Competes with: Ford Super Duty, Ram 2500/3500
Looks like: A less garish Silverado 2500/3500 with the interior it should have had from the start
Powertrains: 6.6-liter V-8 with 401 horsepower, 464 pounds-feet of torque or turbo-diesel 6.6-liter V-8 with 470 hp, 975 pounds-feet of torque; 10-speed automatic transmission; rear- or four-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: First half of 2023
The heavy-duty pickup truck class is one of the most fiercely competitive in the automotive industry, especially with only three choices: Ford’s Super Duties, Ram’s 2500/3500 and Chevrolet’s Silverado 2500/3500. Nearly every announcement of updates to any of these trucks seems designed to get one over on the competition with a little more horsepower or torque, or a higher maximum towing or payload capacity. While it offers some performance enhancements, the refreshed 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD takes aim at an area it has neglected: off-roading.
For the first time, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD will offer a ZR2 trim, though Chevy is being coy on most of the details surrounding this new trim. The Ram 2500 Power Wagon is the king of the off-roading heavy-duty pickup class, though Ford’s Tremor trim helped the Blue Oval dip its toes into the water. With the upcoming ZR2, Chevy’s most hardcore off-road trim, the Power Wagon may have a challenger, though we’ll have to wait and see for more details.
Other updates for the 2024 Silverado HD are welcome, from refreshed front styling that looks less garish to an upgraded interior design and layout that brings the Silverado HD in line with the Silverado 1500 half-ton pickup and Tahoe and Suburban full-size SUVs. Powertrain enhancements include more horsepower and torque for the Duramax turbo-diesel V-8 and the elimination of the six-speed automatic transmission for the gas V-8; every Silverado HD now will use the Allison 10-speed automatic.
Exterior
New for 2024 are the Silverado HD’s reverse-C LED headlights, which Chevy says it pushed outward to the edge of the truck to create a more imposing presence. The LTZ, ZR2 and High Country trims will get dual-projector headlights that perform a lighting sequence to say goodbye to owners as they leave their truck. Tow hooks are now standard, and the Silverado HD gets new exterior paint colors and new wheel options for various trims.
The 2024 Silverado HD High Country will also come in a new Midnight Edition appearance package, with black badging, black chrome trim, black power side steps and black-painted 20- or 22-inch wheels.
Interior
On the LT and above, the Silverado HD’s interior layout will look very familiar to those who have paid attention to recent updates to the Tahoe and Suburban SUVs and Silverado 1500 half-ton pickup. A 13.4-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel are standard on all but the Work Truck and Custom variants. The center console area has been redesigned for improved storage and wireless device charging, and backseat passengers now get climate vents and controls.
Powertrain, Towing and Payload
Gone for 2024 is the six-speed automatic transmission for the Silverado HD’s gas V-8. Now, regardless of engine choice, buyers get an Allison 10-speed automatic. Gas trucks get a 3.73 final drive ratio, while the diesel’s is 3.42. The new transmission should offer improved performance from the gas V-8, according to Chevy, as well as a higher maximum towing capacity of 26,000 pounds, up from 24,000 in the previous gas Silverado HD.
The Duramax turbo-diesel 6.6-liter V-8 gets enhancements that Chevy says improves both fuel efficiency and low-end torque. Horsepower and torque are also improved: The Duramax now makes 470 hp (up from 445) and 975 pounds-feet of torque (up from 910). Maximum towing remains consistent at 36,000 pounds.
Depending on configuration, maximum payload may actually drop slightly from the previous Silverado HD, which Chevy attributed to changes in packaging and content. The maximum payload across the lineup is found in the gas-engine, dually RWD Silverado 3500’s 7,290 pounds, down from 7,442 in the 2022 model. Given how varied maximum payload can be, be sure to consult the door jamb sticker, which provides precise towing and payload capacities for that particular truck.
Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 | Manufacturer image
What remains unclear at this time is whether the ZR2 will use either of these powertrains or if it will add a third engine to the mix. It’s also unclear whether it will only be a three-quarter-ton 2500 or available as a one-ton 3500, as well.
Trailering Tech Improvements
To make towing even easier, the 2024 Silverado HD gains a number of technology improvements. New for 2024 is adaptive cruise control that recognizes the presence of a trailer, adjusting acceleration and braking behavior accordingly. GM’s Transparent Trailer technology also now works with gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers; the camera system provides a view that makes the trailer appear invisible, providing a clearer image of what is behind and around the trailer. The 2024 Silverado HD also adds Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert, which accounts for a trailer when calculating blind spot warnings, and a gross combined weight alert system that alerts drivers if the truck and trailer combination exceeds the pickup’s specific GCW rating.
Pricing and Release Date
The new 2024 Silverado HD will go on sale in the “first half” of 2023, which could mean as late as June, with pricing to come closer to that time. The ZR2 will go on sale later, with more details coming as that time approaches.
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Keyword: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD: New Face, New Interior, More Diesel Power, ZR2 on the Way