DuelsLeaderboardGarageBlogCarsGlossaryBrowse

Chevrolet Silverado

Chevrolet

Chevrolet Silverado: Chevrolet's full-size pickup. The Silverado 1500 is the half-ton; HD variants are heavy-duty. Trail Boss, ZR2,
Photo: Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Chevrolet's full-size pickup. The Silverado 1500 is the half-ton; HD variants are heavy-duty. Trail Boss, ZR2, and Silverado EV variants.

The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup truck produced since 1999. The Silverado replaced the C/K trucks and became GM half-ton pickup, competing directly with Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. The current generation (2019+) offers EcoTec V6, 5.3 V8, 6.2 V8, and Duramax diesel engine options. Performance-focused Silverado variants include the Trail Boss (off-road oriented), ZR2 (more aggressive off-road with Multimatic dampers), and the SS / Bagger versions in various aftermarket configurations. The Silverado EV (2024+) brings electric powertrain to the platform with massive battery and AWD. The Silverado HD variants (2500HD, 3500HD) are the heavy-duty variants competing in the heavy-duty truck segment. The 6.6 Duramax diesel V8 in HD variants is widely respected for towing capacity and durability. On WhipJury, Silverado submissions are common, particularly Trail Boss and ZR2 variants and lifted off-road builds. Modified Silverados with V8 swaps and supercharger conversions appear regularly.

Silverado variants

Silverado 1500. Half-ton pickup. EcoTec V6, 5.3 V8, 6.2 V8, or Duramax diesel.

Silverado HD (2500/3500). Heavy-duty pickups. Duramax diesel, gasoline V8s.

Trail Boss. Off-road oriented trim with raised suspension and tires.

ZR2. Most aggressive off-road variant with Multimatic dampers.

Silverado EV (2024+). Electric variant on the Ultium platform.

Frequently asked questions about Chevrolet Silverado

How does the Silverado compare to the F-150?
Comparable. Both are best-in-class full-size pickups. The Silverado has GM LS-derived V8 engines (durable, swap-popular). The F-150 has EcoBoost V6 turbocharger options. Different ride characteristics and infotainment systems. Choice often comes down to brand preference.
What is the Silverado ZR2?
The most aggressive off-road Silverado. Multimatic Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve dampers, increased ground clearance, off-road tires, locking differentials. Competes with Ford Raptor and Ram TRX in the off-road truck segment.
Are Silverados reliable?
Generally yes. The 5.3 and 6.2 LS-derived V8 engines are durable. The Duramax diesel in HD variants is widely respected. Common issues are typical for full-size pickups: occasional electronic concerns, suspension wear at high mileage, and infotainment system gremlins.
How much does a Silverado cost?
New: starts around $35,000 for base Silverado 1500. Trail Boss around $50,000+. ZR2 around $70,000+. Used Silverados: project cars $5,000-$15,000, driver-quality $15,000-$30,000.
Will the Silverado go fully electric?
Silverado EV is the current electric variant. Internal combustion Silverado continues alongside the EV. GM strategy includes both electric and internal combustion options for full-size pickups for the foreseeable future.

More on the Chevrolet Silverado

GM is bringing back CarPlay and Android Auto, but only in a box
GM is bringing back CarPlay and Android Auto, but only in a box

GM is adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto back to its vehicles after stripping them from its EVs and floating their removal across the lineup. The catch: phone content sits in a card window alongside GM's own apps rather than taking over the screen. Trucks get it first, then electric, gas, and diesel models.

GM's boss still calls electric cars the endgame
GM's boss still calls electric cars the endgame

GM chief executive Mary Barra told Fortune that EVs are still the "end game" and the company's "north star," even as US demand slows and federal policy pulls back. The target is 40 to 50 percent of sales by 2030, and Barra now frames the shift as taking decades rather than hitting a fixed date.

Why Pickup Trucks Keep Getting Bigger
Why Pickup Trucks Keep Getting Bigger

Park a new full-size pickup next to a 1990s truck and the old one looks like a toy. Hood heights are up about 11 percent since 2000. Fuel economy rules that reward a bigger footprint, buyers treating trucks as family cars, and styling chasing toughness all pushed in the same direction.

Other Chevrolet models

Bel AirBlazerBlazer EVBoltC10CamaroCavalierChevelleC/KCobaltColoradoCorvette
More Chevrolet models