2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison Performance Truck Priced At $48,045

Chevrolet and American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) have announced pricing for the 2019 Colorado ZR2 Bison performance pickup truck.

The most off-road-oriented midsize truck Chevrolet has ever sold will start at $48,045 for the extended cab V6 model and $49,645 for the crew cab version. Both prices include the $995 destination charge.

The starting price accounts for a significant $5,750 increase over the standard Colorado ZR2, but Chevrolet says the price tag reflects the additional off-road hardware the Bison brings.

Developed with aftermarket specialist AEV, the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison features front and rear locking differentials, Multimatic dampers, additional skid plates, bigger fenders flares, and stamped steel bumpers with provisions for a winch.

That’s not all. Customers also get Bison-specific 17-inch wheels shod with 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratec off-road tires, as well as Chevrolet lettering in the grille and “AEV Bison” logos inside and out. Fitting similar aftermarket parts to the Colorado ZR2 could cost the same or more, but with the Bison, customers get the benefits of a full factory warranty, plus installation.

Optional extras for the 2019 Colorado ZR2 Bison include a snorkel from AEV and a 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine instead of the standard 3.6-liter V6 gasoline unit. The latter produces 308 horsepower and 275 lb-ft (372 Nm) of torque while the diesel makes 186 horsepower and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. The V6 comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, with the diesel using a 6-speed auto.

All in all, the Bison looks like Chevy’s response to the imminent reveal of the 2019 Jeep Gladiator. It’s going to be quite a dogfight between those two rugged trucks.

The 2019 Colorado ZR2 Bison will go on sale across the United States in January.