- Chevrolet announced the updated 2024 Silverado HD lineup Monday.
- This refreshed HD lineup adds a couple new trim options (including a ZR2), powertrain upgrades, styling changes and improved tech.
- The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD will make its public debut at the State Fair of Texas later this week.
- After that, the new Silverado HD lineup will start production at GM’s Flint Assembly in Michigan and Oshawa Assembly in Canada in the first half of 2023.
- This will be a staggered launch, with the ZR2 and certain options on the rest of the 2024 Silverado HD lineup arriving later.
If you’ve been waiting on the edge of your seat for some HD truck news, then you’ll want to stick around this week. First off, we have the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD, which makes its way to the fray with a host of important changes. While styling changes are par for the course with mid-life refreshes — and we do indeed get that here — Chevrolet is aiming to make its powertrains and technology more competitive with the current heavy-duty pack as well.
2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD: Styling changes
On the outside, Chevrolet says it focused on giving the truck a ” more commanding presence” through its exterior design. What that means to you and me is a revised fascia, including an updated grille and headlight design. Depending on your reaction to the truck’s initial 2020 redesign, this could be a welcome change. The updated Silverado HD’s designers incorporated the headlights into new, uninterrupted C-shaped daytime running lights. Higher-end models get dual projector LED lights, with an animated welcome/departure feature akin to what we see with the updated Silverado 1500 lineup.
Other exterior updates include “CHEVROLET” scripting on the hood scoop, standard tow hooks (yes, Chevy did make a point to mention that), and six new exterior colors. New hues include Sterling Gray, Dark Ash, Radiant Red and Auburn Metallic. Two late availability colors will be Lakeshore Blue Metallic and Meteorite Metallic. Features you’ll still get in this refreshed truck include the corner and side bed steps, a six-position Multi-Flex tailgate (with a power tailgate option) and a 120-volt bed outlet.
Interior updates
Along with the outside changes, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD also gets an updated interior — at least on most trims. The base WT and Custom trims will carry over the old design. LT, LTZ, ZR2 and High Country models, on the other hand, get a much fresher look. That includes a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster seen on the Silverado 1500 and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs. Complementing that is a 13.4-inch infotainment display canted toward the driver.
Chevrolet incorporated quite a few changes from the half-ton Silverado, including most of the switch layout, keeping most of the popular controls as physical buttons and knobs. Unlike the smaller truck, though, you still get a column shifter across the entire range. Other notable updates include plenty of leather-wrapped items and wood trim on certain models like the High Country. There’s a new center console with available wireless charging on LT and up models, and second-row passengers also get their own climate vents and controls.
Getting into the powertrain changes
While some folks may care about the looks, the capability of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD is what will really make or break the deal. There’s (mostly) good news on that front, as we get more power from the 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel. Not only that, but the 6.6-liter gasoline V-8 also gets the 10-speed Allison-branded transmission, so pour one out for the old 6-speed. In fact, I doubt many people will actually miss it, and will appreciate the wider gear ratio spread to make the most of that gasser’s available power.
Sticking with the diesel first, though, here are the headline figures: 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque. That’s a substantial bump over the old trucks’ 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft figures, but it’s still not a “class-leading” output. The torque, published according to SAE standard J1349, falls short of both Ford (1,050 lb-ft) and Ram (1,075 lb-ft), in their highest output configurations. Power wise, it comes remarkably close to the 6.7L Power Stroke’s 475 hp number; and it does pull out farther ahead of the 6.7L Cummins’ 420 hp.
As for how it achieved those figures, Chevrolet cited improvements aimed at improving combustion efficiency. Engineers also boosted the Duramax’s low-end torque performance, to make it more adept at low speeds or towing on steep grades. Of course, we’ll have to test this truck on the Ike Gauntlet to see how it performs compared to the previous truck to validate the automaker’s claims.
What about the gas engine: Does it get more power?
The 6.6-liter gas engine, for its part, still puts out 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. However, making use of four extra gears means smaller “steps” between the ratios. That ought to at least make the engine feel a bit smoother, particularly when towing, compared to the old transmission’s six gears. Consequently, Chevrolet says the 2024 Silverado HD’s GCWR with the 6.6-liter gas engine increases to 26,000 pounds, from the past model’s 24,000-pound figure.
Thanks to packaging and content changes, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD actually loses some payload capability in certain configurations compared to the old truck. Trailering capacities change as well, and we’ll have a closer “by the numbers” look post fleshing that out on TFLtruck.com soon. (Update: Check out a full comparison here.)
More tech updates: Adaptive Cruise Control now available
Getting back to technological changes, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD doesn’t stop at just the digital cluster and the infotainment update. It also gets a host of driver assistance updates, especially when it comes to towing.
Adaptive cruise control while trailering is the headline feature, allowing the revamped models to account for the increased trailer drag and braking distances when towing. “Enhanced Transparent Trailer” extends the trucks’ current capability to include fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers. Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert extends the blind zone area beyond the truck itself — a feature becoming more widely available across the truck market. GCW Alert is also onboard, warning the driver if the vehicle and trailer exceeds GM’s recommended GCWR figure (again, more on numbers coming up shortly). (Update: Here it is for your reference!)
The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD lineup retains its battery of cameras for its Bed View and HD Surround Vision systems. You still get up to 14 available camera views, as well as Chevy’s in-vehicle trailering app. Google built-in compatibility allows drivers access to send texts, play music, use maps, adjust vehicle settings or control home devices through the Google Assistant.
As for safety equipment, adaptive cruise control is new for the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD lineup. That complements the existing assistance tech, including forward collision alert. Other safety features include front pedestrian braking, lane departure warning, a following distance indicator and automatic emergency braking.
New trim options, including the ZR2
While Chevrolet went to great lengths talking about the styling changes and powertrain updates, that’s not all the 2024 Silverado HD has in store. In fact, it is getting an off-road focused ZR2 trim. Now, that model won’t be available until later in the year, after the initial revamped trucks’ launch in the first half of 2023. We’ll have more concrete information on what the ZR2 is bringing to the table then.
The automaker did not specifically mention a mid-range “Trail Boss” trim, either. So, it looks like we’ll have a Z71 package (the Z71 Sport Edition and Chrome Sport Edition are sticking around), then the top-end ZR2. To that end, we’ll have an option that, at least on paper, takes on the Ram Power Wagon and the Ford Super Duty Tremor.
On top of that, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado also gets a blacked-out Midnight Edition. Available exclusively with the High Country trim, you’ll get darkened chrome accents in the grille, as well as black badging. 20-inch gloss black painted wheels come standard, while you can get larger 22-inch wheels if you want.
More coming soon from the State Fair of Texas
Interestingly, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD made its online debut right before the updated Ford Super Duty. Of course, it doesn’t take a marketing degree to determine why on that one.
We’ll have more information on Ford’s heavy-duty offering soon, but there’s even more coming this week. We’ll have more in-person coverage of this updated Silverado Heavy Duty at the State Fair of Texas, where it’s set to make a public debut in the coming days.
Pricing information won’t be available for a little while yet, but we will crunch on the trucks’ other numbers in the meantime and provide those updates when we can. In the meantime, check out our news video below:
