There are a lot of really neat things going on in the automotive market right now. Some vehicles are even getting fridges and massage chairs, which, if we’re totally honest, are things we did not think would ever be put into a car. Now a lot of these extra neat things are being put into the more expensive trims, but how well equipped are the lower trims? We were curious about the 2022 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Custom and whether or not it was different enough from the base trim to warrant the higher price tag. This is what we found.
What’s the Standard?
The 2022 Silverado 2500 HD is a full-size truck that has high capability ratings. Able to tow a massive amount of weight and with a friendly price tag, the Silverado HD is increasingly popular in the automotive markets. Under the hood, this heavy-duty truck can come with one of two engine options: a 6.6L gasoline V8 or a 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel. You can also choose between long and standard bed options and between three cab sizes. On the inside of the truck, the base model Silverado comes with a 7-inch infotainment screen, cloth seats, and a price tag of $38,500.
When it comes to the outside of the truck, the base models get 17-inch painted steel wheels. The mirrors are black trailering mirrors, but they aren’t power-adjustable. The front and rear bumper are black as well. The truck comes with cargo tie-downs, side bed steps, a locking tailgate, and a corner step rear bumper, which are all really nice touches. However, all these things are pretty normal across the board for heavy-duty trucks and don’t necessarily make the Silverado 2500 HD stand out from the crowd. Chevy has named their base trim for the 2022 Silverado 2500 HD the Work Truck or WT. We think that is an appropriate name for it because the truck works. It’s nothing too fancy, and that’s the beauty of it. But some of us want more than just a work truck, which is where the other trim options come into play.
Custom Upgrade
The Custom trim on the 2022 Silverado 2500 HD is a middle-level trim. It starts at $42,700, which sets it just a little above the base model’s purchase price but not so far above it as to be unreasonable. Like the WT trim, the Custom trim can come with a standard gasoline V8 or a turbo-diesel engine. Also, like the WT trim, the Custom trim still allows you to pick between the standard bed and long bed options, but you cannot get a two-door regular cab. Still, with the choice between a double cab or a crew cab, it’s not like the Custom trim is lacking for options.
If you opt to upgrade your Silverado 2500 HD to the Custom trim, then you get a couple of additional perks. One of these perks has to do with wheels. The Custom trim gets upgraded 20-inch alloy wheels instead of the standard 17-inch steel wheels. They are also fancied up a little with some metallic accents and machined aluminum. These wheels, paired with the larger tires, black beltline moldings, black door handles, deep-tinted windows, and power-adjustable black trailering mirrors, really elevate the way the Silverado 2500 HD looks.
The adjustable power mirrors also make changing mirror configurations a breeze for anyone who needs to adjust on the go while they’re towing or hauling. Depending on what you’re using the truck for, this alone may make the upgrade to the Custom trim worth it. These mirrors are also able to be changed out for auto-dimming power-adjustable trailering mirrors. If you’re looking for a bed view camera, you’ll also want to look into the Custom trim because that feature is not available on the WT trim.
Along with the other exterior upgrades, the Custom trim gets paint-matched front and rear bumpers. If you’re looking to gussy up your truck bed, the Custom trim can have cargo LED lighting, a hard tonneau cover, and the Chevytec spray-on bed liner added to it. The tailgate for the 2022 Silverado 2500 HD Custom is able to lock, and there is an option available to add the Multi-Flex tailgate as well. Also on the exterior of the Silverado 2500 HD are the headlights. The Halogen reflector headlamps, as they’re called, give drivers an all but x-ray view of the road and terrain in front of them. Off-road assistance steps can be added to the Custom trim as well as certain custom grilles.
When it comes to the interior upgrades that come with the Custom trim, there is the option to add a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and additional power outlets to the truck. You have the option to upgrade the cab with floor liners made with all-weather materials, although this is probably not necessary due to the upgraded rubber floor mats that come standard with this trim.
Bluetooth capabilities come standard, and the Custom trucks also get the option to add Chevrolet’s advanced connectivity system called “Chevy Connect.” If you’re not interested in that, you still get the Chevy Infotainment 3 system that comes with a 7-inch color touch screen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. If you’d like to upgrade your infotainment capabilities to include SiriusXM or OnStar, then these are also available on the Custom trim.
Standard cruise control is an added bonus for the Custom trimmed trucks, and if you’re driving long hauls, it is just one more thing that makes the Silverado Custom trim definitely worth the extra money. The remote keyless entry is another perk that comes standard with the Custom trim and can be upgraded again to remote start if that is something you want to have added as well.
Worth It?
When it comes right down to it, yes. The 2022 Chevy Silverado HD Custom is worth the extra money. If the only perks that came with this trim were the standard cruise control and power-adjustable mirrors, the trim would be worth it. Luckily, this truck trim comes with way more perks than just those two. The other thing to consider with the Custom is how adaptable it is. There are things that come standard with the trim and then things that are available for the Custom trim that just can’t be added to the WT trim. That adaptability of the truck is just one more thing that makes the Custom worth a little more. If you’re going to spend the money, you may as well just spend a little more to get what you truly want.
There’s truly just a lot that can be done with the Custom trim that the WT trim doesn’t allow for, leaving some drivers without some of the things that make driving a truck enjoyable. If you’re going to do anything with this truck besides just work, or you’re going to be spending a lot of time in this truck, we recommend the 2022 Silverado 2500 HD Custom trim. It allows you to be more prepared for hard tasks, and it has things that make those hard jobs a little easier.
