Hey there Pickup Truck +SUV Talk fam, Will here. I’m semi-new to the site, popped a couple of reviews up previously but I plan to contribute more fun stuff moving forward. I recently had the opportunity to hoon the new 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison out in the California desert with our intrepid leader Tim, and a week later got a chance to drive the 2023 Colorado Trail Boss. For the 2023 model year, the ZR2 trim is almost $10,000 more than the Trail Boss. While I technically drove the new AEV-equipped Bison, I figured I would take a look at how this Trail Boss compares to the ZR2 and pick which is the better buy! So, let’s get at it and see if I can serve up some valuable consumer advice. Or not.
Specs & Features
First, let’s see how the 2023 models stack up on paper. Both trim levels come with a 2.7L turbo four-cylinder engine putting out a stout 310 horsepower and both have an eight-speed automatic. However, the Trail Boss gets 391 lb-ft of torque while the ZR2 has the high-output version of the turbo engine with a more stout 430 lb-ft (2024 Colorado all trims gets 430 lb-ft). More torques are good, points for the ZedR2. Scrolling through the rest of the comparison on the mechanical side, the ZR2 has a 220-amp alternator and a driver-selectable full-locking front and rear differential vs. the standard 170-amp setup on the Trail Boss which only has a locking rear diff.
The differences start to appear more clear when you look underneath. The Trail Boss has standard 4WD, an off-Road focused two-inch factory-lift, hill-descent control, 18-inch all-terrains, a two-speed transfer case, and available skid plates, not bad but that’s about it. Meanwhile the ZR2 gets 17-inch wheels with mud-terrains, some trick Multimatic DSSV dampers, an upgraded suspension with a three-inch lift, plus a set of rock rails.
There are some other key differences that go towards that $10,000 price difference. In addition to the trim-specific exterior upgrades to the front, rear bumper and fender flares, the ZR2 gets standard EZ-Lift and StowFlex tailgate upgrades, a spray-in bedliner, the Advanced Trailering package. Inside there is a trick 11-inch digital instrument panel, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, remote start, power-adjustable driver’s seat (w/lumbar adjustment) and a manual tilt and telescoping wheel.
But wait, the Trail Boss has a trick up its sleeve, the options list. Our Trail Boss tester wasn’t just equipped with just the standard stuff. Chevy ticked the boxes to select the Advanced Trailering Package ($620), Trail Boss Convenience Package I ($375) which has a sliding rear window with rear window defroster, and cruise control.
But wait, there’s more, they also added the Trail Boss Convenience Package II (omg, the sequel!) which runs $545 and gets the EZ lift and lower tailgate upgrades, tailgate lock, “stowflex trailgate” storage (great name), and an eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar. Tack on the spray-in bed liner ($475) and Radiant Red Tintcoat ($495) plus the 220 amp alternator ($150) and you’re at $41,155 out the door for this Crew Cab Trail Boss. Let’s get into some of the driving experience to see how the (still significantly cheaper) Trail Boss stacks up to the ZR2.
Driving the Colorado Trail Boss
OK, bottom line up front here, this buying comparison is really all about ride quality. Depending on what you plan to do with your Colorado, you should pay close attention to the ride during your test drive. Obviously all that off-road kit in the ZR2 can degrade the overall on-pavement experience. That mud-terrain tire on the ZR2 is intended, as the name implies, to help you claw your way through the yucky stuff. Whereas the all-terrains on the Trail Boss will give you a solid overall capability on…well all terrain. Wow, that was pretty obvious, sorry. Still, the Trail Boss rides quite well for a truck with off-road intentions, without a lot of tire noise or bumpiness over harsh road surfaces. If you are buying your truck for daily driver duty, it’s worth considering how your back will do if you’re old like Tim.
Don’t tell him I said that.
The Trail Boss has some power, the 4,640 lb. curb weight gets moving relatively easily with the 310 hp/390 ft.-lb. engine. So daily driver tasks like highway merges will be fairly straightforward, as will around town city driving. If you click through all the fun drive-mode settings on the big touchscreen, it looks pretty similar to what you’ll get on the ZR2. It has Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, and Terrain modes, but doesn’t get the ZR2’s “Baja Mode”, which admittedly is pretty cool. Still, most of what you need get off the paved roads.
Interior quality on the Trail Boss is solid, though at times some of the plastics didn’t quite hit my “this is $41,000?” test. Still, it’s comfortable and the dash layout is great. Everything is easily at hand and (aside from the headlight controls which are part of the screen) there are some real buttons and dials to control stuff. I like how Chevy integrated the large touchscreen into the driver’s binnacle, it looks a bit less tacked on than even some of the luxury vehicles I drive.
It’s also nice that there aren’t a lot of blank switches on the Boss of the Trail. For comparison, there was a high-spec GMC Canyon parked next to this one at the press rally and it was clear that a lot of other switches can be fitted between the two HVAC dials. Instead of having blanks, GM just fitted the four buttons in our test truck across the center. It not only looks good, it doesn’t make you feel cheap for selecting a lower tier option. The seats are pretty comfortable, though they might not give you the lateral support in more severe off-road conditions. Also, I was able to fairly comfortably sit behind myself in the back seat, which at six-foot-even isn’t always the case.
The bottom line
This is where the big question arises, you really gonna off-road this thing bro? If you aren’t, the Trail Boss is a great mix of off-road looks with reasonable capability in bad conditions. If you’re going to do some serious off-roading, like more than just a farm road or trail, something with rocks, the ZR2 is worth a look. You would likely be hard pressed to DIY your Trail Boss into something as capable as the ZR2, at least not reliably. Also, I’ll acknowledge the fact that you might just want the butch looks of the ZR2, even if your tires aren’t going to get muddy, and I’m not one to judge that. Heck, you might want to pony up the (likely) $60,000 on the ZR2 Bison, you do you! Either way, if you want a midsize truck with off-road abilities, but without some of the off-road ride penalties, check out the Chevy Colorado Trail Boss.
