2023 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 ZR2

CHEVROLET TWEAKS OFF-ROAD CAPABILITY FOR SILVERADO ZR2 WITH BISON PACKAGE

Four years after adding upgrades to enhance off-roading capability on its mid-size Colorado pickup, Chevrolet has made the Bison package available in ZR2 models of the 2023 Silverado 1500 pickup.

Working with the off-road aftermarket manufacturer. American Expedition Vehicles, Chevy enhanced the 2023 Chevrolet Bison 1500 ZR2 with extra rocker protection, unique skid plates, a custom front bumper and other features like special AEV wheels shod with 33-inch mud terrain tires  for those seeking more challenging off-pavement ventures.

And it’s just as comfortable in urban environs and handling all the tasks usually associated with full-size pickup trucks. Available only in Crew Cab configuration, it seats five comfortably with up to nearly 45 inches of legroom in the second row.

Leather seats are standard, and there are plenty of infotainment features in the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to make tech nerds happy. Navigation, dual-zone climate control, and OnStar communications are also included.

Other standard features included a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, 10-way power driver’s seat, a 2-speed transfer case, a trailering package, keyless entry and push-button start, and LED headlamps, fog lights, daytime running lights, and taillights.

The cargo area features LED lighting, a dozen cargo tie-downs in the bed area, and a power lock and release tailgate.

Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front and rear pedestrian warning, lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, blind-spot alert, HD surround vision, and rear cross-traffic braking.

Powering the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 is a 6.2-liter V8 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and pumping out 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.

Fuel economy is a meager14 miles-per-gallon city, 17 highway, and 15 combined using recommended premium fuel, but a less thirsty diesel model is coming for 2024.

Base MSRP for the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado1500 ZR2 is $71,500 with optional packages that include the Bison update, a technology package (rear camera mirror, adaptive cruise control, and head-up display) and other stand alone options, like a hard rear tonneau cover, Chevy’s multi-flex liftgate that can be adjusted to provide a work space for a laptop or paperwork, a power sunroof, and power telescoping steering column, ran the total for my test 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 ZR2 to $86,295 including the $1,895 destination charge.

What I liked about the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison: The V8 engine packs plenty of punch and is great for getting quickly away from stoplights and highway cruising. The cabin is huge and has lots of spaces to store items, including the second-row seatbacks. The infotainment system is user-friendly enough.

What I didn’t like about the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison: Full running boards to ease entering and exiting likely would get more use than the steel rock rails that are included among the off-roading upgrades on the Bison trim. It’s a thirsty beast with the EPA estimating an extra $10,250 in fuel costs over a 5-year period. You can’t shift the gear lever until the driver’s seat belt is fastened, which is going a bit too far in my view. Finding parking spaces in  many lots is a pain with a vehicle this size.

Would I buy the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison? Full-sized pickups are not for me, and you have to be a serious off-roader to spend the extra $7,895 over the ZR2’s hefty $71,500 MSRP to get all the features in the Bison package.