2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Some people are just Chevy people. And when those people want a half-ton pickup, the first thing they’ll consider is a new Silverado 1500. It seems the Chevrolet camp is well populated, because the Silverado is usually the second best-selling vehicle in the United States.

We know your next question, and the answer is the Ford F-150. In terms of abilities, the Silverado 1500 comes close but doesn’t beat the F-150 in any particular aspect. Even so, it’s capable of doing what the majority of buyers want their pickup to do. Not everyone needs to tow 7 tons around. For the Chevy faithful, the Silverado 1500 works just fine.

The all-electric Chevrolet Silverado EV is reviewed separately, as is the stronger Silverado HD.

The turbodiesel engine is now available in the ZR2 variant. Safety packages gain front/rear parking sensors, wireless phone integration becomes standard across the lineup along with a rear seat belt indicator, and an active exhaust system with a Sport mode comes with the 6.2-liter V8.

A Blackout Appearance package is offered with the Custom, Custom Trail Boss, RST, LT Trail Boss, and ZR2 trims. The luxurious High Country trim gains adaptive cruise control as standard and is eligible for a Midnight Edition package that includes power-retractable side steps with LED lighting. Oh, and Chevy now refers to the base 4-cylinder engine as a TurboMax.

This generation of Silverado 1500 launched for the 2019 model year, so we’re expecting far-reaching changes in the 2025 truck.

Before buying a new Silverado 1500 full-size truck, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Tundra enjoys the strongest resale values of this group, with the Silverado 1500 turning in an average performance.

The base engine in the Silverado 1500 is a turbocharged 4-cylinder unit making 310 horsepower. Don’t think this is too small. It makes more torque (430 lb-ft) than the next-up 5.3-liter V8 (383 lb-ft). And torque is arguably more important than horsepower — it’s what gets things moving.

Then again, a half-ton truck like the Chevy Silverado 1500 is such an American vehicle that a V8 seems an obvious choice. Luckily, there are two available, providing a choice of 355 or 420 horsepower. The larger of the two is paired with 4-wheel drive exclusively. For a combination of maximum towing talent and fuel economy, Chevy also offers a 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine making a hefty 495 lb-ft of torque.

In general, the Silverado 1500 rides comfortably, yet with the right amount of body control. And aspects like steering and braking require just the right amount of effort for driver input. This full-size truck feels smaller than it actually is. The most luxurious High Country trim can also come with optional adaptive suspension for an even finer degree of cushioning.

The ZR2 comes with a specialized off-road suspension and tires, plus extra under-body protection and a standard 4-wheel-drive system. It’s not a direct rival to something like the more extreme Ford F-150 Raptor, though.

Wherever there’s a 4-wheel-drive system in a new Silverado 1500 truck, it comes with a transfer case and low-range gearing, which can really help in sticky and/or tricky situations.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of full-size trucks, including the Silverado 1500.

Payload and Towing

Depending on the variant, payload figures go from 1,520 to 2,260 pounds. That lowest number belongs to the ZR2. In fairness, this variant is not meant to be the ultimate work truck.

Maximum towing ability is 13,300 pounds, achieved with the largest V8 or the turbodiesel. For comparison, the F-150 can tow 14,000 pounds or carry 3,325 pounds. That’s class-leading, while the Silverado 1500 is the best of the rest. All Silverado 1500 trucks are capable of pulling 8,900 pounds.

Fuel Economy

The 2.7 turbo engine achieves 20 combined mpg (19 city, 22 highway) with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 19 combined mpg (18 city, 21 highway) with 4-wheel drive (4WD). Despite the use of a turbocharger, regular fuel is still OK.

The 5.3-liter V8 runs to 18 combined mpg (16 city, 22 highway) with RWD, or 17 combined mpg (15 city, 20 highway) with 4WD.

Premium gasoline is required for the larger V8, with a displacement of 6.2 liters and estimated to return 17 combined mpg (15 city, 20 highway). Unless it’s in the ZR2, where 15 combined mpg (14 city, 17 highway) is expected.

The 3.0-liter turbodiesel manages 26 combined mpg (23 city, 29 highway) with RWD, or 24 combined mpg (23 city, 27 highway) with 4WD.

All these fuel economy figures are pretty much in line with the competition. The diesel engine is thriftier than its Ram counterpart; Toyota, Nissan, and Ford don’t even have a diesel option. The F-150 and Tundra are available with a hybrid drivetrain, however.

Versions of the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 truck with the Regular cab have seating for three, with a 40/20/40 bench. The Double and Crew Cabs can accommodate five or six occupants. The Crew Cab has the best rear legroom of the lineup — a generous 43.4 inches and impressive for the class.

In keeping with its utilitarian vibe, the Work Truck comes with vinyl seat covering. Mid-range trims have cloth upholstery, and there are leather seating surfaces in the higher trims.

No doubt buyers of the Work Truck and the Custom trims aren’t too concerned with the basic and somewhat dated nature of their interiors. They have a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, for example. It’s at the LT level where things perk up considerably. This is when a 13.4-inch touchscreen comes in, along with a 12.3-inch digital driver information display.

Cab formats for the 2024 Silverado 1500 are — in ascending order of spaciousness — Regular, Double, and Crew. Only the Regular cab offers the long bed, measuring 98 inches. The other two have the choice of the short (70 inches) or standard (80 inches) bed.

Bed volumes range from 62.9 to 89.1 cubic feet. And there are 12 tie-down points. LED lighting for the cargo area is standard in all but the base Work Truck, which offers it as an option. The top High Country has the option of retractable steps for bed access, but even the lowly Work Truck has a corner step in the rear bumper.

The Work Truck runs on 17-inch steel wheels. The rest have alloy wheels, with the largest available on the options list being 22 inches in diameter. The ZR2 off-road specialist deploys Goodyear Wrangler Territory Mud Terrain tires.

New colors this year are Lakeshore Blue and Slate Gray — both with metallic finishes.

Multi-Flex tailgate
This clever arrangement of two tailgates in one provides six load/access features. It can be a step into (and out of) the bed, a work surface, or provide extra hauling versatility. Available at every trim level of the Chevy Silverado 1500.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
No fishing around in pockets searching for the phone, the 2023 Silverado 1500 connects without using a cable. This becomes standard across the 2024 Silverado 1500 range.

Super Cruise
First seen in a Cadillac, Super Cruise is a hands-free and feet-free self-driving system that works on specially designated roads. There are more than 400,000 miles of them in North America so far. It even functions when there’s a trailer hooked up. It’s just a shame that such cool tech is only optional in the top High Country trim.

Wi-Fi
Standard in the one-up-from-base Custom trim, Wi-Fi can turn a new Chevy Silverado 1500 into a mobile office, help perform tasks like ordering parts, and is good for, y’know, watching cat videos during the lunch break.

Trailering Camera System
This comes in at the LTZ level, providing drivers with 14 views of their truck and trailer, including one where the trailer can “disappear” — showing a clear view behind.

Max Trailering package
This options bundle adds extra cooling, stronger rear springs, revised tuning of the shock absorbers, and a tougher rear axle.

The basic engine for a 2024 Silverado 1500 half-ton pickup is a turbocharged 2.7-liter 4-cylinder unit developing 310 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. Despite the use of a turbocharger, regular fuel is still OK.

This connects to an 8-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) as the standard setup, or 4-wheel drive available as an option.

The first V8 offered is a 5.3-liter version making 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission is deployed here, with the same rear-drive/4-wheel drive arrangement. This V8 is standard in the LTZ and High Country trims, optional in the Work Truck, LT, RST and Trail Boss versions.

Top towing capacity of 13,300 pounds is possible with the 6.2-liter V8 generating 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. It’s another job for the 10-speed automatic transmission here, and this engine connects to a 4-wheel-drive system exclusively. It’s standard in the ZR2, optional in the RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, and High Country trims. Premium gasoline is recommended for this engine.

Both V8s offer a Dynamic Fuel Management system that can deactivate up to six cylinders when demands are particularly light.

For maximum towing with optimum fuel economy, Chevy also provides the option of a turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine running on diesel, creating 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard here, 4-wheel drive is optional, and a 10-speed automatic carries out the transmission duties. This turbodiesel engine is available with the Custom Trail Boss, LT, LT Trail Boss, RST, LTZ, High Country, and ZR2 trims.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Chevrolet’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. These are typical for the sector. Roadside assistance is also provided for the same term as the powertrain. And the first service is free.

Safety Ratings

The Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab did fairly well in crash-testing performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with scores of Good in the main categories, except for a Marginal in the front passenger-side small overlap impact. It has also earned a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) . Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, and a following distance indicator.