Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison Named Overland Truck Of The Year

Overland Journal recently announced the winner of its first Overland Truck of the Year award, handing the accolade to the venerable Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. The pumped-up pickup bested a number of strong rivals to win the award, including the Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Jeep Gladiator, and Ford Ranger.

The Overland Journal test regimen involved thousands of miles behind the wheel, both on and off-road, as well as considerations for reliability, capability, durability, payload, and even efficiency. Unsurprisingly, the outlet considers the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison to be “one of the most exceptional overland trucks ever sold in North America.”

“Just a list of its features makes it the truck we always wanted, only better,” writes Overland Journal editor Scott Brady. “It is available with a small-displacement turbo-diesel, front and rear locking differentials, a winch-ready steel front bumper, steel rear bumper with 1/4 panel protection, full-length rock sliders, and class-leading suspension. It checks all the boxes.”

For reference, the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison was produced in collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) as an extreme off-road variant of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 off-road pickup, and comes equipped with a long list of features specifically catering to those that prefer dirt to pavement.

Under the hood, the Bison is equipped with either the 3.6L LGZ V6 gas engine, which produces 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, or the torque-tastic 2.8L LWN inline four-cylinder turbo-diesel, which makes 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Under the skin is the GMT 31XX platform, the same bones as the GMC Canyon‘s.

Offered as a production variant of the 2017 Colorado ZR2 AEV concept, the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison is an options package available exclusively for the Colorado ZR2. Production takes place at the GM Wentzville factory in Missouri by GM USA.

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