The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is a serious work truck for pickup shoppers who have serious work needs. It can tow, haul and carry more stuff than nearly any other pickup on the market, which means it’s probably not the best choice for shoppers interested in a pickup they can use to drive around town and carry the occasional heavy item from the home improvement store. If that sounds like you, consider a light-duty Silverado 1500. But if you’re looking for a heavy-duty pickup that’s right at home on a jobsite, the Silverado 2500HD is a good choice — a fact that’s especially true after a full redesign for the previous model year. Offering new equipment, a new interior and a totally new look, the latest Silverado 2500HD boasts a fresh take on one of the most capable pickup trucks on the market, from the bare-bones Work Truck to the upscale LTZ. After a major redesign last year, the Silverado 2500HD sees only minor updates for 2016, including a new wireless-device charging system, HD Radio and a revised IntelliLink infotainment system.
Autotrader’s Advice:
There are too many trim levels and configurations to pick a Silverado 2500HD model that stands out above the rest. Instead, we suggest choosing the pickup that best suits your needs. For example, shoppers looking to tow large trailers will want the 6.6-liter turbodiesel engine. Drivers who need to cart around the whole family will want a crew cab. And those who want luxury will want a high-end LTZ or High Country model. If it were us choosing a Silverado 2500HD, we’d opt for the diesel because it’s just so capable, and we’d skip the base-level Work Truck model, since its sparse options might make it hard to sell. But the Silverado’s wide range of configurations means there’s something for everyone.
What We Like:
Highly capable; impressive towing and hauling capabilities; huge engines; new interior offers class-leading equipment and passenger space.
What We Don’t:
Doesn’t offer manual transmission like the RAM HD does; no major engine updates with the new design; RAM’s self-leveling suspension is compelling.
Original MSRP:
$34,200-$55,000 (when new)
MPG:
The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD offers two engines. The pickup’s standard powerplant is a 6.0-liter V8 that makes 360 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. Drivers who want more pulling power can opt for the 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8, which makes a little more power (397 hp) and an almost-unbelievable 765 lb-ft of torque. Official fuel economy ratings aren’t available because the Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t rate vehicles as big as the heavy-duty Silverado, but most drivers get around 12 miles per gallon in the city and 17 mpg on the highway.
Standard Features & Options:
The 2016 Silverado 2500HD comes in many different body styles, trim levels and configurations. Drivers can choose from regular cab, crew cab and extended cab, as well as regular and long beds, gas or diesel engines and 2- or 4-wheel drive. When it comes to options, the Silverado 2500HD offers the 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine, power adjustable pedals, front and rear park assist, a heavy-duty trailer package and 4-wheel drive. Optional safety features include forward-collision alert and a lane-departure warning system that vibrates the driver’s seat if the truck starts to drift from its lane.
When it comes to trim levels, the Silverado 2500HD offers four: the base-level Work Truck, the midlevel LT, a high-end LTZ and the top-of-the-line Silverado High Country.
The
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Work Truck ($34,200, when new) is designed for basic jobsite transportation, and as such, it doesn’t offer much. There’s an AM/FM stereo with an auxiliary port (but no CD player), vinyl seating, air conditioning and little else. It’s so basic that items most drivers take for granted, such as keyless entry and power mirrors, aren’t even standard.
Next up is the
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LT ($38,500, when new), which includes a much more generous list of standard equipment. There are power mirrors, for example, and tinted glass. Silverado 2500HD LT models also include alloy wheels, Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system, a CD player, OnStar and satellite radio.
Above that is the
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ ($46,500, when new), which adds luxuries such as an automatic locking rear differential, fog lights, power-folding mirrors, larger alloy wheels, chrome trim, a larger center touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats and a reversing camera.
Topping the range is the
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD High Country ($54,800, when new), which is similar to GMC’s Denali trim and only comes on crew-cab models. The High Country adds primarily appearance upgrades, including 20-inch alloy wheels, body-colored bumpers, chrome side steps, full-leather front bucket seats, carpeted floor mats, special trim and a unique interior design with a center console. It also adds a navigation system, a Bose sound system, front and rear park assist, and the new-for-2016 wireless charging system.
Safety:
All 2016 Silverado 2500HD models include side airbags, side-curtain airbags, StabiliTrak electronic traction and stability control, daytime running lights and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Optional features include a backup camera, park assist and upgrades such as forward-collision alert and a lane-departure warning system.
Behind the Wheel:
There aren’t any surprises behind the wheel of the Silverado 2500HD. Yes, it’s fully redesigned for the 2016 model year with a new look and a handsome new cabin that is a huge improvement over the old one, but any heavy-duty Silverado is still a big pickup truck. That means light steering, huge dimensions and a king-of-the-road driving position. In the Silverado’s case, it also means a surprisingly quiet ride: We’re impressed with just how well the pickup manages to cancel out road noise, wind noise and even the churning of the truck’s optional diesel engine. Inside the cabin, we’re impressed by the new dashboard, which brings a touch of modernity to the heavy-duty truck world, a segment that’s usually the last to gain any of the latest features and equipment. We’re also impressed by the rear-seat room, especially in crew-cab models. While we don’t recommend it for city drivers, the Silverado 2500HD could easily be used as family transportation. In fact, it’s just as adept at offering a comfortable ride to passengers as it is on the jobsite, where it can tow and haul better than nearly any pickup on the market.
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