We’re spending this week with the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. Our unit is powered by the naturally aspirated 3.6L LGZ V6 engine mated to the GM 8-speed automatic transmission, and coated in the gray color called Satin Steel with the Jet Black leather interior.
The Bison is an extreme off-road machine based on the already capable Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, designed for serious off-roading, overlanding and exploration. To achieve this, Chevrolet partnered with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) to add several key parts, creating a unique adventure truck capable of taking on virtually all types of terrain. Our test unit is a Crew Cab, Short Box pickup. Tires are 265/65R17 Goodyear Wrangler all-terrains.
Here’s what the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison adds on top of the “regular” Colorado ZR2:
- CHEVROLET lettered grille
- AEV Front Bumper
- Fog lamps (T3U)
- AEV rear bumper (VHU)
- Wheel Moldings (B7O)
- Front floor liners (CPX)
- Rear floor liners (CPY)
- AEV Embroidered Headrests
- Fuel tank skid plate (PZ9)
- Front skid plate (PZG)
- Off-road rocker panels
- Rear differential skid plate (PZL)
- Transfer case skid plate (PZN)
- 17″ AEV aluminum wheel (RIG)
- 17″ AEV spare wheel (S4M)
The only component missing on our Bison test unit is the available snorkel air intake. We’ll share more information on why that is later, as well as our full take on how this truck performs on and off the road. We’ll even compare it to a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon in the mud, so stay tuned for all the details.
In the meantime, if you’d like to know more about the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison beyond the spec sheet, post your questions in the comments section, and we’ll reply as part of the GM Authority interactive review.
Ready…. set… go!
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Comments
One of the things I wonder about is the tire size ! I own a 2015 Colorado LT 2 wheel drive crew cab long bed and I replaced my tire with four LT 265 70 17 with out a problem ! I did not add any kind of suspension or body lift and here you have a 4×4 with a 2 inch lift and all it has 265-65- 17 tires , It ought to have at list LT 285-70- 17 size tires !
0-60 time?
Didn’t clock it since we’re mostly focussing on off-roading. But it’s a quick truck. GM claims a 0-60 time of 7.2 seconds.
How’s the problematic 8-speed transmission perform?
We didn’t experience many problems with it. As a matter of fact, we actually found it smoother than the ZF unit found in the Gladiator.
I was going to ask about the transmission. I know they made a change to the fluids used for it, does it seem to run smooth? I love the Colorado.
If someone wanted to by a Bison what would you think it’s best use of off-road would be?
I think the Bison is great for people wanting to go out on long adventure road-trips where some of the roads would be rougher than your average gravel road. It’s capable enough to climb through some pretty extreme terrain.
I have the 2019 Bison same as you are testing but with the snorkel. Great truck for the most part. I have driven it off-road in Arizona mountains several times and it does everything almost as good as the 4 Dr Wrangler Rubicons. One negative is forward vision when cresting a hill. There should be a forward vision camera in addition to the rear camera. Interior (dash) could be a little more 21st Century but the Electronic 4WD selector is definitely better than the Jeeps.
Basically it is a ZR2 with better bumpers and skid plates. GM did not really change the suspension.
For the price difference is it worth the cost just for the bolt on parts?
To me it is a great truck but I can get a ZR 2 deal cheaper and just buy the skids my self.
It is not like you get larger tires or more power.
That is just my impression. Not dissing the Bison as it is a good package but is it cost effective if you can do your own work.
As for the transmission. The fluid has taken the many threads on the Colorado forum and made it a rare complInt. Most people are just asking if it is resolved.
I’m moved back to Chevy (19, ZR2. V6, Bison) from two Tacomas (05 and 12 DC, 4WD.TRD-OR), No problem with the items on your list. Things I miss from the Toyotas – in-bed covered storage pockets, 400W inverter (750W would be better), storage behind the rear seat, tracked tie-downs in the bed and HomeLink. I think I’d like to have an electric sliding rear window to go along with the sunroof if that became an option.
My questions/comments are production-related specifically aimed at the Bison. For $50,000 or more, one would expect a few items to be inclusive with the package: 1) Snorkel installed. 2) Transmission skid plate installed. 3) Diesel exhaust tip relocation kit installed. 4) Push-button start.
The snorkel installed at the Dealership level costs $1059. Cutting out a hole in your fender (not primed and painted) and having to re-calibrate the engine seems cheap and of poor quality (chintzy). A fender with the cut-out installed, along with the snorkel, at the production line would solve this issue.
The transmission skid plate installed at the Dealership costs $409. The only skid plate missing, so why would one leave that out of the package?
The diesel exhaust tip relocation kit installed at the Dealership costs $445. The Bison is an off road package, so why wouldn’t this be part of the package also?
A push button start removes the issue of rattling keys when bouncing around the trails.
Other items: Why can’t the 3.0 Duramax diesel be an option (with the 277 HP and 460 Torque) competing with the 2020 Jeep Wrangler diesel engine?
Why can’t Deep woods Green be an optional paint color?
Why do some have chrome “Colorado” lettering on the door panels while others have “Colorado Bison”?
Why can’t a roll bar be another option (along side of the sports bar)?
Can a flip-up license plate holder be installed over the winch kit? Some states (Missouri) have mandatory front license plates.
I agree with David. Also why can’t GM install front seats with better lateral support? Off road driving in the mountains (and most places) produces a lot of bouncing around and a lot of side to side motion. Lots of opportunties for GM to make significant product improvement – but because of their focus on the $$$, they probably will leave a potentially “Great” product in the fair to marginal category.
I get David’s 1,2 and3…but 4 really? A push-button start? Center rear headrest would be more valuable to me for the few times I have a 5th person riding. Cooling seats. A/C vents to the rear cabin area. I’m not usually in stealth mode so rattling keys aren’t an issue for me. I really love the 2020 Bison. I’ve had the snorkel added. I’ve added the transmission skid. I paid a pro to do a screwed up install on the winch kit. So I get to do that myself again now that I have the parts to replace (after the stupid strike), so all I need now is some good weather on the weekend.
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Want to know if 2019 chev colorado has problems
2019 gas or diesel? Gas had some transmission issues that should be resolved by now. Diesel I don’t think had any issues. I love my 2020 ZR2 Bison. Good luck.
I had a steering rack failure but it was replaced and I didn’t have any more issues. Could go anywhere my Jeep Rubicon buddies could go in the AZ mountains. Wonderful performance.