CHEVY SILVERADO EV VS. SILVERADO

Chevrolet is preparing to release an all-electric version of its full-sized Silverado pickup for the 2024 model year. Many fans of the Silverado 1500 will wonder how much the new electric truck will share with its gas-powered sibling. While we’ll have to wait a few months yet to find out all the details, our Chevy experts here at Koons White Marsh already know some of the key facts about the Silverado electric vehicle (EV). Here’s a look at how these two Chevy trucks will compare.

CHEVY SILVERADO EV POWERTRAINS AND PERFORMANCE

The most obvious difference between the Silverado 1500 and Silverado EV is the powertrain. The Silverado EV will have two electric motors and a battery pack, which will combine to generate up to 664 horsepower. All-wheel drive will be standard, and the truck will also boast a four-wheel steering system. The electric powertrain will generate around 510 horsepower in the base WT trim and reach its peak in the range-topping RST.

The gas-powered Silverado offers four engine options. The base engine is a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit that can put out 310 horsepower. This is a decent engine for driving around town or on the highway. However, if you plan to do a lot of towing, you’ll probably want to choose between the 5.7-liter V-8 or 6.2-liter V-8. These larger engines produce 355 horsepower and 420 horsepower, respectively. There’s also a 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine that combines strong towing abilities with fuel efficiency. The standard Silverado’s gas mileage ranges from 31 mpg on the highway with the turbodiesel to 20 mpg with the largest V-8. Chevy expects the Silverado EV to have a range of 400 miles when its battery is fully charged, although this figure will be reduced when you’re towing or hauling. With fast DC charging, you’ll be able to add 100 miles of range to the battery in just 10 minutes.

SILVERADO TOWING AND PAYLOAD LIMITS

The Silverado EV will have maximum towing and payload limits of 10,000 pounds and 1,300 pounds, respectively. The maximum towing limit will be offered in the RST trim, while the base WT will have a towing capacity of 8,000 pounds.

The gas-powered Silverado can tow up to 13,300 pounds and haul up to 2,270 pounds. You need a truck with the largest V-8 engine to access the maximum towing capacity. Silverados achieve the full hauling capacity with the turbocharged four-cylinder unit.

CARGO AND PASSENGER CAPACITY

The standard Silverado 1500 is available in three cab configurations. The Regular cab is a two-door setup with seating for three, making it an excellent choice for a work truck. The two four-door cab options are the Double and Crew cabs. The Crew cab is best if you’ll be traveling with adult passengers in the rear since it offers 43 inches of legroom compared to the Double cab’s 35 inches.

There are also three cargo bed lengths for you to choose from. The longest bed is only available with the Regular cab and measures 8 feet 2 inches in length. The two shorter beds measure 6 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 10 inches.

We’re not sure about the cargo bed options that the Silverado EV will offer just yet. However, the GMC Hummer rides on the same platform and includes a bed measuring 5 feet in length. It also boasts a Crew cab with five seats as the only cab option, so there’s sure to be plenty of room in both rows for adult passengers. As the release date nears, we’ll provide an update with more specifics about the Silverado EV’s configurations.

INFOTAINMENT AND SAFETY FEATURES

The infotainment system in the Silverado EV will be one of its highlights. The base WT trim will get an 11-inch touch screen, while the more expensive RST will be equipped with a whopping 17-inch display. The standard setup includes an 8-inch digital gauge cluster, while the RST will have an 11-inch version. We expect that Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a navigation system, and a Wi-Fi hotspot will be standard.

The gas-powered Silverado offers a 7-inch screen in its base trim, but a 13.4-inch display is an optional upgrade. You can also add a six-speaker or seven-speaker stereo, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The Silverado EV will also likely include a semi-autonomous driving mode that allows you to take your hands off the steering wheel under certain conditions. Other expected features include front collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning.

Apart from the semi-autonomous driving system, all of these features are offered in the gas-powered Silverado. The Silverado 1500 also has a rear-seat reminder and Teen Driver, which allows you to set speed limits and other restrictions for younger family members learning to drive.

TRIMS

The Silverado EV is expected to hit showrooms sometime in the first half of 2023 with the WT trim. We expect this trim to have an MSRP of around $39,000. The RST trim will arrive later in the year and will be fully loaded with various upgrades and have an MSRP of around $105,000. Chevy has promised to add trims to the lineup, including one with an incredible towing capacity of 20,000 pounds.

The gas-powered Silverado is currently sold in eight trims. The WT is the base trim and a popular choice for anyone looking for a work truck. The Trail Boss and ZR2 trims are designed specifically with off-roading in mind, whereas the RST and High Country focus more on upscale and outright luxurious features.

If you want to know more about the Silverado EV or keep up to speed with its release date, don’t hesitate to contact us. At Koons White Marsh Chevrolet, we can also help arrange a test drive in Baltimore, Maryland, so you can see how the Silverado 1500 performs on the road before you buy one. Our finance team is on hand to help you secure a competitive auto loan, and our service and parts experts will support you with professional vehicle maintenance services after you drive your new truck off our lot.

Image by Chevrolet

Tags: Silverado, Silverado EV
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