The Chevy Silverado is, arguably, America’s favorite vehicle. But, in recent years, it has fallen behind its competitors in a few areas. So, for 2022, Chevrolet has given the truck a major refresh. The results are impressive.
First, that argument – yes, the Ford F-150 outsells it (or has every year for more than four decades). But there’s an asterisk to that best-selling-truck title. General Motors builds one large truck and sells it under two names, with different equipment. The Silverado and the GMC Sierra are, functionally, two takes on the same truck. Combined, their numbers outsell the F-150.
Any discussion of truck sales should also note that the Ram 1500 took the lead from Ford and GM in the second quarter of this year. That’s happening, in part, because Ram has kept its factories running more consistently through a worldwide shortage of microchips hobbling truck production.
But it may also have happened because the Ram and the F-150 have bested the Silverado on cabin finish for several years.
Chevy noticed. And it responded. A refreshed Silverado bowed today. Chevy hasn’t revealed prices for the new model year. For reference, the 2021 truck starts at $28,495 for a stripped-down work truck, but trim levels and options can more than double that price.
A Better Cabin in Every Way
The 2022 Chevy Silverado isn’t an entirely new truck. It’s what we call a mid-cycle refresh – a few tweaks to bring a vehicle up to date for some years while engineers work on the brand new truck that will take its place. But this is an unusually thorough refresh, and much of it has come inside.
The Work Truck, Custom, and Custom Trail Boss trim levels soldier on with the old cabin materials. But those are trucks bought mostly for the job site, where the durability of the materials matters more than their feel.
Personal-use buyers are far more likely to buy the LT or any of several higher trim levels that turn the Silverado into a comfortable family truck and daily driver.
Those trims get an entirely redesigned dashboard. The old model was a bit tall and heavy on hard plastic. The new one features a pleasant mix of materials – wood, chrome, and soft-touch upholstered pieces. That hard black plastic is limited to the screen surrounds, where it doesn’t look out of place.
And, speaking of screens, they’re large and customizable. A 12.3-inch digital display takes the place of the traditional instrument bezel, while a huge 13.4-inch central touchscreen handles information and entertainment duties.
An electronic shifter that looks like a throttle handle appears on the center console, replacing the old-school column shifter.
Google Maps, Assistant, and Play are all standard equipment, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
Sheetmetal Nips and Tucks
The exterior of the Silverado didn’t need as much work. But it got a bit all the same.
The grille has been simplified. It’s cleaner by dispensing with the horizontal body-color elements that complicate the 2021 truck’s fascia. The headlights are a bit narrower and moved down slightly. On the LT and higher trims, there’s now an animation that plays across the lights as you approach the truck or leave it. It’s a playful little touch and one that adds personality.
Minor Mechanical Changes
Under the hood, little has changed. But buyers will appreciate those few tweaks.
The base 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine puts out the same 310 horsepower as before, but its torque has been boosted by more than 20% to 420 lb-ft. The 3.0-liter DuraMax turbodiesel engine is now offered with the tow package, bringing its tow rating to 13,300 pounds.
New ZR2 Off-Road Trim
With a wildly improved interior and a few mechanical tweaks for 2022, the sort of Silverado that families buy is now equipped to slug it out with the best from Ford and Ram. But Chevy still lacked a definitive halo truck to challenge the Ford Raptor or Ram TRX.
Chevy noticed that, too.
To answer, they’ve introduced the 2022 Silverado ZR2.
It boasts a standard 6.2L V8 that delivers 420 horsepower that pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission. But, as with the Raptor, designers put the ZR2’s emphasis on its suspension.
That includes 40mm Multimatic spool-valve dampers and unique front springs that should enable it to bounce through off-road obstacles that would stop other trucks. Front and rear suspension travel have been increased. An adjustable suspension includes modes for different types of terrain. For the first time, a Silverado is equipped for one-pedal rock crawling.
The steel front bumper has been reshaped to give it a 31.8-degree approach angle. The ZR2 rides on 33-inch off-road MT tires and comes with a set of model-specific skid plates to protect the undercarriage.
Should you manage to damage it anyway, the bumper has replaceable end-caps for cheaper repairs. The rear bumper protects the dual exhaust to keep it from damage.
A black hood insert sets the ZR2 apart visually. GM’s heavily-advertised MultiFlex tailgate is standard. Pricing will likely put the ZR2 at the top of the Silverado line. For 2021, the most expensive Silverado High Country model tops $70,000.
Class of 2022: All the New and Redesigned Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
