Heavy hitter: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 review

Offered in Australia in a single, high-spec grade, the $163,000 2024 Silverado 2500 benefits from revised front-end styling, a new dash layout and an increase in torque… up to a stonking 1322Nm!

While there’s no doubt that there’s been a boom in the number of full-size American pickups on Australian roads, the majority of them are the lower priced and lower capacity 1500 class trucks.

These include Chevrolet’s own Silverado LTZ and ZR2 models as well the RAM 1500 Big Horn, Laramie and Limited models, Ford’s two F-150 offerings and soon the Tundra from Toyota. Only Chevrolet and RAM offer the heavy duty 2500 models in Australia with RAM going a step further with the 3500 also available.

JUMP AHEAD

• Powertrain and performance
• Driving and towing
• Interior
• Practicalities
• Safety
• VERDICT
• Specs

Powertrain and performance

While they might look similar in size and style, there are plenty of under-the-skin components that make a 2500 truck heavy duty.

For starters, they come with big turbo-diesel engines while all the 1500s in Australia are petrol rigs. While diesel is still the preferred fuel for long-distance driving and towing in this country, this is a big drawcard.

The next thing is capacity, specifically the amount of load they can carry and tow. Depending on what licence you have, the payload can be up to 1386kg with a towing capacity of up to 4500kg. A regular Australian driving licence restricts you to just 733kg of payload as your GVM is limited to just 4495kg, but a heavier licence takes it up to 5148kg GVM. You also need to remember that the Silverado 2500 weighs in at 3762kg kerb, so it’s a lot of truck.

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These trucks are designed and tested to haul and tow a lot more in the USA but Australian rules restrict what is allowed. A part of the testing that Chevrolet does for involves hauling a 20,000kg load up a long steep incline to make sure that the truck is up to the task.

To ensure that it is, the 2500 has a heavier duty chassis than the 1500 class Silverado, and heavier duty axles with a 2994kg rating on the rear axle and 2540kg under the front end.

Then there’s that 1322Nm, 6.6-litre turbo diesel V8 engine backed by a 10-speed Allison transmission to make light work of carrying such loads. It was updated for 2024 with the increased maximum torque figure coming courtesy of new pistons, a new turbocharger and new fuel injection system. It is a monster of an engine with a monstrous cooling system to ensure it hauls the load reliably and efficiently. A big part of the 20-tonne-long climb is to ensure the cooling system is up to the job.

Braking ability isn’t overlooked either and controlling all that towed weight on long descents is made easier with large four-wheel disc brakes, an exhaust brake and a built-in trailer brake controller.

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Driving and towing

The Silverado 2500 is a heavy duty truck in all aspects, not just the HD designation in the model name.

It’s built to do its job reliably for many kilometres and our drive included towing a trailer of around three tonnes which the driveline handled with ease, albeit with a bit of bounce combing from the rear suspension.

Importantly, the Silverado 2500 is equipped with a dual-range transfer case that also offers an automatic on-demand four-wheel drive setting, allowing you to operate it in 4x4 on any road surface. This is particularly important when you are trying to put 1322Nm of grunt through the tyres when pulling a load in slippery conditions.

We nailed the throttle on the Chev a few times when climbing and only instigated a minor wheel slip that was quickly arrested by the traction control. The rear differential also has a self-locking capability when more wheel spin is inevitable on gravel roads.

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Despite having low range, the locking rear diff and reasonable ground clearance, the big Chevs are not great off-road vehicles, particularly on Australian bush tracks where their size and mass make life difficult. Australian-spec Silverados all come equipped with the Z71 off-road package which includes underbody protection plates and specifically tuned Rancho brand shock absorbers.

Even with this kit the 2500’s strengths lie in being an all-road load hauler but, being American, there is a huge aftermarket industry in the USA that you can lean on to modify a Silverado for better off road ability.

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Interior

The Silverado might be a solid workhorse but in the LTZ specification offered in Australia, it doesn’t compromise on comfort and convenience features.

A major part of the 2024 update is a new dashboard which is inline with the updates to the 1500 trucks last year. The new dash includes a 13.4-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system and a 12.3-inch configurable screen for the driver’s dash.

These screens bring the Chev’s dash up to modern standards with accessible screens for navigation, audio, phone mirroring, many different camera angles, trailer set up and safety checks among the features. A Bose sound system and powered sunroof add to the premium feel of the cabin.

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A few of the more useful camera features include side views when you use the indicator, which displays down the side of the truck and trailer, and the ability to see behind your caravan or trailer if it is equipped with its own camera.
The dashtop is trimmed in leather as are the large front and rear seats.

The front seats have 10-way electric adjustment with cooling and heating while the wide rear bench makes do with heating only. As you would expect there is plenty of room in both rows of seating which is something you can’t say for any of the popular midsize 4x4 utes.

The well-appointed and spacious interior makes the Silverado a supreme long-distance tourer with the family especially for those who are towing, be it a large horse float, boat, caravan or any other heavy trailer with all the ancillary gear carried in the large load tray. Again, something that no midsize 4x4 ute can match.

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Practicalities

A truck wouldn’t be a truck unless it was practicable.

And unless you live in the suburbs and this is your daily for the school and shopping run, the Silverado is plenty practical. With abundant interior space and exceptional abilities this would be a very easy truck to live with providing you have the space for it.

The cargo bed measures a massive 2089mm long, 1814mm wide and 533mm deep with 1317mm between the wheel arches, meaning there’s a heap of space back there to carry whatever you want providing it isn’t too heavy. If you were towing at the maximum – 4500kg trailer with 450kg on the towball – you’d have lost more than half of your payload and be limited to how many passengers you had on board, let alone what’s in the cargo bed.

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The bed has 12 tie-down points inside it but no 12-volt power outlet. Inside there are USB power points for both front and rear seat passengers and extra underseat storage in the rear. The 2500 rides on 20-inch alloy wheels but the tyres are relatively tall LT rated ones that still leave plenty of sidewall to protect the rims and cushion the ride. A TPMS is standard kit.

The standard fuel tank hold 136-litre of diesel and the AdBlue tank carries 26.5-litres. We expect a big rig like this would suck down a fair bit of AdBlue when towing at its full capacity. As mentioned there are a lot of aftermarket accessories available for the Silverado to customise the truck to whatever your use is.

GMSV only offers a three-year/100,000km warranty on its vehicles with thrre-years of roadside assistance. Scheduled serving runs out to every 12-months or 12,000km, whichever comes up first.

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Safety

Just because it’s a truck doesn’t mean there’s any compromise in safety in the Silverado 2500.

Standard kit includes a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), electronic stability and traction control, six airbags, Forward Collision Alert with Low Speed AEB, 360 Degree camera with up to 14 Camera views, Head-Up Display, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Front and Rear Park Assist. The Silverado 2500 has not been tested by ANCAP for a safety rating.

Verdict

The Silverado 2500 has few true competitors in Australia when you consider its capabilities.

The RAM 2500 Laramie comes in at $172,950 as the closest rival with similar ability. The Ford F-250 is another but is not sold here by Ford Australia, but imported via independent sellers such as American Vehicle Sales, Performax and Harrison F-Trucks in various specifications and prices.

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Aside from these trucks there is nothing else that can offer the space, equipment and capabilities of the Silverado 2500 HD, and with a starting price of $163k the Chev has the lowest price of entry to the HD truck market. Its size and price mean it won’t be for everyone but for those who need such attributes it makes a great choice.

Tightening global emission standards won’t be kind to trucks of this ilk and could result in derated engines and more complex powertrains in the near future, so now might be good time to secure a 2500 for your heavy haulin’ needs.

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2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LTZ specs

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