2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Road Test and Review

2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Among Detroit’s full-size half-ton pickups, battle lines are clear. The Ford F-150 leads on technological innovation with its early adoption of turbocharged V6s, gas-electric hybrid powertrains, and aluminum body panels. The Ram 1500 is the most posh and the most powerful. Where is the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s specialty? What’s its niche? 

The Silverado hasn’t been fully redesigned since 2019 or gotten any major updates since 2022. And even when it was new, it wasn’t an obvious class standout. And yet, based on a weeklong test of the Silverado, there’s still plenty to like about this truck. Keep reading our full review as we explore the Silverado’s pros and cons to see if this unassuming pickup is the right big truck for you. 

Not the Newest Truck

Now in its seventh model year, the Silverado has gray hairs next to the Toyota Tundra (all new for 2023), Ford F-150 (redesigned in 2021 and overhauled again in 2024), and even the Ram 1500 (last redesigned in 2019 as well, but heavily updated this year). But except for having a familiar-looking face, the Silverado looks suitably modern to us. 

Pinched headlights, which dip inward toward the horizontal bar going across the big grille, are a styling cue borrowed from the Chevy Camaro sports coupe. And the taillights echo that look with some squiggling of their own. But otherwise, the Silverado is a timeless truck. It’s big and upright, and its body isn’t heavily decorated with swoops and creases. Our off-road-ready ZR2 test vehicle also has a blacked-out grille and a hardy-looking skid plate. 

2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Modern Yet Simple Interior

Chevrolet redesigned the Silverado’s dashboard a couple of years ago, fitting it with a Google-based 13.4-inch infotainment touchscreen on most trim levels. The gauge cluster is also a digital display. But we found everything easy to operate, thanks to plenty of physical buttons and knobs that remain in place. And if you still hate the idea of seeing so many pixels, the base WT and Custom trim levels still have a mere 7-inch screen. 

Now, though it’s modern, the Silverado’s interior isn’t ultra-luxurious like an upper-trim Ram or Tundra. Our test truck stickered at $77,750, but while you’ll get a pleasant enough grade of leather upholstery, it’s still a truck with leather. Our test truck’s most “luxurious” touch is shiny piano-black trim that’s falling out of fashion anyway. Plenty of buyers will prefer how Chevy skews away from the dressiest details in its trucks, though others will want more pizzazz for the money. 

2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Plenty of Space

Whether it’s the flashiest interior or not, the Silverado’s cabin is undeniably comfortable. There’s plenty of space to stretch out in the front and – in our crew-cab test vehicle – in the rear. Other body styles include a two-door regular cab and a four-door extended cab; unlike in the Ford F-150, the latter includes four swing-out doors, just less rear legroom than the crew cab. 

There’s also plenty of cabin space for your stuff. In addition to a big center console, Chevy gives you some places to tuck away small items – an upper glovebox and even a bin that hides in the rear seatback’s cushion. You can flip up the rear seat to turn the truck’s backseat into a large storage space, too. 

A 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat is standard on all but the base WT model; heated and even ventilated front seats are widely available, and top trim levels include heated rear seats. 

2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Choice of Engines

The Silverado 1500 is sold with a choice of four engine options. A 2.7-liter four-cylinder turbo is standard, with its 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque providing decent motivation even in such a big truck. Chevrolet’s classic 5.3-liter V8 is the heart of the lineup, making 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. The biggest engine is a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. 

The Silverado doesn’t match Ford or Toyota in offering a gas-electric hybrid model, and an all-electric Silverado EV shares only its name with the gas model. But GM has become the only automaker to sell a diesel-powered half-ton truck. The Silverado’s is a 3.0-liter V6 with 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, and it’s available on most trim levels. 

The diesel is an incredible option for fuel efficiency and covering long distances between refuelings. It gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive and 22 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined with four-wheel drive. Off-road tires and other equipment knock it down to as little as 21 mpg on the ZR2, but that’s still more economical than any other Silverado. (Do keep a few things in mind: The diesel engine typically costs more to buy, depending on the trim level; diesel costs more than 87-octane regular; and you’ll need to periodically top off its diesel exhaust fluid.) The four-cylinder gas engine gets 18 to 19 mpg in mixed driving depending on the version; the 5.3-liter V8 gets 16 to 18 mpg; and the 6.2-liter gets 15 to 17 mpg – and on pricy premium-grade fuel. Our 6.2-liter ZR2 test vehicle has an EPA-estimated 14 mpg city, 17 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined, and we averaged 17 mpg during our test. 

2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Mighty Capability

The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can tow up to 13,400 pounds, depending on the engine and body style, and even the base four-cylinder can handle up to 9,500 pounds. And payload is as high as 2,260 pounds, also depending on the version. The Ford F-150 edges out the Silverado on both fronts, but it’s still an incredibly capable truck. 

The Silverado has three bed lengths – an 8-foot bed on the regular cab, a 6-foot-6-inch bed available on any Silverado body style, and a 5-foot-8-inch bed that’s exclusive to the crew cab. Our test truck has the latter. It also includes the available Multi-Flex tailgate, which has multiple sections that can either move out of the way or flip up to handle or contain longer items. Another optional trick is called Transparent Trailer, which uses a camera to eliminate the blind spot from whatever you’re towing.

2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Drives Well on or off the Road

The Silverado’s capability also extends off the pavement, especially on our ZR2 test vehicle. This is Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford F-150 Raptor and the recently discontinued Ram TRX. It’s less of a wild, no-holds-barred off-road toy than those trucks – with less horsepower and without their widened bodies – but it will slog through tough terrain like the best of them. 

The ZR2’s 18-inch wheels and forgiving tires also help it drive well on the road – better, we’d expect, than a top-trim model with a suspension optimized for the pavement but huge, flashy 22-inch wheels. This is still a truck, so don’t expect it to carve corners or glide unflappably down the road. But it rides and handles as well as its competitors.  

You can also let it drive itself with the optional Super Cruise hands-free driving system, which invites you to take your hands off the wheel on more than 400,000 miles of pre-mapped North American roads. Your Silverado will accelerate, brake, steer, and even change lanes while you keep your hands in your lap (though your eyes must stay on the road). 

Wide Model Range

Like other American pickup trucks, the Silverado is available in a wide range of models. We already mentioned the different body styles, engines, and bed lengths. You also get a choice of eight trim levels. Start with the base WT (standing for Work Truck) and the lightly equipped but more flashily styled Custom. The LT and RST are where you start adding amenities like the big 13.4-inch screen, heated front seats, automatic climate control, and available leather upholstery. Other trim levels include the off-road-focused Trail Boss and ZR2 and the most luxurious LTZ and High Country. 

The cheapest Silverado WT regular cab with rear-wheel drive costs $37,000 (plus a mandatory $1,995 destination charge). The extended cab costs about $3,300 more, while the crew cab is another $4,400 premium. The popular crew cab 4WD crew cab has a starting price of $53,800 (plus destination), and you can pay roughly an extra $1,500 to upgrade from the four-cylinder engine to the V6 diesel or the 5.3-liter V8. The top High Country and ZR2 trim levels start at $66,200 and $70,000. And extra-cost options abound, even on the top models. Fortunately, dealers are also typically willing to budge on pricing. 

2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Silverado vs. the Competition

The Silverado 1500 faces only three direct competitors: the best-selling Ford F-150, the Ram 1500, and the Toyota Tundra. (There’s also the GMC Sierra 1500, which is the same vehicle with different styling and slightly higher prices. And you may still find a few leftover Nissan Titans, though that slow-selling truck ended production in 2024.) 

The F-150 is capable, comfortable, and high-tech. Its EcoBoost turbo engines are proven alternatives to a V8, which Ford also offers. Gas mileage tends to beat equivalent Silverados, and unlike the 6.2-liter Silverado, every F-150 uses regular-grade gasoline. The Ford also has more available horsepower and scored better in crash tests. On the other hand, the Silverado sometimes costs less (depending on the options you want and the deals you find) and has a couple of tricks like the Transparent Trailer and Multi-Flex tailgate. And it’s the only option with a diesel. 

The Ram 1500 is newly updated with turbocharged six-cylinder engines that are more powerful and economical than the old Hemi V8. You can also get it with extra-opulent interior decor, an extra-big 14.5-inch touchscreen, or an extra-speedy 540-hp engine. On the flip side, traditionalists will prefer the Silverado’s available V8s, diesel, and lower-frills vibe – while tech folks will prefer its superior hands-free driving and trailer-camera features. 

Lastly, we love how the Tundra’s interior manages to appear both simple and luxurious. It scores well in crash tests, and its turbocharged V6 and gas-electric hybrid get better mileage than equivalent Silverados – except the diesel Chevy’s superior highway efficiency. But its choice of body styles and options is more limited than the Silverado’s, it can’t tow or haul quite as much, and it has fewer tech marvels.  

2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Well-Rounded Competence

The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 isn’t an obvious class leader among half-ton pickups. But it doesn’t have to be. With its broad model range, long list of available features, and well-rounded overall competence, it’s a truck that should keep anyone happy. And when maximum luxury is a distraction more than an asset, the Silverado has a simpler vibe than some rivals. 

The Silverado shows its age with mediocre crash-test scores and fuel economy – aside from its excellent diesel engine. And some truck buyers will prefer more luxury for their money. But thanks to solid bones and steady improvements to its interior, amenities, and tech features over the years, the Silverado is not a pickup to ignore. 

2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt