Cargazing
By Derek Price
There are two things to know about the Chevy Silverado HD.
One, it’s probably the quietest heavy-duty pickup ever built. Even though it feels like it could tow a house, it’s as silent as a library when you roll up the windows — diesel engine or not.
And two, unless you can find a dealer willing to let you put a half ton of cargo in the back during your test drive, you won’t be able to experience this truck’s ride in its best light.
At the beginning of my week-long test of the Silverado HD — a 2500 model with the diesel engine and fancy High Country trim package — I thought the ride felt a bit too stiff and bouncy. Pickup trucks, even the built-for-work, three-quarter-ton models like this, have gotten so refined lately that you’ve got to be picky about things like that.
But when I loaded the bed full to the brim with bags of wet mulch, good for probably 1,000 pounds of weight, it had a magical effect on the Silverado. The bounciness was gone. The ride smoothed out. And it became obvious that this truck is happiest when it’s doing what it was designed to do, actually carrying some weight over its rear axle.
Granted, wet mulch isn’t much of a test for a heavy-duty truck. It’s engineered to carry more than 4,000 pounds of payload with the right configuration, so I was only carrying a fraction of what it was designed for.
The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD has a softer, smoother ride when it’s carrying weight in the bed. It also uses the industry-standard J2807 testing method to derive its tow ratings this year.
With a trailer, it can haul far more. The Silverado 2500 is rated for up to 14,500 pounds of conventional towing or 18,000 pounds with a gooseneck. And you know those figures are legit because they were tested using the industry-standard SAE J2807 procedures, not the old make-up-your-own-rules system that truck companies previously used when evaluating their towing capacity.
General Motors deserves kudos for switching to the J2807 standard this year. Hallelujah!
There are several noteworthy changes for the Silverado HD in 2016.
A new steering system, called Digital Steering Assist, tops the list. Chevy says it’s designed to make the driver feel more confident when hauling cargo or pulling a trailer, offering a better, more responsive steering feel. Personally, I thought the difference was very subtle, but other drivers may notice it more — particularly when trailers are involved. I didn’t try it with a trailer.
Its digital infotainment system, Chevrolet MyLink, is upgraded with faster processors and Apple CarPlay this year. It felt quick, snappy and easy to use with my iPhone 6 hooked up via a USB cable.
There’s also a new package that configures the truck for gooseneck trailers from the factory, including a spray-in bedliner. It has a platform that mounts to the frame and can accommodate either a gooseneck ball hitch or mounting brackets for a fifth-wheel hitch, and it’s available in both gasoline and diesel models.
For a truck designed to do hard work, the Silverado 2500’s interior feels surprisingly nice. It’s almost like a modern SUV, particularly on the high-end LTZ and High Country trim levels.
If you can afford it, the High Country package is a great way to do hard work in the lap of luxury. It comes with rich, thick, saddle brown leather on the heated and cooled seats, along with a wonderful Bose audio system and front and rear sensors to help you park — something very useful in a truck this size.
The Duramax Diesel engine, which came in a package that added over $9,000 to my test truck, feels invincible. Its 765 pound-feet of torque is a dump-truck-like number for commercial work, yet it accelerates with refined manners thanks in part to the nice tuning of its Allison six-speed automatic.
Pricing starts at $32,995 for a basic Silverado HD but climbs quickly as you add options and capability. My test truck rang up at $67,925, mainly due to the diesel engine and High Country luxury trim package.
At a Glance
What was tested?
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 High Country 4WD ($56,265). Options: Duramax Plus package ($9,115), power sunroof ($995), chrome mirrors ($230), LED cargo box lighting ($125). Price as tested (including $1,195 destination charge): $67,925
Wheelbase: 153.7 in.
Length: 239.4 in.
Width: 80.5 in.
Height: 78.2 in.
Engine: 6.6-liter Duramax V8 turbo diesel (397 hp, 765 lb.-ft.)
Transmission: Allison six-speed automatic
EPA Mileage: Not rated
RATINGS
Style: 7
Performance: 10
Price: 6
Handling: 5
Ride: 6
Comfort: 7
Quality: 7
Overall: 9
Video Review:
2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD
bit.ly/silveradohd
Why buy it?
It’s a quiet and refined truck designed to do tough jobs. The power from its optional 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine feels almost limitless.