View Photos of the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison

The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, modified by the off-road specialists at AEV, is made for off-road adventuring. If you can't have fun with this fortified mid-size pickup, you're doing it wrong.

The Bison is mechanically similar to the regular Chevy Colorado ZR2, but is fitted with unique styling touches and burlier bumpers and underbody protection from American Expedition Vehicles (AEV).

Both of Chevy's ZR2 engine choices are available on the Bison: the standard 308-hp 3.6-liter V-6 makes good all-around power and is better suited to open, high-speed terrain, while the optional, 186-hp 2.8-liter turbo-diesel inline-four is more fuel-efficient and excels at rock crawling.

Weighing 4955 pounds, our ZR2 Bison crew cab test truck reached 60 mph in a decent 7.0 seconds flat.

The Bison's AEV-designed heavy-duty steel front bumper with an integrated mount for a winch is one of its key upgrades.

Yes, the Bison can jump, and the ZR2's upgraded suspension means it can land in one piece from low altitudes.

While not as capable over open terrain at high speeds as Ford's F-150 Raptor, the ZR2 Bison is smaller and easier to wield, making it a better pick for narrower, technical trails.

AEV's heavy-duty boron-steel skid plates that protect the underside of the ZR2 Bison are thinner than traditional stamped-steel pieces, yet are stronger and more resistant to gouging.

The Bison upgrade is a $5750 option package on both the extended- and crew-cab 2019 Colorado ZR2, with installation handled at the truck's assembly line in Wentzville, Missouri.

The Colorado ZR2 is the only truck that General Motors makes with both front and rear locking differentials, which lend the Bison excellent off-road traction for climbing over rocks and up steep inclines.

The Bison upgrade adds roughly 200 pounds to the curb weight of a Colorado ZR2.

Although less exciting than a more powerful engine or fancier suspension setup, the Bison's enhancements to the ZR2 help ensure that the truck makes it back from gnarly off-road adventures.

Insert joke about the Bison marking its territory here.

As with the standard ZR2, Chevrolet will sell you a spare-tire mount for the Colorado's cargo box if you're worried about damaging the spare on the trails. It just severely limits the bed's usefulness.

The snorkel intake on our test truck is not yet available through GM, but AEV will sell you one for $495.

Among the Bison's AEV bits are dark-finished 17-inch wheels wrapped with 31-inch-tall, 265/65R-17 Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires–the same as the standard ZR2.

Like the standard ZR2, the Bison's stance is 3.5 inches wider than a regular Colorado 4x4 and rides roughly two inches taller.

Along with the Bison's functional upgrades, AEV's aesthetic tweaks to the ZR2 are handsome yet reserved.

A new, AEV-designed steel rear bumper protect the Bison's tail and pairs nicely with the burly front bumper.

Like the ZR2, the Bison's spool-valve dampers from Multimatic work through 8.6 inches of front suspension travel and 10.0 inches at the rear.

The ZR2's lower rear shock mounts, being the lowest-hanging part on the truck, will likely be what causes the Bison to get hung up when climbing over obstacles.

The ZR2 Bison's interior is essentially the same as a regular Colorado's, which is to say functional and pleasant enough.

AEV-embroidered front seats bring a subtle extra touch to the Bison's cabin.