Comparing the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 to the Silverado HD
Chevrolet is one of the best truck manufacturers on the planet. And that’s largely due to their Silverado 1500 and Silverado HD models, both giants in their respective classes.
Today we’ll look at them side by side to see how they compare and how they differ from each other. You’ll be surprised to see how many similarities there are between the two, even though one belongs to the light-weight truck class if you can call it that, and the other to the Heavy Duty segment.
The first aspect that brings the Silverado 1500 and the Silverado HD together is their exterior aesthetic. Both sport modern lines and they’re a long way from the boxy, just-get-the-job-done look and feel of older models. Instead, they’re dashing and good-looking on top of having very commanding presences on the road, cars you're proud to be seen in, be it on the construction site or a grocery run.
Under the hood is where the two differ the most, and they’d have to judging by their designated utility.
The Silverado 1500 comes with three engine choices ranging from extra fuel-efficient to mighty powerful. The standard powertrain is a 4.3-liter V6 that can produce 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. That’ll give you a towing capacity of 7,600 pounds all the while delivering a whopping 24 miles per gallon on the highway. You then have the option to upgrade to a 5.3-liter V8 that will churn out 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough for 11,000 pounds of towing power and a best-in-class 23 miles per gallon for a V8.
The strongest powertrain on the Silverado 1500 is a 6.2-liter V8 that will belt out 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Equip your Silverado with it and you’ll be able to tow upwards of 12,500, another best-in-class ability. That’s even more impressive if you think that you can still get 21 miles per gallon on the highway out of the 6.2-liter V-8.
Inside the cabin, we’re back to common territory again as the Silverado 1500 and the Silverado HD share most of their connectivity ad safety features.
They both come with Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system, a standard 7.0-inch color touch that can be upgraded to an 8.0-inch, and Android Auto plus Apple CarPlay. The Silverado 1500 gets a few added perks such as a wireless charging dock and a standard 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot that only comes optional with the Silverado HD.
The suite of safety features is virtually identical, though, with some standard and other optional to make up an impressive list that truck owners would never have had access to just a decade ago. The full list includes:
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Lane Keep Assist
- Forward Collision Alert
- A Driver Safety Seat
- Front and Rear Parking Assist
- Rear Vision Camera
- Side Blind Zone Alert
- Lane Departure Warning
- A 6-airbag system
- A High-Strength Steel Safety Cage
- OnStar Automatic Crash Response System
Two huge trucks, both literally and figuratively, that draw equally huge crowds of buyers. Visit us here at O'Neill's Chevrolet Buick in Avon, CT to see for yourself what the fuss is all about. We have both models in all trim levels and most available colors already on display.
Our dedicated sales team will gladly answer any questions and arrange for you to take either the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD out for a test drive.
Visit us to see just how good modern trucks have become.