10 Reasons the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Wins Autobytel Buyer's Choice Best Heavy Duty Truck Award

2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD ・ Photo by General Motors

The Bowtie brand has bagged the 2017 Autobytel Buyer's Choice Award for Best Heavy-Duty Truck with the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. Which makes sense, since the HD models offer many key advantages from the standard Silverado lineup—including mobile Wi-Fi, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay—along with supersized payload and towing capabilities.

10) Special Editions

Chevy’s well known for its special-edition pickups, even offering them for the heavy-duty segments. There are four for the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD: Silverado Custom, highlighted by 20-inch wheels; Custom Sport, only in Black or Summit White; the blackout-style Midnight Edition; and the Z71 model, which is detailed next.

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9) Off-Road Z71

All models of the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD are plenty rugged, but if you want to head off-road, the Z71 edition will provide extra capabilities and confidence. Besides Rancho twin-tube shocks, the Z71 has special graphics and exclusive grille and lower-bumper designs. Four-wheel drive is available for the Silverado Z71, too.

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8) New Intake System

The 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD now boasts a best-in-class 445 horsepower and thunderous 910 lb.-ft. of torque from its available 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine. For that, credit Chevy engineers, who devised a new air-intake system—with a sporty-looking hood scoop—“for sustained performance” and better engine cooling.

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7) Major League Pulling Power

With that Duramax V6 on board, and when configured with a 3.73:1 axle ratio, the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD has a maximum trailer rating of 14,500 lb. with a ball hitch, and that increases to 18,000 lb.—nine tons!—with a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch.

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6) Luxury Appointments

If you don’t think a heavy-duty pickup can offer premium levels of comfort, the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD will make you think again. In its range-topping High Country trim, for instance, the front bucket seats are covered in supple perforated leather, and they're both heated and vented.

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5) Carlike Safety Features

Chevy also brings many of its most popular driver-assistance technologies to the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, including lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, rear park assistance, a rearview camera, and the Safety Alert driver’s seat. This seat provides extra warning about other approaching vehicles by using physical, directional pulses that are felt by the driver.

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4) Digital Steering Assist

The 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is surprisingly easy to pilot, thanks to a Digital Steering Assist feature. Chevy says this hydraulically based system “reduces the amount of work and attention the driver exerts to steer and control the truck.” This feature is especially helpful in low-speed maneuvering and when towing a trailer.

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3) Great Gas Engine

Prefer a conventional gasoline engine in your award-winning HD pickup? The standard choice for the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is a 6.0-liter V8 that’s good for 360 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque. This Chevy pickup's payload can exceed 4000 lb., and it has a top tow rating of 14,800 lb. (when properly equipped).

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2) Versatile Cargo Bed

To make the most of the cargo box in the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, all models have a standard CornerStep rear bumper that greatly improves access to cargo in the bed. In most trims, the Silverado 2500HD also has an EZ Lift and Lower feature that makes for controlled (and easy) opening and closing of the tailgate.

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1) A Bevy of Beds and Cabs

The 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD increases its appeal for buyers with the availability of multiple bed and cab setups: Chevy furnishes box sizes of 78.9 inches (6.5 feet) and 97.8 inches (8 feet), plus three cabs: a 2-door regular cab, a 4-door crew cab, and a 4-door double cab with smaller rear doors.

Read about the 17 Most Wanted Vehicles of 2016 for the full list of the 2017 Autobytel Car Buyer's Choice Award recipients.

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