2023 Chevrolet Silverado HD
Overview
Hardworking Americans and heavy-duty pickups like the Chevy Silverado HD go together like beans at a barbeque. When it comes to moving mountains—or towing the enormous equipment that can—the Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD don’t take a lunch break. Their available Duramax diesel engine packs 910 pound-feet of torque and enables up to 36,000 pounds of towing capacity. While their macho capability isn’t something that can be left at work, fancified, fully-loaded versions of the Silverado HD in High Country trim clean up pretty well. Available in single, double, or four-door crew-cab body styles, heavy-duty Silverados can be ordered in rear- or four-wheel drive with five bed lengths ranging from an 11.8- to 14.3-foot box. A gasoline-drinking 401-hp 6.6-liter V-8 is standard and is bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional 445-hp Duramax diesel is also a 6.6-liter V-8 but uses a 10-speed automatic transmission. While the Ram HD has a leg up on the Silverado HD in terms of cabin quality, the Chevy has a lower starting price along with more towing capacity from the base gas powertrain.
What’s New for 2023?
The Silverado HD sees no significant changes for the 2023 model year, but Chevy has announced a styling makeover and equipment changes for 2024.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We’d choose the 2500HD with the crew cab and the standard cargo bed. We’d also add four-wheel drive and the refined Duramax diesel powertrain to the LT trim level. We’d recommend the Z71 Off-Road package (18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, spray-in bedliner, upgraded suspension, underbody protection) for enhanced styling and improved capability. We’d also choose the Convenience package for its desirable features. These include a 10-way power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, LED cargo-bed lighting, a heated steering wheel, remote start, and more. Finally, the Safety package makes this beast easier to live with thanks to blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD have a standard gas-powered 6.6-liter V-8 that makes 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque and mates to a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional Duramax diesel 6.6-liter V-8 carries over from the previous generation. It continues to make 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet, but now it hooks up to an Allison 10-speed automatic. These engines pair with rear- or four-wheel drive, and each is compatible with the single- or dual-rear-wheel axle. We drove both powertrains through mountains while towing several tons and were impressed by their capabilities. The gas engine and six-speed automatic worked well together to control the truck’s speed, which is especially important when towing on steep grades. Still, the Duramax powertrain is the one to get for those who regularly tow heavy loads. Its mighty power and the transmission’s effortless responses provided an extra level of confidence and security when doing what these trucks were made for—moving mountains. However, the heavy-duty Silverado’s lack of steering accuracy and feedback—even when equipped with the electric-assist system—was less reassuring. That said, the big Chevy rides surprisingly well for its impressive capabilities.
More on the Silverado HD Pickup Truck
Towing and Payload Capacity
Heavy-duty trucks are judged by their maximum towing and payload ratings, even if those massive loads are never actually tested by most people. The gas-powered Silverado HD can tow up to 17,400 pounds, and the diesel version can pull up to 36,000 pounds. Likewise, the strongest Silverado 3500HD with the regular cab and dual-rear-wheel axle can carry up to 7442 pounds of payload.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Since the EPA doesn’t test vehicles as heavy as the Silverado HD and its colossal competitors, we can only judge their real-world mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route. We tested the Silverado 2500HD with the gasoline 6.6-liter V-8, and it earned 14 mpg on the highway. For comparison, we tested an F-250 with the gas-fed 6.2-liter V-8 and six-speed automatic transmission, and it returned 15 mpg in the same test. The diesel Silverado 2500HD managed 19 mpg on the highway, as did the Ram 2500 we last tested.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Pickup trucks have a wide spectrum of interior configurations and available technology. The heavy-duty Silverado runs the gamut from stripped-down work truck to dressed-up crew cab. All feature a mountainous dashboard packed with easy-to-use switchgear. The Chevy’s crew-cab, short-box setup has a longer wheelbase than the previous generation and provides increased passenger space. While even the fanciest models can’t match the material quality and sophistication of the Ram HD, the Silverado’s cabin and features still manage to transcend typical truck luxuries. The most desirable content includes heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, and more. The Chevy is packed with copious interior cubby storage that’s highlighted by a giant center-console bin. Some models can also be equipped with a storage compartment under the back seat and bins built into the backs of the rear-seat cushions.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every Silverado HD comes with a touchscreen that supports Chevy’s Infotainment 3 software, which includes standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It features a useful volume and tuning knob as well as some physical buttons and voice commands that supplement the touch-sensitive display. A larger 8.0-inch touchscreen with a seven-speaker Bose audio system, additional power points, SiriusXM satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless charging is available, too. Its infotainment system also allows users to store different trailer profiles to monitor maintenance and even control trailer functions via a smartphone app.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Every Silverado HD is available with a host of driver-assistance technology, and there are several trailer-specific assists that make towing easier. There’s even a useful multiview camera system that includes a transparent mode that makes maneuvering in parking lots and merging onto the highway easier when towing by allowing the driver to virtually see through the trailer. For more information about the Silverado HD’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Available forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking Available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert Available lane-departure warning
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Chevy covers the Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD with a competitive warranty that matches competitors from Ford and Ram. Every heavy-duty Silverado also gets one complimentary scheduled maintenance visit.
Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
Specifications
Specifications
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, rear- or rear/four-wheel-drive, 2–6-passenger, 2- or 4-door pickup
BASE PRICES
$35,695–$64,095
ENGINES
pushrod 16-valve 6.6-liter V-8, 401 hp, 464 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled pushrod 32-valve 6.6-liter diesel V-8, 445 hp, 910 lb-ft
TRANSMISSIONS
10-speed automatic with manual shifting mode, 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 141.5–172.0 in
Length: 235.5–266.0 in
Width: 81.9–96.7 in
Height: 79.8 in
Passenger volume: 69–139 cu ft
Curb weight: 6100–8050 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
Zero to 60 mph: 6.1–6.6 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.7–15.1 sec
Top speed: 95–98 mph
More Features and Specs
