More than just heavy lifting
Silverado HD gets updates for 2024
In the heavy-duty pickup class, keeping up with the competition is imperative. In Chevrolet’s case, it means the Silverado HD must fend off the Ford F-series Super Duty and Ram 2500/3500 pickups, which are the primary competitors. The GMC Sierra might be a General Motors vehicle, but it’s still competition.
The Silverado HD, which was last redesigned for 2020, receives significant exterior and interior updates for 2024, along with some important mechanical updates.
The front end has a new grille, bumper, C-shaped LED headlights and there are new wheel designs, but otherwise the pickup retains its tough-customer appearance. Tow hooks for all HD models are now standard.
All three cab styles — regular, double cab and crew cab — are back for 2024, and all can be specified with four-wheel drive.
On upper trims, the dashboard gets a new 12.3-inch driver information and available head-up display, plus a 13.4-inch infotainment screen that’s angled toward the driver. The floor console, which has a built-in wireless phone-charging pad, has also been revamped.
For 2024, the base 6.6-liter V-8 gasoline engine’s output is unchanged at 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque. The more popular choice in this class is the 6.6-liter V-8 turbo-diesel that produces 470 horsepower and 975 pound-feet. That’s up from the previous 445/910 rating.
The 10-speed Allison-brand automatic transmission is now also connected to the gasoline V-8, replacing the six-speed.
According to Chevrolet, the turbo-diesel’s low-speed torque has been increased by 25 percent for improved acceleration and for trailer towing up steep grades.
Also assisting trailering is adaptive cruise control that recognizes added cargo and trailer weight, and an improved rearview camera system that allows the driver to see behind both regular and fifth-wheel trailers.
If the Max Tow package is ordered, an alert on the driver’s info screen warns if the gross combined vehicle weight is exceeded.
Maximum towing capacities are 22,500 pounds for the Silverado HD 2500 and 36,000 pounds for the 3500. Payload capacities range up to 3,680 pounds for the 2500 and 6,860 pounds for the 3500 (both with turbo-diesel engines).
Silverado HD pricing starts at $46,400, including destination charges, although that’s for the basic
rear-wheel-drive regular cab long bed Work Truck with the gasoline V-8. It provides only the basics and some active-safety technology such as pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, emergency braking and lane-departure warning.
The price climbs substantially as you move up the trim-level and capability ladder. The test vehicle, a four-wheel-drive High Country turbo-diesel crew cab, lists for $83,500. It arrives very well equipped, with a spray-on bed liner, power-sliding rear window, power-operated tailgate, surround-view camera and premium Bose audio system.
The test vehicle’s options included a power sunroof, power retractable running boards (a necessity for shorter drivers and passengers) and a fifth-wheel towing kit. The Z71 offroad package included special Rancho-brand shock absorbers, protective underbody skid plates and hill descent control, which maintains a constant speed without the driver touching the brake pedal.
The Silverado’s capability is assumed, but its civility as a family hauler is not. When such vehicles are not towing and hauling, they’re doing normal jobs and errands, such as picking up kids from school or getting groceries.
In that respect, instead of a big beast, the High Country is surprisingly quiet and smooth riding, and it steers more like a car than a pickup, but it’s definitely not fun to park.
It gets up to speed quickly and without undue strain, and the excellent transmission shifts imperceptibly. Despite the stiffer Z71 suspension, the ride doesn’t exhibit any undue harshness over rough road surfaces.
Fuel-economy stats for heavy-duty pickups are not provided by their respective brands, but with more than 7,700 pounds of curb weight, you can expect regular — and expensive — visits to the pump.
That won’t surprise most buyers of these hard-working vehicles, but the Silverado HD’S prodigious performance and overall work ethic and available luxury touches should make it an ideal partner, regardless of it’s assigned task.