Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Crew Cab – CAN IT CREW FOR YOU?

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Crew Cab – 

CAN IT CREW FOR YOU?

There was a time when heavy-duty pickups were designed and built strictly to handle hard work. You would only see them hauling materials in construction zones, towing trailers, working way off in West Texas oil fields and handling other jobs that demanded a vehicle capable of taking all the abuse that comes with those conditions. 

But somewhere in the last couple of decades or so, heavy-duty trucks were discovered by owners who rarely let them get dirty.  Automotive manufacturers continue to be elated with this new customer that wants nicer interiors, more sophisticated off-road suspensions, and are willing to pay any premium for all the upgrades.  The heavy-duty trucks remained highly capable. The truck manufacturers just added higher trims that made said trucks way nicer and – not incidentally – much more profitable.  These trucks were meant to be kept sparkling clean and be the envy of the neighbors.

I recently had the chance to test drive a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Crew Cab LTZ 4WD pickup that carried with it a pretty hefty $73,770.00 price tag.  Just for comparison, a base Silverado single-cab will cost you $35,300 and a base crew cab will set you back $43,395. 

The Silverado LTZ came with the impressive 445 hp, Duramax 6.6L V-8 Turbo-Diesel that added an extra $9,890 to the truck’s price.  This turbo-diesel generates 910 lb-ft. of torque paired to an Allison ten-speed automatic transmission. It’s clearly the powertrain you want to choose if you tow frequently.  It’s a powerful, smooth, quiet engine, and quite the departure from the days when loud, clattering diesel powerplants emitted clouds of stinky diesel exhaust. This current Duramax engine is a dream to drive.

My test-drive Silverado included the Texas Edition package which added another $7,650 to the bottom line, while offering an attractive grouping of features.  The Texas Edition package includes bucket seats, heated and ventilated front seats, a rear sliding power window, a power up/down tailgate along with the Chevrolet Infotainment Premium system with connected Navigation and 8″ diagonal HD color touchscreen.  The HD Surround Vision with Two Trailer View Camera Provisions is a feature that makes parking this large truck a breeze, even in the tightest of spaces.

Just like the latest car and crossover models that come loaded with a multitude of driver assistance features new buyers flock to purchase, the Texas Edition Silverado 2500 comes loaded as well.  Drivers not accustomed to driving a tall, large truck will find these safety features very helpful driving on crowded roads when smaller, shorter vehicles may be difficult to see, especially when changing lanes.  

Big pickups are no longer strictly for work; they’re now refined enough to fit in anywhere luxury vehicles are accustomed to be seen.  We live in Texas, the world’s largest pickup truck market. So why drive an expensive foreign job when you can impress your neighbors and clients with an equally pricey truck?

A SUMMARY OF SILVERADO SAFETY:
Front and Rear Park Assist4
Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert4
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert4
Safety Package II
Forward Collision Alert4
Lane Departure Warning4
Automatic Emergency Braking4
IntelliBeam (high beam assist)
Following Distance Indicator4
Safety Alert Seat4
Technology Package
Rear Camera Mirror4
Multi-color 15″ Diagonal Head-Up Display