GM

2026 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison

Ready to redefine your off-road experience? The 2026 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison AEV Edition isn't just a truck; it's a meticulously crafted machine, engineered to dominate the most challenging terrains. A collaboration between Chevrolet and American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), this truck represents the pinnacle of off-road capability and unwavering durability. AEV's specialized enhancements elevate the Colorado ZR2 to a new level.

This collaboration signifies a commitment to providing drivers with a vehicle that conquers anything. The 2026 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison AEV Edition ensures every journey, on or off-road, is met with confidence.

Whether you’re an animal lover or not, you have to feel a little sorry for the bison. After all, they’ve been mistakenly called buffalos for hundreds of years. Well, here at MotorWeek, we know a bison when we see one and we’re ready to do some roaming in this beefy brute from Chevrolet.

We tested Chevrolet’s midsize Colorado pickup back in ’23 when this third gen kicked off; and while it was the toughest Colorado yet, people always want more, so Chevrolet is once again teaming up with American Expedition Vehicles to offer a Bison package for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado.

In similar fashion to the Silverado and Silverado HD Bisons we’ve tested in recent years, it’s all about turning the already-capable Chevy pickups into off-road beasts. That includes adding heavy duty bumpers, fender flares, 17-inch beadlock wheels with 35-inch Good Year Wrangler mud terrain tires, multiple Boron steel skid plates, rocker protectors, front and rear locking differentials, and a massive 12.2-inches of ground clearance thanks to Multimatic Jounce Control Dampers. There’s also a spray-on bedliner and a bed-mounted spare tire carrier that does a great job of keeping you from seeing anything with your rearview mirror. If there was ever a GM vehicle that needed their rear camera mirror, this would be the one.

Not surprisingly when bringing things to a halt in our braking runs, there was a lot of nosedive, but the tires were definitely providing serious grip. Just 103 feet on average was needed from 60-0. Things were not so settled in our handling course however, with extreme body roll and tire flex, but safety systems are in place to keep you and this beast under control.

Of course, the Bison is much more in its element when the pavement ends. While it’s certainly suitable for rock crawling, and even navigating trails where full-size rigs would be too wide, where it really excels is in high-speed off-road runs with those upgraded dampers soaking up big bumps and ruts like a sponge.

No major departures inside this ZR2, just some AEV logos applied and sturdy floor-mats added. That means up front it remains a comfortable, roomy and tech heavy driving experience, while the rear seat situation is not nearly as roomy or comfortable. Sixteen is the number to remember when it comes to Government Fuel Economy, as that covers city, highway, and combined ratings. Our mileage loop as well, 16.2 mpg on Regular. That’s a much worse than average Energy Impact Score, with 18.6 barrels of annual oil consumption and 9.3 tons of CO2 emissions.

To reach the summit of Colorado’s macho mountain, start by selecting a ZR2 for $52,595, then add the Bison Edition package at $11,700, for a total of $64,295. To keep that figure in perspective, you could easily spend much more than that on a pickup truck that’s nowhere near as adept or tough looking as this one. So, if you’re looking to venture into some new territory in the most capable midsize pickup on the market, head to the Chevy dealer where the 2026 Colorado Bison roam.

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