and 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, Chevy has muscled its way back into the spotlight with the all-new 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison. The Bison has been a favorite of off-road enthusiasts since it first hit the market in 2019, but it disappeared from the Colorado option list when Chevy’s midsize pickup was redesigned for 2023. Now, the beast is back, and it has built on its tried and true formula by going big––35 inches, to be precise.
The Bison builds on the features of the already-capable Colorado ZR2. Originally introduced on the 2017 Colorado before spreading to the Silverado 1500 and Silverado 2500, the base ZR2 trim includes a wider stance, Multimatic DSSV dampers, front and rear locking differentials, and numerous other adventure-ready upgrades. However, Chevy decided that wasn’t enough and worked with the aftermarket parts manufacturer American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to develop the Bison package. This upgrade gives you a bunch of common off-road mods straight from the factory, including steel skid plates, steel bumpers, and upgraded wheels and tires.
The Biggest Tires Ever
For 2024, the Colorado ZR2 Bison builds on this proven formula but has cranked things up a notch to compete with the new Ranger Raptor and Tacoma TRD Pro. Although it doesn’t include any engine upgrades and is still down on power compared to the new halo trucks from Ford and Toyota, the revised Bison package has plenty to offer when the trails get tough. The most obvious upgrade is the new 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory mud-terrain tires––the largest in the segment and a significant step up from the 33-inch tires on the Ranger Raptor and TRD Pro (and the standard Colorado ZR2).
Those bigger tires lay the foundation for best-in-class off-road performance, giving the new Bison a full 12.2 inches of ground clearance. That’s over half an inch more than you will find on the Jeep Gladiator Mojave, which comes in second at 11.6 inches. While the Mojave maintains its best-in-class approach angle of 44.7 degrees, the ZR2 Bison isn’t far behind at 38.2 degrees and has better breakover and departure angles. When compared to trucks that aren’t based on military vehicles, Chevy’s new off-roader is the clear winner. For instance, the new Tacoma TRD Pro only has 11.1 inches of ground clearance and a 33.8-degree approach angle.
Ready to Compete
In addition to the massive tires, the 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison has all the goodies you’d expect from a Chevy-AEV collaboration. A full set of boron-steel skid plates and rocker protection will keep your truck in one piece when even 12.2 inches of ground clearance isn’t enough, while heavy-duty bumpers will support a winch and let you plow through obstacles. The 35-inch tires are supported by beadlock-capable wheels, and the spare tire has been moved to an easily-accessible bed-mounted tire carrier. Inside the cab, you will find unique AEV badging, including a rampaging bison embroidered on the headrests.
When the Colorado ZR2 Bison first hit the market just four years ago, it was a one-of-a-kind truck that had no real competition. Today, the second-generation Bison has to stand out in a market filled with high-performance options. However, despite competing for attention with rivals like the Ford Ranger Raptor, Toyota TRD Pro, and Jeep Gladiator Mojave, Chevy’s updated entry into the field is more compelling than ever and has gone further to differentiate itself. Now it is time to see how well it will stand up once it leaves the starting line and hits the real world.
