There are a few updates for the Chevy Silverado 1500 in 2024, though nothing major. Lakeshore Blue and Slate Gray are two new metallic paint colors offered by Chevy.
With the addition of an active exhaust, Silverados with the 420-hp 6.2-liter V-8 now have a more aggressive exhaust note when driven in sport mode. High Country trim is now offered in the Midnight Edition. Now, models of the Custom, Custom Trail Boss, RST, and LT Trail Boss can add the Blackout aesthetic package.
All Silverados now come standard with OnStar, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, even the entry-level Work Truck. The 2.7-liter, 310-hp four-cylinder Chevrolet now goes by the appellation “TurboMax.”
The Work Truck and Custom trims at the bottom are great for contractors and individuals on a lower budget, but the LT model is where the finer inside comes into play, so we believe that’s the one you should choose. For the most cargo and passenger room, we’d also customize our Silverado with the crew cab and standard-length bed.
The 5.3-liter V-8 is more affordable and faster than the available diesel engine, so we’d go with it. Unlike the regular turbo-four, the V-8 also enables us to choose the Z71 Off-Road package, which includes a variety of improved gear that makes having fun in the mud and dirt easier.
Performance – Engine, Transmission
There is an engine for any job or adventure in the Silverado 1500, from a turbocharged four-cylinder to two V-8s and a Duramax diesel 3.0-liter inline-six. The 6.2-liter, which has 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, is the fastest of the two eight-cylinder engines and accelerates the Silverado High Country we tested to 60 mph in only 5.4 seconds.
The smaller 5.3-liter engine with 355 horsepower required 6.1 seconds as a comparison. The 2.7-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 420 pound-feet of torque. Although the Silverado we tried with the diesel engine had the slowest acceleration of the group, we were delighted by how smoothly and quietly it ran.
Now with 495 pound-feet of torque, the 305-hp 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax is turbocharged. Every Silverado we’ve driven has seemed smaller inside than its size would imply. The truck handles remarkably well, and the brake pedal gives firm, comforting input.
The Trail Boss model will appeal to those seeking a more hardy half-ton Silverado. It has modifications like a 2.0-inch lift, gnarly tires, and other elements that make driving the winding road simpler and more enjoyable. The most serious off-road vehicle is the new ZR2, which we assess separately.
Capacity for Towing and Payload
A serious hauler, the half-ton Silverado has a maximum towing capability of 13,300 pounds. The Ram 1500’s maximum towing capacity is beaten by 550 pounds, while the F-150’s is 700 pounds lower. The 6.2-liter V-8 Chevy engine offers the highest towing capacity, but the 5.3-liter engine can still tow up to 11,500 pounds.
Versions with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine have a 9500-pound towing capacity. When it comes to the pickup’s payload, which ranges from 1870 to 2280 pounds, the powertrains are less important.
Fuel efficiency and actual MPG
Although you shouldn’t count on the Silverado 1500 to save you money on gas, some of its many powertrain options are more efficient than others. According to EPA calculations, the optional diesel can achieve up to 23 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.
Its highway figure lowers to 26 mpg with all-wheel drive, which we matched on our 75 mph fuel-economy route. The all-wheel drive gas-fed turbo-four is capable of up to 20 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the interstate.
In our tests, the most economical 5.3-liter V-8, all-wheel-drive powertrain actually outperformed the Silverado’s smallest engine, the turbocharged four-cylinder, with up to 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.
In our tests, the turbo-four returned 18 mpg, compared to the V-8’s 21 mpg. The 6.2-liter V-8 provides city/highway estimations of up to 16/21 mpg; but, in our real-world highway test, it also demonstrated amazingly low fuel consumption when compared to the turbo-four, averaging 19 mpg. Visit the EPA’s website to learn more about the Silverado’s fuel efficiency.
Cargo, Comfort, and the Interior
The Silverado may be set up in a variety of ways, from the bare-bones Work Truck variant to the luxurious High Country. Simple necessities like manually adjusted front seats, manual locks and windows, and vinyl seats are all that are offered in base versions.
But beginning with the LT level, the inside is noticeably sexier thanks to a more attractive dashboard with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a sizable central touchscreen. The leather upholstery and open-pore wood trim in the interior of The High Country make it very attractive.
Although the rear seat in the crew cab is spacious and has plenty of headroom, we found the cushions to be uncomfortable.
Still, this is a useful carrier with shrewd storage cubbies placed all throughout the cabin. While the Chevy doesn’t have the half-ton Sierra’s carbon fiber reinforced cargo bed, it is now offered with a Multi-Flex multifunction tailgate, which is similar.
Also, the variety of bed lengths offered by the Chevrolet will definitely please traditionalists.
Connectivity and Information
A touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a mobile hotspot comes standard on every Silverado 1500. Interacting with the system is easy thanks to the tactile knobs and buttons, and we valued how quickly the screen responded to our touch inputs.
The 13.4-inch horizontal touchscreen in the LT level and upwards boasts additional capabilities such a Google voice assistant, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and possible Amazon Alexa integration.
