A hard-working truck is more than just another way to get from point A to point B, and the Chevy Silverado is more than just another truck. This is something that Chevy fans have understood for years, and it’s clear that the folks at Chevrolet get it too, because they’re working overtime to keep the Silverado ahead of everything else that’s out there. The kinds of trucks that you’ll find at a Chevy Silverado dealer are already fantastic and have been some of the most powerful and impressive pickups available for many years now. And yet, Chevy is taking things even further and delivering amazing new features and options for the 2024 Silverado models.
It’s not unusual for Chevy to make improvements to the Silverado from one year to the next, but what we’re seeing for 2024 is exceptional. Best of all, there are so many updates and new features coming that there’s something for just about everyone. Whether someone wants to leave the gas pump behind for good or take a powerful model off-road, Chevy has them covered. Let’s take a look at what they’re doing and see how Chevy is changing the game when it comes to the Silverado and the truck market.
The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV
Although there’s a lot of great stuff going on with Chevy trucks this year, I’d be lying if I said that I was more excited for any of them than the Silverado EV. While I don’t expect every truck owner to rush out and switch to electric, there’s no denying that the industry is becoming electrified, and every new option is a step forward. The Silverado EV is Chevy’s first offering for a modern all-electric truck (we’re not counting the limited-run S-10 EV of the 1990s), and they’re definitely hitting the road at full speed. For starters, you have the fact that the Silverado EV has two electric motors, one on each axle, giving it electric all-wheel drive (eAWD) performance and power.
Then you have GM’s Ultium battery platform, which they’ve been working on for years to create a new type of power system. With the cutting-edge motors that Chevy has developed for the Silverado EV, it gets up to 754 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque at max power when using the Wide Open Watts Mode available for it. This is essentially an electrified launch control system that gives you a boost of power for incredible acceleration, letting the Silverado EV go from 0 to 60 in less than 4.5 seconds. The RST model at launch can handle up to 1,300 lbs of maximum payload and up to 10,000 lbs of towing, giving it plenty of muscle to get work done.
This RST gets an estimated 400 miles of range, while the available 4WT model can get 450 miles of range from a full charge, with DC fast charging support for quick charging on the go. I love seeing an all-electric truck with impressive power and capability, but Chevy hasn’t cut any corners here. The RST model also has four-wheel steering for improved maneuverability, an automatic adaptive air suspension for a smooth ride, and a Multi-Flex Midgate that gives it second-row seating and the ability to expand its cargo capacity. Think of the old Chevy Avalanche and its versatility with this feature. Inside, you’ll find a massive 17-inch infotainment display paired with an 11-inch reconfigurable driver instrument display. Plus, there’s a multi-color head-up display that covers 14 inches to keep you informed without ever taking your eyes off the road. Inside and out, this truck has everything I’ve been hoping for, and more, for an electric pickup.
The 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500
Strangely enough, the cornerstone of the Silverado lineup, the standard Silverado 1500, is getting the least amount of attention this year. In fairness, there’s only so much that Chevy can do at any given time, and their attention is simply elsewhere. Still, the Silverado 1500 isn’t being entirely overlooked, since there are some noteworthy changes this year. For one thing, the legendary Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine is now available for the off-road focused ZR2 trim, allowing for robust performance out on the trail. Two new exterior colors are available, along with some improved features. Adaptive Cruise Control is now standard on the High Country trim, and the available Safety Package on low-end models now includes Front and Rear Park Assist. Overall, the Silverado 1500 is getting some nice updates, but they definitely take a back seat to what else is happening across the model range.
The 2024 Chevy Silverado HD Series
This is an amazing year for fans of the Silverado HD trucks. Every Silverado HD model now comes with an Allison ten-speed automatic transmission. It’s been standard on the 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel for a while, but now it’s also standard equipment for the 6.6L gas engine as well. That diesel engine is also better than ever this year as it’s been tuned for improved performance, delivering 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque. Low-end torque has also been improved by up to 25%.
The interior of the Silverado HD models has been updated for the LT trim and higher with a gorgeous new design that includes a 13.4-inch infotainment display and a 12.3-inch configurable driver information center screen. Certain models include authentic leather-wrapped surfaces and real wood accents, along with a new center console that incorporates an available wireless charger. Perhaps most exciting of all, the Silverado HD models are getting updated towing technology including trailer support for Adaptive Cruise Control, which allows it to account for the added drag and increased braking distance from towing, plus a Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert that extends the Side Blind Zone Alert area due to a trailer. Towing capacities are up as well, from 17,370 pounds in 2023 to 18,700 for gas models, and from 18,510 pounds from last year’s diesel models to an amazing 22,500 pounds for 2024.
The 2024 Chevy Silverado HD ZR2
The general updates to the Silverado HD lineup are great, but the new option I’m most excited about is the first-ever Silverado HD ZR2 model. This is a truck that lives up to both the legacy of the Silverado HD name and the incredible off-road performance of ZR2 models. It’s available with either the standard gas engine or the 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel, giving it up to 18,500 lbs of maximum towing capacity or up to 3,397 lbs of max payload, letting it handle as much work as I’d expect and hope for from a Silverado HD model.
Incredible off-road performance comes from numerous improvements, including a suspension that’s raised 1.5 inches compared to similar four-wheel drive models. (Naturally, four-wheel drive is standard equipment in the off-road focused ZR2.) It features the incredible Multimatic DSSV dampers that ZR2 trucks are renowned for, along with a larger steel transfer case skid plate and front aluminum skid plate, plus it rides on 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. There’s even a ZR2 Bison model developed in partnership with American Expedition Vehicles that features unique wheels, a distinctive cut high-approach stamped-steel front bumper, stamped-steel underbody skid plates, and more. For anyone interested in an incredibly capable off-road truck, this is the one to watch.
What More Could We Want?
There’s no denying that this is a great year for Chevy truck fans, and that the Silverado lineup is getting a ton of fantastic improvements. The one weak spot, if there is one, is the standard Silverado 1500 itself, since the changes and updates for it are certainly overshadowed by the all-new Silverado EV and the first-ever Silverado HD ZR2. Still, that’s not to say the Silverado 1500 is a slouch by any means, simply that it’s not getting a huge number of updates this year. With these changes, it feels like Chevy is setting the stage for more big moves in the future. It will be interesting to see what happens with the Silverado EV and the HD Series in the years to come as Chevy has the chance to improve on them even more.
