The 2006 Chevy Silverado HD 2500 may just be the holy grail of Chevrolet turbo-diesel pickup trucks. It has a powerful LBZ 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V8 engine. It also has a tough 6-speed Allison automatic transmission. This is the last year before DEF emissions regulations came into effect. How does this 2006 Silverado HD compare to a brand new 2025 Silverado HD 2500 L5P 6.6L Duramax V8 truck? Let’s dig in!
Thanks to our friend Jon for allowing us to use his 2006 Silverado HD. He purchased it brand new in 2006.
The new truck is our long-term tester. It’s a new Silverado HD 2500 crew cab 4×4 Trail Boss. It has the latest version of the L5P turbo-diesel engine. The engine is mated to a 10-speed Allison branded transmission. It is a very capable and efficient heavy-duty powertrain.
| 2006 Silverado HD | 2025 Silverado HD | |
| Engine | 6.6L LBZ V8 | 6.6L L5P V8 |
| Power | 360 hp | 470 hp |
| Torque | 650 lb-ft | 975 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 6-speed Alison Auto | 10-speed Alison Auto |
| Rear Axle Ratio | 3.73-to-1 | 3.42-to-1 |
| — | — | |
| GVWR | 9,200 lbs | 11,300 lbs |
| Curb Weight (as tested) | 6,915 lbs | 8,171 lbs |
| Payload | 2,285 lbs | 3,129 lbs |
| Towing | 16,000 lbs | 19,000 lbs |
The old truck has nearly 285,000 miles on the odometer. It has a few modifications: aftermarket air intake, aftermarket exhaust system, steel front and rear bumpers with a winch up front.
Please join me in the video below for all the details and to see just how close the 0-60 MPH is between these two trucks! Wow!
