What's New
The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado gains an extension to the off-road ZR2 trim with AEV coming on board to help create the ZR2 Bison and the inline six-cylinder diesel engine receives updates for more power output.
Choosing Your Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The Silverado is offered in nine trims: WT, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, ZR2, and High Country. Base prices range from $37,395 to $71,895.
Engine Choices
There are four powertrain configurations with most trims featuring the four-cylinder turbocharged engine and offering a V8 as an option. The RST, LTZ, and High Country trims feature the smaller of the two V8s as their standard powerplant and offer the larger V8 and the diesel as alternatives while the ZR2 can only be equipped with the larger V8.
Rear-wheel drive is standard although the Trail Boss and ZR2 are, as expected, equipped with a two-speed four-wheel-drive system – otherwise an option on the other trims for about $3,300.
The diesel makes headlines for its efficiency, however, its higher price-per-gallon means the four-cylinder is the least expensive engine to fuel. Note that the off-road trims with the severe-duty tires have a significant impact on fuel efficiency.
| Engine / Transmission | Horsepower / Torque | Trim Std | Fuel Economy |
2.7-L turbo I4 8AT | 310 hp / 430 lb-ft | WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, LT Trail Boss | 20 [RWD 19 [4WD] 17 [4WD with off-road tires] |
5.3-L V8 10AT | 355 hp / 383 lb-ft | RST [crew cab], LTZ, High Country | 19 [RWD] 17 [4WD] 16 [4WD with off-road tires] |
3.0-liter turbo I6 diesel 10AT | 305 hp / 495 lb-ft | - | 26 [RWD] 24 [4WD] 22 [4WD with off-road tires] |
6.2-L V8 10AT | 420 hp / 460 lb-ft | ZR2 | 16 [4WD] 15 [ZR2] |
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The WT is available in regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab configuration, the Custom, LT, and RST can be had in the extended cab [with four forward-hinged doors] or crew cab, and the LT Trail Boss, LTZ, ZR2, and High Country are only available as a crew cab. There are also three bed lengths with the standard cab offering the standard length bed [about 6.5 feet] and the long bed [about eight feet], the extended cab featuring the standard bed, and the crew cab with either the standard bed or the short bed [about 5.75 feet long].
The Custom trims feature a front bench seat for seating up to six while the other trims are limited to five passengers. Those forced to ride in the back might feel squeezed by the extended cab’s 35.2 inches of legroom and will much prefer the crew cab’s 43.4 inches of legroom.
The popular crew cab and short bed configuration stretches to 232 inches.
That same model [with four-wheel drive] can tow 9,000 pounds with the four-cylinder engine, up to 11,000 pounds with the 5.3-liter V8, and 13,200 pounds with the 6.2-liter V8. The diesel isn’t far behind with a 13,000-pound rating. The ZR2 sees a lower 8,800-pound maximum due to its off-road focused suspension.
Maximum payload ranges from about 1,900 to 2,200 pounds depending on the trim.
Safety Features
All Silverados are equipped with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a follow-distance indicator, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams while the consumer-friendly LT trim additionally includes an HD rearview camera and offers blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic braking, rear park assist, and GM’s vibrating safety alert seat and offers the Safety Package [$990] that includes a surround-view monitor, perimeter lighting, and safety equipment related trailering such as an integrated trailer brake controller, trailer side blind zone alert, additional trailer camera inputs, and the trailering app that can check the connections, however, it also requires additional packages to be selected. Adaptive cruise control is offered on most trims while the High Country is available with a semi-autonomous Super Cruise system which recently doubled its mapping coverage.
The 2023 Silverado has not yet been rated by IIHS and NHTSA awards it with four stars.
Connectivity
The commercial-oriented trims [WT and Custom] feature a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while the consumer-friendly trims [LT and up] are equipped with a landscape 13.4-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM 360L, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and advanced voice recognition.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Work Truck [WT] – MSRP From $37,395
The WT is identified by its black bumpers, door handles, mirrors, and grille, 17-inch silver steel wheels, black vinyl seats, and rubberized floors, and features a corner-step rear bumper, power door locks and windows, and a locking tailgate.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom – MSRP From $44,695
The Custom trim features significant upgrades such as body-colored front and rear bumpers, tinted windows, power heated mirrors, 20-inch alloy wheels, LED cargo bed lighting, a tailgate with lift-assist and remote locking, the trailering package, cloth seats with 10-way power adjustability for the driver, and carpeted flooring.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss – MSRP From $52,595
The Custom Trail Boss sees additional off-road goodies such as a two-inch suspension lift, off-road shocks, skid plates, an automatically locking rear differential, hill-descent control, black front and rear bumpers with red recovery hooks, black 18-inch wheels with off-road tires, and a raised hood which helps to add a distinct look.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT – MSRP From $48,795
The LT carries chrome front and rear bumpers, mirror caps, and grille, 17-inch silver painted wheels, LED headlights with signature LED daytime running lights and animated turn signals, body-color door handles with proximity entry, heated front seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and dual-zone climate control.
Customers will want to check out the Max Trailering Package [$1,125] which adds an integrated trailer brake controller, automatic locking rear differential, and upgraded cooling and suspension components but also requires an engine upgrade and 20-inch wheels, the Off-Road Suspension Package [$1,250] [which also requires an engine upgrade], and the Convenience Package [$840] that adds a power sliding rear window, a universal remote, a trailer brake controller, and a rear camera hitch view.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 RST – MSRP From $52,995
The RST trades the chrome of the LT for a mono-chromatic look with body-color front and rear bumpers and grille crossbar, as well as LED fog lights and the packages of the LT trim. Additionally, the Redline Edition Package [$3,625] adds gloss black exterior trim, emblems and badging, grille, dual exhaust outlets, and 20-inch wheels with red stripes. The headlight housings are darkened while the front tow hooks are painted red, side steps are added, and the bed receives a spray-on liner.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ – MSRP From $57,795
The LTZ trim also wears a chrome-heavy exterior, like the LT, and adds silver 20-inch wheels, a power tailgate, upgraded headlights, advanced trailering features, perforated leather seats with ventilation and memory positioning for the driver and 10-way power adjustment for the passenger, a Bose sound system, and a surround-view monitor. The LTZ Premium Package is offered for $1,620 and includes adaptive cruise control, heated rear seats, a sunroof, and a power sliding rear window. With the Premium Package, the Technology Package is available for $1,520 and adds a digital rearview mirror, a head-up display, and a camera for the cargo bed.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country – MSRP From $62,895
The premium Silverado trim receives unique 20-inch wheels with painted pockets, body-color front and rear bumpers, mirror caps, and door handles, chrome side steps and tow hooks, the features of the LTZ’s Premium Package. The High Country Premium II Package is a steep $7,590, however, it brings everything the Silverado has to offer such as 22-inch wheels, adaptive dampers, the features of the Technology Package, power-retractable side steps, and Super Cruise.
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 – MSRP From $71,895
The ZR2 trim is what you’ll most likely see on TV bounding over boulders or getting air on some desert trail. It’s lifted suspension with Multimatic dampers, 18-inch wheels with unique 33-inch off-road tires, high-clearance bumpers, locking front and rear differentials, and terrain modes for the four-wheel-drive system. The ZR2 is also loaded with creature comforts and has a distinguished appearance that goes beyond its raised stance. Gloss black door handles, grille, emblems, mirror caps, front and rear bumpers, along with darkened headlight bezels, a raised hood with a black insert, red tow hooks, power-folding mirrors, perimeter lighting, a surround-view camera, gray perforated leather seats with yellow accent stitching with heating and ventilation for the front seats and heating for the rear, and a Bose sound system. The Technology Package is available for $1,970.
Most notably, the new Bison Edition will be available later this year. Taking its cues from the popular Colorado ZR2 Bison Edition, the Silverado ZR2 gains unique 18-inch wheels, stamped front and rear bumpers that are more durable and feature integrated recovery points, additional skid plates that have been strengthened, rock rails, a body-color grille insert, and AEV Bison logos embroidered into the headrests.
Compare Silverado 1500 Trims Side-By-Side
CarsDirect Tip
The LT trim with the upgraded engine and Maximum Trailering Package help make the most out of the Silverado’s capabilities while also providing a long list of creature comforts for when it’s simply being used as a commuter.