2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

If you take a look at traffic while on the highway, you’ll see Chevrolet Silverado work trucks in white with a company logo on the door. You’ll see them lifted with immaculate paint. Some will have saddles and gear from the ranch in the bed, others will have a toolbox and construction gear. The Silverado is the archetypal truck, the unassuming pickup with a trim level for nearly every use case. It’s a handy tool that gets the job done, with towing and payload capacities that are just shy of best in class.

The all-electric Chevrolet Silverado EV is reviewed separately, as is the even more capable Silverado HD.

There are only minor updates for 2026. Across the lineup, White Sands (a beige hue) and Polar White replace Iridescent Pearl and Slate Gray. There’s also a new RST Select Special Edition that brings the sporty RST appearance package to a more affordable price point. Additionally, the ZR2 now comes standard with the Technology Package and the Multi-Flex tailgate.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has the lowest starting price of any full-size truck for 2026, just edging out the Ford F-150. It’s also less expensive than the GMC Sierra 1500, its corporate sibling. The Toyota Tundra, which isn’t available in a regular cab model, begins several thousand dollars higher.

The most popular trim level for the Silverado is the LT Crew Cab with the 5.3-liter V8 engine. When comparing a Silverado Crew Cab to a similarly equipped crew cab rival, they tend to be priced similarly.

Before buying a new Silverado 1500, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Tundra enjoys the strongest resale values of full-size trucks, while the Silverado 1500 is about average.

All four of the Silverado’s engines have plenty of power. The turbo-4 is spry off the line, and it has more torque than the base 5.3-liter V8, which is the most popular engine in the Silverado. That V8 is a solid choice. It’s refined, with smooth acceleration and confident power when driving on the freeway and towing. If you’re looking for a deeper exhaust note and an extra jolt of power, there’s the optional 6.2-liter V8. And for the maximum towing capacity, or if you just love the torquey, smooth acceleration of a diesel engine, that’s available too.

One surprise about driving the Silverado is that it drives smaller than it is. The ride lets in just enough of the road to remind you that you’re driving a truck, and it’s comfortable for longer trips. Braking and steering feel natural and nicely predictable. If you want a truck with an even nicer ride, the upscale, luxurious High Country trim is available with adaptive ride control. On the other end of the spectrum, the most rugged, trail-ready ZR2 has an off-road-biased suspension and wheel and tire package, yet its ride is well composed on-road.

One of our favorite things about driving the Silverado is Super Cruise. This semi-autonomous system, available exclusively on the High Country trim, allows for hands-off-the-wheel, eyes-on-the-road driving on over 750,000 miles of North American highways. Its expansive map, functionality while towing, and automatic lane-changing capability make Super Cruise one of our favorite hands-free systems of its kind.

Payload and Towing

Depending on engine and cab, payload capacity ranges from 1,520 to 2,260 lbs. For the setup with the most payload capacity, look for a rear-wheel drive (RWD) Silverado with the 4-cylinder. If towing is your top priority, the Silverado can tow up to a maximum of 13,300 pounds with the turbodiesel engine or 13,200 pounds with the gas 6.2-liter V8.

Fuel Economy

With the highly sought-after 5.3-liter V8 and 4-wheel drive (4WD) combo, fuel economy for the Chevy Silverado is 17 mpg combined. Considering all the engine options, fuel economy is generally comparable to that of other full-size trucks on the market. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel offers the best fuel economy you can get in the Silverado, at 25 combined mpg. That means it has the highest towing capacity and the best fuel economy.

There are some styling differences among the trims, but for the most part, the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s interiors are practical and well laid out, prioritizing ease of use over glitz. There is room for three to six people, depending on the cab. If you want a roomy truck cab, the Silverado is best in class when it comes to front head- and legroom. Seats are comfortable, and the interior is quiet.

The levels of tech and features vary based on trim level. While that’s the case with many full-size trucks, it’s more noticeable with the Silverado, as recent updates to the touchscreen and other tech do not come to the Work Truck and Custom trims, which get a 7-inch touchscreen. The LT and higher trims receive a 13.4-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge screen with a driver information center. These add a modern touch of flair to a somewhat subdued cabin. The showiest interior belongs to the luxurious High Country. That trim level adds two-tone leather seating, more woodgrain on the dash and doors, and luxe touches that are elegant but not gaudy.

Chevy added clever storage inside the cab, with enough pockets, cupholders, and cubbies to make the interior as functional as a pair of cargo pants. There are even hidden storage nooks in the centers of the rear seat cushions. The Silverado is available as a 3-passenger regular cab and as a 5- or 6-passenger double cab or crew cab. Compared to rival crew cab trucks, the Silverado’s rear legroom is in the middle of the pack, with the Ram being the most spacious.

When you look at the 2026 Silverado, there’s no question that’s what you see. But there are differences among the trims that reveal subtle differences. Here’s a bit of trivia for you: the Chevy Bowtie isn’t in the center of the grille until you move up to the LT trim. Across the board, the grille pattern and Bowtie vary based on trim level. The wheel options are different, too.

Trims start with the WT (work truck) and value-minded Custom, up to the mainstream LT. The RST has street truck style, which is now more accessible thanks to the new budget-friendly RST Select package. The Silverado’s LTZ trim is more luxurious, and the High Country offers the most luxe features. With a lifted suspension and mud terrain tires, the Trail Boss trims are the gateway to off-roading. The ZR2 is at the top of the off-road heap, with the most aggressive wheel and tire package, plus skid plates, and its capability goes even further when you add on the Bison Edition Package.

The Silverado comes with an 8-foot (long bed), 6.5-foot (standard bed), or 5.67-foot bed (short bed). If you want the long bed, your only choice is the regular cab. Beds feature 12 tie-down points, a corner bed step, and LED lighting in all models except the WT trim. You also have your choice of a regular tailgate, power up/down tailgate, or the versatile, reconfigurable Multi-Flex tailgate.

Trailering Tech
The in-vehicle trailering app lets you test trailer lights, it will sound an alert if someone tries to disconnect the trailer, and lets you set up a pre-departure checklist before towing.

Trailer Camera System
Available for LTZ and higher trim levels, this camera system gives you 14 views of your truck and trailer, including one view that shows an unobstructed view of the road behind the trailer.

Multi-Flex Tailgate
If the interior is like cargo pants, this tailgate is the Swiss Army knife. Depending on how you fold it, this tailgate can serve as a bed step, work surface, bed extender, and more.

Super Cruise
Super Cruise lets you safely drive with your hands off the wheel and your feet off the pedals, keeping your eyes on the road. It works on more than 750,000 miles of specially designated roads in North America. It also works when you’re towing. It’s available in the High Country trim.

Creative Storage
In addition to storing gear under the rear seat, the Silverado features storage spaces in the center of the rear seat cushions, as well as two glove compartments. For trucks equipped with a front bench seat, there’s more hidden storage under that seat.

The engine in the most affordable trim levels is a 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder. Its 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque are more than sufficient for most people. This engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and is available with either 2-wheel drive (2WD) or 4-wheel drive (4WD). All the other engines are backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The most popular engine, the 5.3-liter V8, makes 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Also available with 2- or 4WD, it’s standard in the LTZ and High Country, and optional in the Work Truck, LT, RST, and Trail Boss trims.

For extra oomph and more exhilarating acceleration, there’s the 6.2-liter V8. This engine has 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. It is available with the RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country, and ZR2.

The fourth engine in the lineup is a 3.0-liter, 305-hp turbodiesel. It has 495 lb-ft of torque, as well as the best fuel economy of the line. It only comes with 4WD. The turbodiesel engine comes standard on the ZR2 and is available on the Custom Trail Boss, LT, LT Trail Boss, RST, LTZ, and High Country models.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Chevrolet’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. These are typical for the sector. Roadside assistance is also provided for the same term as the powertrain. And the first routine service is free.

Safety Ratings

While the 2026 model has not been fully tested, the 2025 Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab performed fairly well in crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), earning a top score of “Good” in all main categories, except for a “Marginal” rating in the front passenger-side small overlap impact. It has also earned a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, and a following distance indicator.