Once upon a time, heavy-duty trucks were only meant for commercial purposes. These beasts were built to provide maximum towing and payload capabilities for folks who worked as farmers, builders, and contractors. The ability to carry heavy cargo in the payload while towing tractors and equipment trailers set them apart from full-size trucks with limited strength.
But with the growth in popularity of trucks as everyday household vehicles, automakers like Chevrolet saw an opening to begin building heavy-duty trucks for consumer use. While the 2023 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD provides the towing and hauling capabilities that truckers need, Chevy saw that it had to begin offering the passenger comforts that family drivers desire. This is why it began offering the Silverado 3500 HD with the High Country trim.
Introduced in time for the 2016 model year of the Silverado HD, the High Country gave Chevy an entry into the luxury heavy-duty truck competition that was brewing between the major automakers. It seems like it was no coincidence that Chevy gave its luxury trim the same name as the classic Western movie Ride the High Country, as it was looking to gun down the competition in a shootout for an edge with the truck-buying public.
Unparalleled Performance and Capability
Chevy has equipped each 2023 Silverado 3500 HD High Country trim with a choice of two different powertrains. The standard consists of a 6.6-liter V8 gas engine paired with a 6-speed heavy-duty, electronically controlled automatic transmission. This combination can produce up to 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque, making the Silverado 3500 HD capable of towing up to 17,370 lbs and hauling a max payload of 7,442 lbs.
There is also an available 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8 with an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine features an engine block heater to help get it started on cold mornings, as well as a winter grille cover. It can produce up to 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque. As a result, the 2023 Silverado 3500 HD with the Turbo-Diesel has a maximum towing capacity of 36,000 lbs, making it perfect for any trailering job. It can also carry up to 6,532 lbs in its payload bed.
One thing that helps set the High Country apart from other trims in the 2023 Silverado 3500 HD lineup is its standard four-wheel drivetrain. While four-wheel drive is available on other models, the High Country is the only one that comes with this as a standard feature. This means you don’t have to pay extra to get four-wheel drive, as it is already factored into the pricing for the High Country.
Luxurious Interior Features
Chevy has given the 2023 Silverado 3500 HD High Country an interior styling that is unique to this truck. It starts with perforated leather seating surfaces, which look great and are extremely comfortable. Keeping with the High Country name, the look harkens back to the Old West, conjuring up visions of rodeos and cowboys. However, these old cowpokes never had the pleasure of sitting in heated and ventilated front seats. The heating comes in handy on cold winter mornings, while the ventilation will feel great on hot afternoons. The steering wheel has also been heated and wrapped to improve grip and comfort while driving.
The front and rear portions of the High Country feature carpeted floor mats, which is an upgrade over the other trims and shows that Chevy intends this model of the Silverado 3500 HD to showcase high-end luxury. These are comfortable on your feet, especially for a long day of driving. In addition, it comes with a standard Crew Cab that can seat up to five passengers, as the front row of the High Country has a pair of bucket seats. By equipping this luxury trim with a standard Crew Cab, Chevy delivers an impressive 43.4 inches of legroom for rear-row passengers, allowing them to stretch out and enjoy the ride.
A Bold Exterior Look
Form follows function on the High Country. This heavy-duty truck not only looks great from the outside. It also has the features you need to get the job done, whether that is towing a trailer for work or picking the kids up from school. It rides on a set of 20-inch, 16-spoke polished aluminum wheels wrapped with all-terrain tires. These are larger than the wheels and tires on other trims of the Silverado 3500 HD, which will come in handy, especially in delivering better traction in inclement weather. The High Country also comes with a set of 6-inch chrome rectangular assist steps. Young kids and older adults may find it difficult to enter and exit a heavy-duty truck like this one. A set of body-mounted steps can come in handy when you have passengers who need assistance.
Chevy has also given the High Country some special features for the payload bed. There is standard cargo bed LED lighting to help when loading or unloading at night, and the payload bed has a spray-on liner, which will protect your cargo from getting scratched or damaging the payload bed itself. There is also a powered tailgate that allows you to move heavier cargo in and out of the bed easily. Chevy even offers an optional Multi-Flex tailgate that can be turned into a step for entering the payload bed or a table for tailgating and workspace purposes.
Innovative Safety and Infotainment Tech
Chevrolet has staked out a place among automakers, utilizing technological advances to make its vehicles safer and more enjoyable for passengers. This is certainly the case with the 2023 Silverado 3500 HD. Each truck comes equipped with standard Chevy Safety Assist driver assistance features and a Chevrolet infotainment system with a color touchscreen. When designing the High Country trim, Chevy took these standard features and pushed the envelope, making them incredibly useful.
In addition to the Chevy Safety Assist suite of features found on all 2023 Silverado 3500 HD trucks, the High Country adds a number of ones that will come in handy, especially if you plan to use your truck for trailering purposes. Each High Country comes with HD Surround Vision, which gives you a view all around your truck, including behind your trailer. In addition, there is a standard bed view camera. This allows you to see inside the payload bed from a camera mounted in the back of the cab, so you can check on the cargo while you drive.
The High Country model also has standard front and rear park assist. Most folks find parking a heavy-duty truck a hassle. This will help you guide your truck into even the tightest parking spot. This model also comes with a standard lane change alert with side blind zone alert for help with changing lanes, which is very helpful when towing a trailer. It also has a rear cross traffic alert, which will let you know if there is another vehicle or a pedestrian in your truck’s path when you go back out of a parking space.
Chevy has also used technology to make driving the High Country more enjoyable. Each model features the Chevrolet infotainment premium system with an 8-inch diagonal HD color touchscreen. This is the most advanced version of Chevy’s infotainment system to date, with Bluetooth audio streaming for up to 2 devices. It also allows you to connect your smartphone through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while helping you reach your destination safely through a connected navigation system with enhanced voice recognition capability. There is even wireless charging for your devices.
If you are someone who loves music, then you are sure to enjoy the High Country. Chevy has installed a standard Bose Premium Sound System on this trim of the Silverado 3500 HD. It also features seven speakers with a Richbass woofer that will give your truck a music hall sound quality.
Come Up to the High Country
Chevy’s decision to come out with a High Country trim on the Silverado 3500 HD seems to be paying off. With so many folks using their trucks as passenger or family vehicles, giving them the option to buy a luxury version of this heavy-duty truck allows them to have the capabilities afforded by a Silverado 3500 HD without compromising on the passenger high-end features they desire. The trim offers drivers the perfect balance of heavy-duty power paired with refined luxury and comfort. Why compromise when you can have it all in the 2023 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD High Country!
