It seems like all forms of off-road driving just keep becoming more and more popular, and enthusiasts are either finding and building up older 4X4s, or going straight to new dealer lots for something that’s already tailor-made for tough, demanding trail excursions. Several automakers are cashing in on this demand, and have developed their own fitting in-house variants based on popular models, especially for a 2022 mid-size pickup truck.

The Ford Ranger Tremor is a solid option, with high-quality suspension, added armoring, a lifted-up ride height, and general added ruggedness, to give consumers a solid basis for a fun, stress-free overlanding expedition.

Chevy has a contender to the capable Ford Ranger Tremor that’s a real heavy-hitter as well. Not just due to how it arrives outfitted right off the assembly line, but because the big lug weighs in at an eyebrow-raising 5,200 pounds. The Detroit brand calls it the Colorado ZR2 Bison, and it's been thoroughly gone over by not just Chevy, but also off-roading equipment supplier American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), to bolt together something truly epic in both appearance and driving experience. I recently spent a week with it, and between its optional Duramax diesel engine and comfortable ride over almost any surface you can imagine, it’s quite impressive.

To climb in and take on some rough, black-diamond-trail-worthy terra firma, this Sand Dune Metallic 2022 Chevrolet Colorado 4WD ZR2 Crew Cab Bison comes to a total of $54,940, of which $5,750 is the Bison package, $3,720 goes to the 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine, and a $1,195 destination charge rounds it all out.

Perhaps The Most Off-Road-Focused Exterior On Sale Today

In standard form, the Chevy Colorado ZR2 looks like a plucky mid-size truck that’s rarin’ to take on some trails. Its large fender wells, high ride height, dark trim accents, determined-looking front fascia, 265/65/17 all-terrain tires, and relatively narrow body all make for a solid foundation upon which to base a purposeful off-roader. It looks very athletic, and doesn’t really have a bad angle, either.

Which is why it looks even better after AEV puts their hands on it as part of the Bison package. This plays on the ZR2’s strengths by adding boron steel skid plates, handsome 17-inch dark graphite aluminum wheels, front and rear steel bumpers, more substantial wheel arch flares, and tougher floor liner to put up with more added dirt and mud inside. The whole package looks brilliant, and enables the Colorado to take on some of the toughest terra firma that Mother Nature can throw at it.

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The focused exterior and underbody armor is also reassuring. While the Colorado ZR2 Bison has solid clearances that are ready to accommodate any trail, its overall length is still a bit on the long side compared to a Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler, or other non-truck off-roader. Contacting some dirt after misjudging a climb’s approach angle isn’t as much of a worry - the front bumper and skid plate shrugs it all off with ease.

This doubles as armor against careless drivers, too. Woe betide the motorist who misjudges their car’s dimensions and smacks into the Colorado ZR2 Bison’s rear steel bumper while parallel parking. It’s more of a thick steel tube than a molded bumper, and probably won’t flinch at a substantial bump. There’s a good chance the offender’s front bumper won’t hold up as well.

The Colorado’ No-Frills, Well Laid-Out Interior Is A Nice Place To Be

The Colorado ZR2 Bison’s interior isn’t as focused as its exterior, but it’s still a comfortable, functional place to be. Sliding into the soft, supportive leather front seats, the Colorado’s spacious interior is an airy and comfortable environment, with excellent overall visibility and a basic, no-frills command center. The gauge cluster features the same conservative design that GM’s been throwing on its dashboards for decades, and it’s a welcome sight. If ain’t broke don’t fix it, and if you grew up during the peak era of ‘90s Chevy marketing, when the automaker’s "Like A Rock" commercials permeated through the airwaves, there’s a strong “get in and get it done” vibe to it. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I can’t help but look at the Colorado’s gauge cluster, and not want to trudge through deep sand and mud in slow motion while that classic Bob Seger tune plays.

Related: Everything You Should Know About The Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison

Outside of being overcome with sentimental ‘90s vibes, I found the Colorado’s interior to be very well laid out. Its various drivetrain settings are easy to quickly configure, and the infotainment system is a snap to navigate through and do one’s daily configurations. Apple CarPlay connects and loads up quickly, and such things as navigation and SiriusXM radio are easy to set and customize. Ample, well-laid-out steering wheel controls also ensure that your attention will remain on the road and not trying to decipher dash and infotainment screen prompts.

Interior space is generous, as my six-foot-three figure was quite comfortable in both the front and back seats. Leg and shoulder room was particularly excellent, and headroom was so generous that I found myself cranking the seat up to have a more commanding view of the road, which is quite the rarity. Though, even after doing this, the seat still seemed a bit low in relation to the floor, making me scrunch my knees a tad. For longer trips this wasn’t an issue with the seat pushed a tad further back than usual.

Materials-wise, everything is a tad more substantial in the 2022 Colorado than what I experienced in the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor. Like the Tremor, the Colorado’s interior is no-frills, easy-to-clean and fairly basic, though just barely edges the Ford brand in overall quality. Tapping the dash has more of a substantial thud, and its various buttons and switchgear throughout feel like they’ll have a little more longevity. Bison AEV logos adorn the seats, too, which remind you of this rig’s intentions.

Why Don’t More American Off-Roaders Come With Small Turbo Diesel Engines?

When optioned with the 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine, this mighty little powertrain instantly becomes the 2022 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison Crew Cab’s second-best attribute. While it only produces 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque to haul the truck’s total 5,206 pounds, it does so with far more ease than you’d expect. Its instant torque gets it off the line with so much gusto, on pavement or dirt, that you’d think it was packing an extra hundred or so.

Chevy says it’ll hit the 60 mph mark in 8.2 seconds, which is far from quick. But you’d swear it feels much faster. Perhaps it's the rickety, sprightly diesel soundtrack mixed with some mild notes of whistling turbo that add to the experience, but that time feels at least a second less when you press the gas pedal to the floor. Even if it indeed takes eight-whole-seconds to reach 60, the enormous diesel torque band doubles its likability by offering plenty of passing power on the highway, as the jump from 60 to 80 mph is impressively short for a 2.5-ton truck sporting less than three liters under its massive hood.

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Seriously, why don’t more American off-road pickup trucks and SUVs come with small enthusiastic diesel engines? The instant torque is so nice, and they return impressive fuel economy to boot. Clocking in 300 miles in one day, with a heavy mixture of Los Angeles traffic, higher-speed rural highway runs, and extensive off-roading (more on that later), my average economy never dipped below 19 MPG. Not bad for 5,200-whole-pounds, and nearly right on the money in between its rated 18 MPG city and 22 MPG highway. Plus, it looks like there’s all the room in the world under the hood for ease of maintenance.

The Colorado diesel’s 6-speed auto transmission shifts in a generally smooth and acceptable manner for 2022, too, and while at speed on the highway, the whole package is a smooth and quiet experience. There’s the muted soundtrack of a very likable powerplant that’s putting in the work, but otherwise road, tire, and wind noise is minimal. Which is frankly surprising considering the immense size of the Bison’s all-terrain meats and stilted ride height.

One Of The Best Rigs I’ve Ever Taken Off-Roading

While the Colorado ZR2 Bison diesel’s engine and functionally accessorized exterior are great, they aren’t this truck’s best trait, which is how it handles and drives off-road.

Switching between the high and low gear sets, 2WD and 4WD, and locking and unlocking the front and rear differentials is all so quick and easy to toggle, which help make for a stupendously stress-free trail experience. You read that right, the ZR2 comes off the production line with both front and rear locking diffs, which make this thing unstoppable in the face of tricky climbs.

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Though actually, perhaps the best way to look at the engine and exterior, is they join the Bison’s off-road dynamics to form one brilliantly cohesive package. The diesel engine’s instant torque worked so well with its massive all-terrain tires to dig in and shove along through sand and gravel. It felt like the transfer case was in four-wheel low when it didn’t need to be, the instant grip and propulsion was so good. I always had more than enough power for tricky, rutted and steep climbs, and no component of the big truck’s underbody ever smacked a rock or got scraped in the process, thanks to all the armor bolted up underneath. A very easy-to-use hill descent control worked seamlessly with the drivetrain to make menacing descents pockmarked with deep ruts incredibly comfortable as well.

Going one further, the comfort aspect is what perhaps surprised me the most about how the Colorado ZR2 Bison rode up and down hills, across rough washboard surfaces, and heaving up and down over massive whoops. The ZR2 trim comes with Multimatic DSSV spool-valve shock absorbers, which are proof that there’s immense value in high-tech passive damping. These shocks utilize an intuitive system of flowing oil through their internal channels to provide a soft, comfortable ride over rough surfaces, maintain a confident contact patch on the trail in any scenario, as well as have impressive body control under cornering. They’re equally comfortable on the street, too. I could write several pages on these shock absorbers, but for the sake of time, it’s best to have a visual education on how they work, and why they’re legitimately magical.

On flatter, winding trails, raging along at a decent clip felt like the ZR2 was riding on complex air suspension. Then, to have a bit more fun, switching traction control off and turning the dial to 2WD allowed for some hilarious, tail-out fun on these same sections. It was too easy to hold some fun little drifts at low speed, my God was it so addictive. As far as complete, cohesive off-road-slash-street-friendly packages go, I’ve driven such new cars as the new Lexus LX and GX, Land Rover Defender 90, Ford Ranger Tremor, and Ford Bronco Black Diamond… the Colorado might beat out all of them.

Massively Impressive

You really can’t go wrong with the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison diesel if you’re after a well-rounded truck that’s both comfortable on the street, economical for its size, and immensely capable. Plus, it comes with all the extra convenience of pickup truck ownership, so you might find yourself more inclined to do more truck things, like those found in old ‘90s Chevy commercials.

There are few downsides: it’s hard to park on tight, congested streets (duh), the basic interior probably won’t woo those who are picky about having the latest tech and convenience, and… that’s really all I can really come up with. If it’s used outside its intended purpose, like attempting massive jumps, or attempting to own it solely as a city commuter, this isn't the right rig. But if you’re after a tough truck that crawls, climbs, descends, and overland with the best, and has excellent range to boot, it’s definitely worth considering.