Off-road trucks and SUVs are all the rage these days. Everyone wants in on the game, even crossovers such as the 2023 Jeep Compass Trailhawk we reviewed a few months ago. And it’s not without theatrics either. Many of the promotional materials for said off-road trucks show them slinging sand, ripping down dirt roads at high speeds and jumping over dunes. It’s all undeniably cool and conjures up dreams of adventures yet to be had — nay, that need to be had.
Photo by Chevrolet Pressroom
That’s where Chevrolet’s Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison comes in and stands apart, alone in the corner, so confident it doesn’t care to mingle with the more popular, showy kids at the dance. Heck, it doesn’t even have a throaty exhaust for its massive, 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8.
The 1500 Silverado ZR2 Bison cares about one thing: getting the job done and moving on. There’s no forced induction, no wide-body kit and no dune jumping antics — just front and rear lockers, a huge motor, triple spool valve shocks and a ton of high-grade underbody armor.
If you’re more into the rough and tumble side of off-roading — rather than attention-grabbing dune jumping — the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison is your ticket. Shop 2023 and newer Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 models on KSL Cars
Photo by Chevrolet Pressroom
Price and value
Here’s the hang-up with the 1500 ZR2 Bison: Price. Our tester priced out at $84,905, which is … not cheap. Especially considering the regular 1500 ZR2’s slightly more palatable starting price of $71,500. Our tester added the $7,895 ZR2 Bison Edition package, a $1,970 technology package that included:
- Rear camera mirror
- Head-up display
- Adaptive cruise control
- Power steering column
Photo by Chevrolet Pressroom
The Bison Edition package also includes several off-road goodies from American Expedition Vehicles.
- AEV front and rear bumpers
- AEV skid plates over the front and rear differentials, transfer case and fuel tank
- 18-inch AEV wheels
- AEV branded floor liners and rocker guards
AEV uses thick, hot-stamped boron steel for many of their skid plates and other protective parts; so, if you want the best protection possible, the Bison Edition package seems like a no-brainer, especially to get it from the factory.
Photo by Chevrolet Pressroom
The result of all those cool, factory-backed off-road accessories is Chevy’s top-dog off-road truck. Whether it’s worth the price tag or not will depend on whether you use the truck as intended — or if you just want to impress other off-road enthusiasts who, with their keen eyes, might spot all those expensive AEV upgrades.
There was also a $1,250 hard tonneau cover and a $445 multiflex tailgate. You want all of those options. See all 2023 and newer Silverado 1500 listings on KSL Cars
Style and appearance
At first glance, you might mistake the 1500 ZR2 Bison for a regular ZR2, or even the more budget friendly Trail Boss. It wears 33-inch tires, is absent of wide-body flares and has a subdued, even quiet exhaust note. Don’t be fooled, though. This classy, not flashy off-roader, while quieter in its demeanor than its raucous competitors, still has plenty of tasteful visual cues to tip off enthusiasts that this truck means business.
Photo by Chevrolet Pressroom
Look closely and you’ll notice aggressive Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires, 3-millimeter thick stamped steel front and rear bumpers, front and rear recovery hooks, rock rails (which don’t function as side steps), unique gloss black wheels, a gloss black grille with a horizontal body color bar, Chevy’s “flow tie” emblem and some subtle AEV and Bison badging on the sides and tailgate.
Take an even closer look and you’ll see the truck’s flashiest components: The golden sheen of the Multimatic DSSV triple spool valve shocks from under the wheel wells. Overall the truck looks rugged, mature and restrained. This Chevy knows what it has and doesn’t have to prove itself to anyone with flashy looks or bombastic features. Instead, it chooses to prove itself on the trail, which is where this Bison belongs. See listings
Interior comfort and features
There’s something you should know about Chevy trucks: You tend to sit more “in” them than “on” them. From the driver’s seat, the co*ckpit feels sunken, even as you raise your seat to see over the massive, bulging hood. It can be a bit of strain and for me at 5-foot-9, it wasn’t ideal in terms of comfort, even with the seat raised. Thank goodness for cameras.
Photo by Chevrolet Pressroom
Seating position aside, the ZR2 Bison’s interior is refined, attractive and comfortable. The dash is especially clean in appearance; the 13.4-inch touchscreen is beautiful and easy to use — though there’s a fair bit of glare from light shining through the windshield onto the buttons, of which there are many.
The seats get AEV embossed headrests and while comfortable, Chevy still seems keen on smaller seats than you’d expect in a truck this size. Overall, the interior materials look and feel good and ready to take a beating for years to come.
Photo by Chevrolet Pressroom
Lastly, as is the case with all full-size trucks these days, there is plenty of room for two or three kids or adults in the backseat where leg, shoulder and headroom are pretty good. Be warned, however, if you have small children, they will have quite the time trying to jungle gym their way in without real running boards. This challenge is compounded when strapping kids into child seats. But, once they’re in, they’re happy with all the space.
Driving on- and off-road
Let’s get this out of the way: The Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison is amazing off-road. It eschews desert running, dune hopping shenanigans for trail and rock-crawling prowess. Slow and steady is how this one likes to go, and it gets the job done and then some. While we took this truck nowhere near its limits, it felt very confident, capable and comfortable on the trails above Bountiful. Other reviewers have praised its narrower body, commenting that it feels much more manageable on tighter trails than some of the wider competition. We agree, and with its thick, fancy AEV armor from front to back, there’s virtually nowhere you can go that will hurt your $85,000 purchase.
Photo by Chevrolet Pressroom
The vast majority of our week with the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison was daily in driving — just as it will be used by most buyers. We commuted, dropped off kids, ran errands and went to Costco. We really enjoyed it! It’s a large truck, but didn’t feel unwieldy, especially with all the aforementioned cameras to help with parking. Shop 2023 and newer Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 models on KSL Cars
Where it did hurt was in fuel economy. This shouldn’t be surprising, given the massive 6.2-liter V8 that powers this beast, but it wasn’t great. The engine produces 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque and hustles to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. It’s plenty of juice, but it does come with a cost.
In our week of testing, we averaged a mere 14 mpg. Coupled with a surprisingly small 24-gallon fuel tank and recommended premium gas, you’ll likely become very familiar with the closest gas station — and your favorite credit card. Chevy’s 3.0-liter inline-6-cylinder Duramax diesel engine should be an option in 2024, which will provide greater fuel economy and range.
Photo by Chevrolet Pressroom
Final impression
The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 Bison is a pretty compelling option if you want a hardcore, trail-ready, battle-tested off-roader from the factory. It’s more subdued than its competition, but that’s not a bad thing. The near $8,000 Bison Edition package is expensive, but it does offer some of the best cosmetic and protective features you can buy — and it all comes straight from the factory.
The Bison can probably best be explained as a sleeper hit. It’s under the radar and doesn’t flaunt its strength. It shouldn’t be underestimated, though. This truck, with its 11.2 inches of ground clearance and nearly 11 inches of suspension travel, is nothing to shake a stick at and more than proves its mettle out in the wild. Others may not recognize its greatness around town, but you’ll know what you have. And sometimes that’s all you need.
See all 2023 and newer Silverado 1500 listings on KSL Cars
FAQs
Is it fun to drive?
Yes. This truck excels off-road, but on-road you’ll have a blast, too. Its V8 is reasonably quick and overall provides the driver with a very cool “king of the road” feel. If only it had a more robust exhaust.
How much can it tow?
Plenty. The Silverado 1500 ZR2 is rated to tow up to 8,800 pounds and welcomes a payload of up to 1,520 pounds.
Is it good for families?
Yes and no. The interior materials feel like they can take anything you’re 3 year old can throw at it. However, the bigger issue is getting kids in the back. The rock rails aren’t running boards, and the truck sits so high that getting kids in child seats is challenging. That said, there is plenty of room for them in the back to stretch out and have their own space.
*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.
About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com
