The Chevrolet Silverado 2023 receives just modest upgrades, but who cares? Chevrolet put in so much hard work last year that it deserved to relax and unwind after such an extensive overhaul and enhancement of the Silverado. Particularly, the inside was transformed from an embarrassment to perhaps the best cabin in the category in terms of overall visual appeal (Ram may still have an advantage in terms of material quality and functionality). Even a big seller like the Silverado LT now looks and feels premium, while the deluxe High Country dazzles with its open-pore wood trim and striking navy blue leather option. Both are seen in the gallery above.
In terms of the remainder of the truck, Chevy’s Duramax diesel engine is now even more amazing, owing to improved power for 2023 and the fact that it’s so quiet. We’re not kidding when we say it’s difficult to tell it’s a diesel. The standard 2.7-litre turbo-four isn’t a huge, muscular V8, but that’s OK since it has the performance and fuel efficiency to compensate. The huge, burly V8s undoubtedly get the job done, but we prefer the larger engines from Ford and Ram.
In general, we like driving such vehicles. Even though the Silverado’s steering is quick and it handles well overall, its ride quality is not as smooth or comfortable as that of Ford and, especially, Ram. Overall, it drives more like a truck; a Ram 1500 may often seem like a family crossover. We’re thinking that many Silverado fans won’t notice much of a change, but if you use your full-size truck daily, it’s something to be aware of, and we recommend driving the different vehicles back-to-back to see the difference for yourself.
What is new in 2023?
With large, significant changes last year, the Silverado will only get modest modifications in 2023. Several changes and improvements have been made to the Duramax diesel engine, which now has more horsepower and torque. The High Country trim level now has a Jet Black/Umber interior colour option. There are three new paint colours as well.
What about the Silverado interior and technology?
The Silverado received a full new interior design with improved materials beginning with the LT model last year (those lower models retain the ugly old interior design). It’s a significant upgrade, and this thoroughly modern vehicle should’ve had a contemporary cabin from the start. While we were thrilled with the LT trim level (shown above, top), it was the higher trim levels that gained the most from last year’s facelift, because they desperately needed it. Instead of a few slaps of imitation wood trim slapped arbitrarily to the side of the High Country’s centre console, the new version (above, bottom left) gets the genuine thing, and it feels as nice as it looks. The LT even has a more quality feel than the classic High Country.
Note that the Work Truck, Custom, and Custom Trail Boss trim levels keep the old cabin with an 8-inch touchscreen (pictured above, bottom left). This is less of a concern at lower price points and for vehicles that have a more rugged function. The distinction between them is seen above.
Apart from cosmetic changes, the redesign incorporated a 13.4-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch instrument display, however, with separate skins and software suites to allow for various configurations. Even in direct sunlight, the digital gauge cluster is bright and sharp, and it does not wash away. We like the 13.4-inch touchscreen’s widescreen orientation since it helps you to view and manage numerous displays at once while also contributing to a more appealing design (although the right side of the screen is quite a reach).
The infotainment system is also one of the industry’s first to use the Android automotive operating system. It typically works well and is simple to use, but it does not provide a competitive edge over Ford or Ram. Don’t worry if you use an Apple device. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both fully supported.
While technically outside the vehicle, it seems like a decent spot to mention that the Silverado has taller bed walls than other trucks, as well as the outstanding MultiPro tailgate, which offers many functional enhancements and benefits over a typical one-piece tailgate. Simply put, it makes loading and unloading the bed much simpler.
What size is the Silverado?
It’s enormous. Nevertheless, all full-size pickups are nowadays. There are three cab options: a two-door Regular Cab with an 8-foot bed, a four-door Double Cab with a 6.5-foot bed, and a four-door Crew Cab with either a 6.5-foot or a 5.8-foot bed. The Regular Cab is 229.5 inches from stern to stern, whereas the Double Cab, Crew Cab short box, and Crew Cab long box are just two inches longer, and the Crew Cab long box adds another ten inches. The off-road ZR2 is only available as a crew cab with a small box.
Most of the Silverado’s competitors don’t have bed sidewalls that are as high as the Silverado’s. This gives Chevrolet more cargo space. It’s also available with GM’s Multi-Flex tailgate, as shown above, left. The payload for the 4×4 Crew Cab varies from 2,130 pounds to 2,280 pounds for the 4×2 Regular Cab. Customers who often exceed the cargo limit may choose the Silverado HD.
Most Silverados are Crew Cab models, which have four doors and a lot of space in the back seats. The back seat cushion may also be flipped up to assist in carrying items inside. While there is a climb up to get inside, access is straightforward via large doors (more so on the off-road-themed variants with their raised suspensions). The Double Cab has less space and a more upright rear seatback (pictured below left). The Double Cab’s small back doors show that the back seat isn’t used very often, but at least they’re front-hinged instead of Ford’s awkward “clamshell” design. Below left, you can also see the Silverado’s six-passenger layout, which includes a front middle seat.
What are the Silverado’s fuel efficiency and performance specs?
Silverado has a wide range of engines and transmissions. It has four engines, and three transmissions, and is both 2WD and 4WD. As a result, performance and fuel efficiency vary widely.
The base engine is a unique turbocharged 2.7-litre inline-four that makes 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. That’s a significant 72 lb-ft increase over the original 2.7-litre engine and much better than the 5.3-litre V8. It comes standard on most mid-level trims and can be added to the base and Custom WT as an upgrade. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s a big step up from the old V6, which was only offered in lower grades.
At around-town speeds, the 2.7 feels sweet and torquey, it just falls short of the mid-engined V8’s top-of-the-line feel for what you’d generally drive on the highway. However, consumers should be advised that it does not provide the powerful loud sound of a truck engine. The EPA estimates that two-wheel-drive cars will get 20 mpg combined and all-wheel-drive versions will get 18 mpg combined.
A 5.3-litre V8 rated at 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque is standard on LTZ and High Country and available on other grades. A 10-speed automatic transmission was now standard (there were six- and eight-speed options). Unlike in the past, it can only be purchased with GM’s newer Dynamic Fuel Management system. As a result, overall fuel efficiency ranges from 16 mpg for the Trail Boss with the Mud Terrain tires to 19 mpg for the two-wheel drive. Customers should try out the 2.7-litre turbo or diesel before opting for the smaller V8.
For this 2023 model year, the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine will have a new turbocharger, piston, fuel injector design, and temperature management features. This will increase engine power and torque. Output is now 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque. It is also equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Combined fuel efficiency ranges from 26 mpg with 2WD to 22 mpg with the 4×4 off-road tires. It’s as big a fuel-efficiency advantage as it sounds over other engines, but diesel’s higher costs negate any economic gains. If they fall, you’ll be back saving money, especially when compared to V8s.
The top-of-the-line 6.2-litre V8 makes 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. It also has a 10-speed transmission. The ZR2 is standard with a 6.2, while RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, and High Country have an option. EPA ratings range from 15 mpg combined for the mud terrain tires to 17 mpg combined for the more road-friendly version.
How do you feel about driving a Silverado?
since its most recent significant overhaul in 2019. Considering its size, the Silverado is not a difficult vehicle to operate. The handling is really quite responsive, and it seems more agile than its competitors. Nonetheless, ride quality remains an issue. The LT’s double cab rides rough over bumps, while other, larger-wheel trims cause tiring vibrations and rear-axle hop when you dump the bed. The top-spec High Country now has adaptive dampers, which should ease the ride somewhat, but the Ram and F-150 will ride better regardless of version.
The Silverados are powered by a new 2.7-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which we think is a good alternative to the more common V8 engine. It may seem weird, if not sacrilegious, to have four cylinders in a full-size pickup truck, but if you can get over that mental barrier, we believe you’ll find it to be a reliable workhorse. Having said that, we’d probably go with the Duramax diesel. For starters, it’s incredibly quiet—both inside and outside.
You won’t be able to tell it’s not a gas grill until you push the throttle and find all the low-end torque. Diesel fuel costs may have eliminated any cost savings at the pump that you may have had in the past (or may have in the future), but there is enough value here to consider it a net profit over the 2.7 and 5.3-litre gas engines.
For V8s, the mid-level 5.3-litre is a decent engine that works well with the 10-speed automatic gearbox, but it is ultimately unimpressive when compared to the other engines available as well as those of rival trucks. The bigger 6.2-litre engine feels much more powerful than any of the smaller engines (420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque) and works nicely with the standard 10-speed transmission. Most purchasers will not want the additional power of a bigger V8, but for those who intend to transport hefty loads, this is an excellent choice.
Changing gears (or transfer cases), let’s go through the Silverado’s many off-road trim levels. The Trail Boss’s off-road adventure showed how good it was at getting through mud, but it cost it some on-road comfort. The Trail Boss is a good off-roader with two trim levels (Specialized and LT), but if you want an off-road pickup truck with a Bowtie logo, you might want to look at the Silverado ZR2.
It has great multi-DSSV shocks and an approach angle of 31.8 degrees, a break angle of 23.4 degrees, and a departure angle of 23.3 degrees. These are good numbers, and they mean that the ZR2 can go through the same rough terrain that Ford Raptor owners have been able to do for years. The ZR2’s powertrain, though, remains unchanged; the regular 6.2-litre V8 is the same as in any other Silverado.
What is the price of the 2023 Silverado?
Costs have risen by more than $4,000 for 2023, including a $1,895 destination fee. Ka-ching. At higher trim levels, the discrepancy becomes larger. Autoblog has a more detailed list of what comes with each trim level, as well as prices for different combinations of cab, bed, and drivetrain.
All of the prices shown here are the lowest available for each trim level. Off-road vehicles, which come standard with four-wheel drive and many technical improvements, have been split. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the others.
- Work Truck: $38,195
- Custom: $45,495
- LT: $49,895
- RST: $54,195
- LTZ: $59,095
- High Country: $63,995
What are the safety ratings and driver-aid features of the Silverado?
All 2023 Silverados come with automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency brakes that can detect people. The High Country is the only trim level that has Super Cruise. It can also change lanes and work with a trailer.
The Silverado Crew Cab received a five-star overall crash rating (out of five stars), a four-star frontal crash rating, and a five-star side crash rating from the NHTSA. The Standard and Extended cabs received five ratings for side protection as well. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Silverado the best possible rating, “Good,” in all tests except the “small overlap front: passenger side” test, where it got a “Marginal” rating, which is the third-best rating out of four.
