2022 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison
2022 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison – Introduced in 2019, the Colorado ZR2 Bison was designed in collaboration with Chevrolet and American expeditionary vehicles.
The Colorado ZR2 Bison competition includes Ford Ranger, Jeep Gladiator, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Honda Ridgeline.
2022 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison
Off-Road Equipment at The Colorado ZR2 Bison Includes:
- Five skid plates to help protect engine oil containers, fuel tanks, transfer boxes, and front and rear locking differences.
- Designed by AEV, this skid plate is made of rugged, durable heat-resistant boron steel.
- Steel front and rear bumpers stamped with AEV design; the front bumper also features an aftermarket winch supply.
- Large fender flare and dedicated 17×8 inch aluminum wheel ZR2 Bison.
- Electronic differential locking front and rear.
- Revolutionary DSSV ™ Multimatic Reducer.
- Cast-iron control arm for exceptional strength.
- Factory modified rear axles with a ratio of 3.42, front and rear tracks widened 3.5 inches, and a factory suspension lifted 2 inches above the Colorado Z71.
- A 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel is available paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, capable of producing 186 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.
In 2018, Chevy teamed up with the American Expedition Vehicle (AEV) offroad aftermarket tuner to create a more hardcore version, and the demand has never stopped.
All 2,000 units were rapidly selling out in 2019, and both Chevy and AEV plan to increase production by 2020, and we expect it to continue until 2022.
We don’t have exact figures, but the GM Authority claims ZR2 Bisons spend very little time at many dealerships. In the last month, units left many on average just 33 days after initial arrival. The average industry standard is 60 days for all new vehicles.
Even during pandemics, when jobs have been lost and consumers are forced to tighten their belts, the desire for American trucks remains more vital than ever.
In the case of ZR2 Bison, this also applies to unique models. However, AEV has done an excellent job of making medium-sized trucks designed for severe off-roading even better.
2022 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison Specs
Upgraded off-road accessories include five skid plates, steel front, and rear bumpers, ZR2 Bison custom 17-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratec off-road tires, wheel moldings, fog lights, and AEV embroidered headrests.
The ZR2’s 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine with 186 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque and six-speed automatic transmission remains untouched.
2022 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison Price
Prices start at $48,000, a pretty good offer given the truck’s capabilities. The AEV CEO, knowing that total demand remains high, has previously stated he is cautious about building too many units for fear of too many models not being sold by the end of the year.
Unfortunately, Chevy combines the ZR2 and ZR2 Bison sales, making it impossible to get the exact sales details.
As far as current information is concerned, the Bison package will continue for the 2022 model year. Significant updates should occur soon, and with it, hopefully, the extension of the AEV partnership.
2022 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison Exterior
5 Things That Make The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Better Than The Ford Raptor
The turbocharged Raptor has the most power, the most gears, the most wheel travel, the most ground clearance, and the largest tire in its class. What’s more, it just looks terrible. This is a truck traveling at 100 mph through 100 miles of desert.
But there is a new challenger, a challenger who deserves to be called the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. Engineers at Chevy General Motor’s division didn’t just dump a ride and a few 31-inch tires in Colorado and go here and there. They got it right, adding a wider track, more extended suspension travel, and an impressive surprise package.
The Colorado ZR2 is so good that we can identify five ways better than the Raptor on and off the road.
1. ZR2 Smaller
In the case of trucks, more minor is rarely considered better. But if you’ve done a severe off-road, then you know size isn’t always your friend on the road. The full-size Ford Raptor is slightly larger than the medium-sized Chevy Colorado ZR2.
A glimpse of the dimensions tells the story. The large and destructive Raptor is 2.4 inches wider and 6.3 inches taller than the ZR2. It’s also up to 31 inches long. Weighing 5,700 pounds, it exceeds a small Chevy by at least 700 pounds.
On the off-road, that means a lighter Colorado can run where the larger Raptors can’t. In inner-city driving, the ZR2 is easier to park, easier to use, and fits in all parking structures – which the Raptor doesn’t have.
2. ZR2 Has Diesel Options
If you want the most power, buy Raptor. The twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 engine produces 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet torque.
The ZR2 comes standard with the same natural 3.6-liter aspirated V6 engine in Camaro sports cars, with 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque.
What if you want diesel? Check out the options sheet, and you’ll see the ZR2 is also available with a 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine. The turbocharged four-cylinder has 186 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.
It costs an additional $3,500, but the fuel-saving benefits are material. And with the low sound of diesel – maximum torque at just 2,000 rpm – the ZR2 climbs the ramp like a tractor.
3. The ZR2 Gets Better Fuel Economy
Even with the standard 8-speed V6 and automatic transmissions, the smaller, lighter ZR2 can produce a gallon of fuel farther than the Raptor. The Environmental Protection Agency ranks Chevy at 16 mpg for driving in the city and 18 mpg on highways.
Not surprisingly, the ZR2 diesel is entirely away from Ford’s V6 in this department. Despite its 6-speed automatic transmission, the ZR2 with Duramax has a 19 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. And in recent real-world testing, we produced an average of 22 mpg in a 300-mile hybrid drive, including a few hours off-road.
The turbocharged Raptor, which has a 10-speed automatic transmission, is at 15 mpg city and 18 mpg. That’s impressive for a truck of this size and power. But to get close to the fuel mileage rating, you have to avoid the boost.
4. ZR2 has Differential Front Locking
Ford equips the Raptor with an electronically locked rear differential, and you can pay an extra $ 500 for the optional limited-slip Torsen front differential.
The ZR2 is the only medium-sized truck with an electronically locked front and rear differential. Both are standard. The only other truck with this feature is the Ram 2500 Power Wagon.
Front and rear lockers may not sound like a big deal, but off-road fans will tell you that the ability to lock and send power to both front wheels will keep you out of many unwanted situations.
5. Lower ZR2 Cost
The ZR2 package is above the Z71 trim level in medium-sized Colorado pickups. Chevy offers the ZR2 in two configurations: an Extended Cab with a 6-foot bed; and a Crew Cabin with four full-size doors and a 5-foot bed.
For Extended Cab, prices start at $40,995, including $995 for the purpose. Crew Cab starts at $42,620. That’s about $5,000 more than the Colorado Z71, but if you plan to take the truck off-road, it’s worth it.
The SuperCab Raptor base fare is $52,375, including $1,295 for the purpose. That’s $11,000 more than the ZR2 base. Jump into SuperCrew, and you’ll get $54,065. Load with options and Raptor can exceed $70,000.
Tick all the option boxes on the ZR2, including diesel, style bars, and bed-mounted spare tire carriers, and you’ll touch $50,000. It’s not a bad thing for a capable truck, especially one that can steal a lot of lightning from an off-road pickup king.
