Manoli Katakis 
American Expedition Vehicles is kicking off one of their busiest years in recent memory with a flood of new products, accessories, configurations and variety. On the top end you have the mighty Prospector XL, which turns the already formidable 2020 Ram HD into an off-roading oxcart that will carry literally all of the gear into the great big nowhere. Although if you want a truck, but just not one as gargantuan, there’s the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison.
If you configure a 2020 Colorado ZR2 Bison through Chevrolet, the package is a relatively attainable $5,750 (on top of the $42,000 base ZR2). It comes with a unique lettered grille, an AEV front bumper with winch provisions, a unique rear bumper with recovery points, and super tough, hot-stamped boron steel skid plates (for the front differential, engine oil pan, transfer case, fuel tank and rear differential), AEV-designed fender flares, AEV-designed 17-inch wheels (also applies to spare), fog lamps, and contoured front and rear floor liners with AEV logo.
Underbody armoring aside, the package offered from Chevrolet is, essentially, a body kit. But for those that want more, AEV has just thing. Officially called the AEV ZR2 Bison Package, it takes the standard Bison, and goes to the next level. Despite the similar name to the 2020 Colorado ZR2 Bison offered from the factory, it’s significantly different.
It starts with AEV adding a more extreme lower front bumper design with a Warn Zeon 10-S winch, as well as larger 35-inch BFGoodrich tires made possible by the included HighMark fender flare package. Just as importantly, AEV added even more protection underneath. For the AEV ZR2 Bison package, the off-road upfitter will charge you $11,949. That’s on top of the mandatory 2020 Colorado ZR2 Bison ordered from Chevrolet.
For non-Bison ZR2 trucks, there’s the AEV Colorado ZR2 package, which costs $12,999.00. Pricing excludes the purchase of a necessary 2020 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. Ironically, there’s less kit than the official Bison package, but it mostly boils down to cosmetic changes, as AEV doesn’t want to build Bison clones.
For the AEV ZR2 Bison package (pictured above), here’s what you get:
AEV 4.10 Differential Gear Upgrade
AEV Branding
AEV Build Plaque
AEV Crestone Onyx DualSport Wheels
AEV HighMark Fender Flares
AEV IP Instrument Cluster
AEV Jack Base
AEV Limited Lifetime Warranty
AEV Low Tube Center Section
AEV Rear Differential Skid Plate
Chevrolet Performance Parts Suspension Leveling Kit
Chevrolet Performance Tie Rod Sleeve Kit
Speedometer Recalibration
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
AEV Side Skirt Protection Rails
AEV Rear Bumper w/Recover Hooks
Here’s a breakdown of the kit for the AEV Colorado ZR2 Package (pictured above):
AEV 4.10 Differential Gear Upgrade
AEV Branding
AEV Build Plaque
AEV Crestone Onyx DualSport Wheels
AEV HighMark Fender Flares
AEV IP Instrument Cluster
AEV Jack Base
AEV Limited Lifetime Warranty
AEV Logo Headrests
AEV Rear Bumper w/ Recovery Hooks
Chevrolet Performance Products Suspension Leveling Kit
Chevrolet Performance Tie Rod Sleeve Kit
Speedometer Recalibration
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
AEV Side Skirt Protection Rails
As you can see, the packages are largely the same, but American Expedition Vehicles tells MC&T that the non-Bison ZR2 is more expensive due to the added cost of Bison parts such as the rear bumper, where the Bison already has that cost baked in. Meanwhile, every Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison carries a serial numbered VIN plate, exclusive AEV exterior emblems, windshield banner, embroidered headrests and a custom gauge cluster overlay.
Options for the AEV ZR2 Bison Package are as follows:
AEV Snorkel: $859.00
AEV Splash Guards: $140.00
AEV Black Badging Upgrade: $100.00
AEV Front Bumper Low Tube – Gunmetal: no-cost option
AEV Front Low Tube – Anthracite: no-cost option
GM Performance Parts Tonneau Cover: $525.00
AEV Winch Package (designed for a Warn 10-S winch): $2,313.00
AEV Recovery Gear Kit – Weekender Edition (includes AEV 3/4″ shackle, AEV Tree Saver Strap, AEV Tire Deflator, 1 Pair of AEV Gloves, AEV Recovery Strap, AEV Recovery Kit Bag): $435.00
AEV Recovery Gear Kit – Expedition Edition (Includes two AEV ¾-inch Anchor Shackles, AEV Tree Saver Strap, two AEV Soft Shackles, AEV Utility Rope, AEV Winch Extension Rope, AEV Gloves, AEV Tire Deflator, AEV Snatch Block, AEV Recovery Gear Kit Bag): $1,046.99
AEV Transmission Skid Plate: $399.00
AEV Light Package: $1,625.00
AEV Premium Leather: $2,400.00
AEV CORDURA & Leather Interior Upgrade: $2,200.00
35-inch BFG All Terrain or Mud Tires: no-cost option
Paint Appearance Package: $1,771.00
For those that want to do things a la carte, American Expedition Vehicles is offering the HighMark Fender Flare package for the Colorado ZR2. The upgrade replaces the OEM fenders with a high-quality stamped set designed to fit a 35-inch tire while retaining stock suspension geometry while minimally increasing the ride height. Full details are not listed on the AEV website just yet, but the company tells us that it’s priced at $1,350, Buyers an also break it down between rear and/or front fender upgrades, each priced at $675. This comes in handy in case anybody wants to build a 2020 Colorado ZR2 Bison Tray Bed pickup truck, for instance. MC&T was the first to report on this upcoming feature.
The AEV Colorado ZR2 package is offered the following options. Some of which are standard on the Bison:
Rear Bumper LED Auxiliary Lights: $690.00
AEV Snorkel: $859.00
AEV Black Badging Upgrade: $100.00
AEV Vertical Spare Tire Mounting Kit: $599.00
AEV Vertical Spare Tire Mounting Kit: $599.00
AEV Skid Plate Package 1 (includes trans cover): $1,267.00
AEV Skid Plate Package 2 (includes diff cover): $1,035.00
AEV Splash Guards: $140.00
AEV Recovery Gear Kit – Weekender Edition: $435.00
AEV Recovery Gear Kit – Expedition Edition: $1,046.99
GM Performance Parts Tonneau Cover: $525.00
AEV Premium Leather: $2,400.00
AEV CORDURA® & Leather Interior Upgrade: $2,200.00
AEV Standard Leather: $1,900.00
35″ BFG All Terrain Tires: no-cost option
35″ BFG Mud Terrain Tires: no-cost option
Paint Appearance Package: $1,771.00
Selecting all of the options puts the price of a ZR2 Bison over $23,500, while the AEV ZR2 comes in at over $24,450. To see the AEV Colorado ZR2 Bison Package in its entirely, peer through our exclusive gallery below.
