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2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Regular Cab

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Overview

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2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Regular Cab Review

By KBB.com Editors

Fresh from last year's overhaul that brought a stiffer frame, more powerful Duramax turbodiesel engine and a revised suspension, the Chevrolet Silverado HD trucks continue into 2012 little changed. In the world of powerful work trucks, the domestic manufacturers monopolize the field. The Ram HD and Ford F-Series HD trucks are equally capable, with one or the other claiming best-in-class in any number of categories, separated by no more than a few horsepower or couple more pounds of towing capacity. For many, the choice of an HD pickup truck comes down to a personal preference based on past experiences. If you're a Ford guy, you'll swear you'd never touch a Chevy, even though the 2012 Chevy Silverado HD can out-tow and out-haul the F-350.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you've been a longtime Chevy HD fan and it's time to trade-in your old outfit, the 2012 Chevy Silverado HD's numerous improvements will help keep you a Chevy loyalist. If you're an old Ram (formerly Dodge) or Ford guy and you aren't happy with your current rig, you might be pleasantly surprised just how capable the Chevy Silverado HD really is.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you're looking for the most powerful diesel engine in an HD truck, Ram's Cummins diesel engine takes top honors (torque, not horsepower). Those who like a little more upscale flair in their trucks might find the 2012 Chevy Silverado HD's styling and interior décor somewhat on the conservative side. A Ram Longhorn or Ford F-350 King Ranch might be more to your liking.

How It Ranks

#22

out of 48

Horsepower

#43

out of 46

Consumer Ratings

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Consumer Rating

8.6 out of 10

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consumer ratings

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Regular Cab Low/wide front photo

What's New for 2012

The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado HD trucks make new strides for 2012, with Chevy claiming best-in-class accolades for maximum fifth-wheel towing, conventional towing and payload.

Driving the Silverado 3500 HD Regular Cab

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Regular Cab Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions Thanks to its torque-heavy 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8, we found that towing a 10,000-pound trailer behind the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD truck posed absolutely no challenge whatsoever. The 2012...

Chevy Silverado HD's available Duramax diesel develops 397 horsepower and 765 lb-ft of torque (that's more horsepower but less torque than the Ram HD, and less horsepower and torque than the Ford PowerStroke diesel). Despite the difference in power from its main rivals, the Silverado HD still takes top honors in fifth-wheel and conventional towing, as well as payload figures. The Duramax diesel is a bit loud, but you wouldn't know it from inside the passenger compartment. One of our favorite features on the diesel truck is the "smart" exhaust braking setup. The system works by progressively restricting the diesel's exhaust, depending on speed and grade, to help slow the rig with added compression braking. We tested a number of 2012 Chevy Silverado HD trucks, with gas and diesel engines, long and short beds, and basic to plush trim levels. We found all exhibited a firm suspension, good steering ability and fairly compliant ride.

Favorite Features

Exhaust braking
This system progressively restricts the diesel's exhaust – depending on speed and grade – to help slow the rig with added compression braking.

Remote starting
A favorite on any vehicle, this available feature is especially appreciated on working trucks that operate in hot and cold weather extremes.

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Regular Cab Details

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Regular Cab Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The 2012 Chevy Silverado HD Work Truck has a more utilitarian interior intended to take a bit of a beating, as well as be more user-friendly to glove-clad hands and dirty work boots. The LTZ trims feature a more upscale dash, door panel and seat design better suited to the foreman than the roughneck. The 2012 Chevy Silverado HD truck's interior is peppered with storage compartments of varying sizes, including a big center armrest/console with a flip-up lid on bucket seat-equipped trims. Bench-seat models have a folding center section with storage and built-in cupholders. When properly equipped, a 2012 Chevy Silverado HD truck can serve as a mini rolling office, with such available features as a mobile WiFi hotspot, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS navigation and XM Satellite radio with NavTraffic traffic updates. Multiple power points throughout the cabin ensure you'll be able to power all of your mobile devices.

Exterior

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Regular Cab photo

The 2012 Chevy Silverado HD trucks are comprised of the 2500 and 3500 (three-quarter-ton and one-ton) models. Both trucks feature a beefed up version of the 1500 truck's grille and front end, with a larger chrome grille and bumpers, and a raised power-dome hood with integrated louvers. The 2500 models offer the option of 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels, while the 3500 can be equipped with a dually rear end. Tire sizes range from 17-inch (dually, or as Chevy spells it, "dooley") to 18- and 20-inch wheels on standard-chassis trucks.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Standard equipment on all 2012 Chevrolet Silverado HD trucks includes 4-wheel-disc brakes with ABS and Intelligent Brake Assist and the 6-speed automatic transmission, while StabiliTrak electronic stability control, Trailer Sway Control and Hill Start Assist (but not Hill Descent Control) are standard on single-rear-wheel (non-dually) models and "smart" exhaust braking comes with the Duramax diesel. Also standard are chrome front and rear bumpers, engine and transmission oil coolers, a driver information center, tilt steering wheel, automatic headlamps and front tow hooks. Standard safety features include front-seat airbags and a high-strength tubular steel frame crossmember that improves crashworthiness.

Optional Equipment

Optional (or unavailable) on the base 2012 Chevy Silverado Work Truck are such basic amenities as cruise control, power locks, windows and mirrors and a rear-window defroster. The next-level LT trim provides most of those, plus remote keyless entry, a CD player and more, but the rear-window defroster remains optional. The top-of-the-line LTZ trim (available on Extended and Crew Cab models) adds that plus leather trim, power seats and much more. Option packages are available, and other major options include navigation, a CD changer, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, remote start, premium wheels, a sunroof, a rear backup camera, an integrated trailer brake controller and pelvic/thorax and head-curtain airbags.

Under the Hood

2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Regular Cab Engine photo

The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado HD truck's standard heavy-duty Vortec 6.0-liter gasoline V8 has a cast-iron block, aluminum heads and cam-in-block variable valve timing (VVT), which allows the engine to use late intake valve closing to improve efficiency and achieve an optimum balance of low-rpm torque and free-breathing, high-rpm horsepower. The 2012 Silverado's 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel offers significantly more power and torque, "smart" exhaust braking, the Allison 1000 6-speed automatic transmission, and full B20 biodiesel capability. Its NOx emissions are reduced by some 63 percent via a selective catalyst reduction after-treatment system that uses urea-based diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in a 5.3-gallon tank that needs to be replenished about every 5,000 miles. Given the Duramax's standard 36-gallon tank, you can theoretically drive up to 680 miles between fill-ups, which equates to almost 19 mpg on the highway (unloaded).

6.0-liter V8
360 horsepower @ 5,400 rpm
380 lb-ft of torque @ 4,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

6.6-liter turbocharged diesel V8
397 horsepower @ 3,000 rpm
765 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

Pricing Notes

The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado HD truck is offered in work truck, LT and LTZ trim levels with prices starting at a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of just under $30,000; the available Duramax turbodiesel V8/Allison transmission combination adds another $7,100 to the bottom line. The MSRPs of the popular 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD crew-cab models are slightly higher than those of comparable 2012 Ram HDs and slightly lower than 2012 Ford Super Duties (we are talking a difference of a few hundred dollars, if that.) To get the best deal on your 2012 Chevy Silverado HD truck, check our Fair Purchase Price to see what buyers are actually paying in your area. The 5-year resale values should be roughly comparable to the Fords and better than the Rams.

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2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.6

Out of 10

Based on 94 Ratings for the 2007 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.5/10

Quality

8.7/10
Reliability

8.9/10

Performance

8.9/10
Comfort

8.9/10

Styling

8.8/10

Powerfull, dependable, economical for large truck

By Larry (MI) on Tuesday, July 23, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 100,000

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "fun to drive, powerful, comfortable, every option"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I use this vehicle for every day driving and for pulling a 5th wheel. It delivers all the power needed, even through the Rocky Mountains. The ride is comfortable. Has been very dependable. My only negative is that I have been driving for 50 years and this is the only vehicle that I ever replaced a wheel bearing, it appears the bearings are not sized properly."

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Love this truck, 5ft 7"wife drives it when she can

By Rich (TX) on Friday, April 19, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 80,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 7/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Tows what ever you want it to"

Cons: "Parking it at the Mall can be a challenge"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I purchased this truck to tow our 36ft 5th wheel with three slides, washer/dryer, three friges, three flat screen TVs, and more stuff then you can believe your wife can pack in it. This is got to be my 10th truck I've owned along with travel trailers, and Motor Homes. We work out of town and use our travel trailers and motor homes as second homes. This is the first truck I've owned that can tow a trailer this size like its not there and at amazing speeds. The only problem I've had thus far is the fuel gage sending unit, and the warranty cover that. The crew cab has lots of room and we have the 8ft bed, lots more room."

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delivers incredible towing,good looking,american

By andy (CA) on Tuesday, April 16, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 42,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "proud to drive such quality"

Cons: "not everybody has one"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"most powerful truck I have ever owned. excellent mpg for 1ton vehicle, 19.9 mpg on hwy. quiet ride for a truck, you think you are driving an escalade."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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5 months and 18,000 miles I still love this truck

By blandone (CO) on Thursday, September 06, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 18,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "more power than you will ever need"

Cons: "I got the CCLB so it's a long truck"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I tow though the mountains in Colorado all the time and this truck is great towing up the hills and even better going down them. I can set the cruise at 65mph and it will stay between 60 and 70mph going up and down the mountains on I70. This truck is one of the most comfortable vehicles I've ever had."

7 people out of 7 found this review helpful

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Best Money You Can Spend

By DIvey (TX) on Thursday, July 12, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 1,500

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "More power then You'll ever need"

Cons: "None so far"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This is my 3rd dually, first one a 2005 Dodge with the 5.9L. Great engine, poor drivetrain. 2nd a 2008 Chevy 6.6L.This truck would pull a coal train but got poor mileage. Traded it for a 2011 Chevy 2500 with the 6.0L Loved the lower payments but the constant downshifting drove me crazy when towing. Just bought the new 2012 Chevy LTZ with the 6.6L After breaking it in hooked a 30' trailer with 17 round bales weighing about a thousand pounds a piece to it. Hay and trailer weight around 23,000 pounds. The Duramax pulled this load 150 miles at 65 MPH. The exhaust brake helped alot slowing the load down. This truck could have pulled another 10,000 pounds with no problem. The 2012 in my opinion is the best produced in resent years. I love this truck!"

10 people out of 10 found this review helpful

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Can't wait to get rid of the vehicle

By Sam (CO) on Monday, April 23, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 11,000

10 1.0

overall rating 1 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 1/10
Value: 2/10
Reliability: 1/10
Quality: 1/10
Performance: 6/10
Styling: 6/10
Comfort: 5/10

Pros: "Good power, when it works"

Cons: "Can't get parts or satisfaction from GM"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"The truck has 11,000 miles on it. Has been in the shop for the last 30 days. GM is of no help in getting the issue resolved. They think it is a fuel delivery problem. Replacing all the fuel injection componets (if they can find them). I plan to trade this in as soon as I can get it from the dealer. Dealer thinks maybe another week or two, maybe longer before they can get it to me. The truck is stuck out of state. Chevy again, I think not."

4 people out of 10 found this review helpful

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