2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 Trim Guide

If you put two trucks in front of you, and one offers you more customization and general freedom of choice, wouldn’t you go with that one? When you visit DePaula Chevrolet, your Albany Chevy Silverado dealer, you’ll want to study up on your model of choice and all of the options you have available to you before you visit. Chances are, you’re interested in what kind of potential the 2022 Silverado 1500 has to offer. After all, what is widely considered one of Chevy’s most popular offerings, the Silverado 1500 has been a staple of drivers’ lives since the late 1990s. A time of torn jeans, plaid shirts, and depressing yet catchy grunge music, the Silverado 1500 came at an interesting time, that’s for certain.

The Silverado would only be improved upon, and its presence in the automotive market is still that of impressive sales figures and highly satisfied customers. One thing that constantly gave Silverado competitors a run for their money was the seeming lack of choices they offered against what Chevy was bringing to the table. How was this achieved then? Engine options, exterior designs, and of course, trim levels have always been a significant part of the customization process. For the 2022 Silverado 1500, there are three cab types, two different bed sizes, and the same trim levels as last year, with one exception. This year’s Silverado 1500 brings forth the ZR2 trim, resulting in eight trim levels. As we’ll discuss, the ZR2 is slated to be perhaps the most exciting option ever conceived for this pickup truck, especially if you’re an avid off-roader.

WT

Like years prior, the WT remains as the base trim for the Silverado 1500. Ultimately, this trim doesn’t have as many changes made to it as the other trims do, but there are certainly a slew of differences when compared to last year. For example, last year’s WT model came with a 4.3L V6 that had 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque, but this has been dropped entirely in favor of a stronger and more fuel-efficient turbocharged 2.7L I-4 engine. This means that the base Silverado 1500 will now produce 310 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, meaning that towing capacity has also received a notable bump from the 7,900 lbs we saw last year and the 9,500 lbs it can now haul. The transmission type has also improved from the 6-speed automatic from last year to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Another addition to the WT this year is the inclusion of Chevy Safety Assist, which includes a host of safety features to the Silverado 1500. These features aren’t entirely new, but they have never been a standard inclusion on the Silverado 1500 until now. These features include the likes of Automatic Emergency Braking, Automatic High Beams, and much more.

Custom

The Custom is another trim that has returned this year. Like the WT, this trim has received a minimal amount of changes compared to last year; however, it garners all of the new additions that we’ve mentioned on the WT. While details remain slim on this year’s Custom model, it’s widely speculated that we will see the same integrated packages as last year, which for reference were the Custom Value Package, the Trailering Package, the Infotainment Package, and lastly, the Custom Convenience Package. Combined, these packages fit the Silverado 1500 with a trailer hitch, satellite radio, and what many find to be a quintessential quality-of-life improvement, an EZ lift power lock. The engine inside of the Custom will likely be that of the one we mentioned prior in the WT.

LT

The LT is the trim that, in many ways, begins to ultimately transform the Silverado 1500 from what we know and love. This isn’t a bad thing, and the design changes and the brand new implemented tech features are easy to admire once you notice the changes. For starters, the new interior features swapped materials that make up its console and the surrounding areas. These areas feature more of a wood-grain finish, reminiscent of some more classic automobiles, and this coloration extends through the cabin to the dashboard and around the doors as well.

The LT also introduces a vastly improved infotainment center, and the technology within the cabin has gotten a significant boost as well. Starting with the digital cluster that’s located behind your steering wheel, this will be a large panel that stretches a foot long diagonally and will display instrument cluster information. For example, the speedometer and your remaining fuel will appear here, but instead of analog clusters that move up and down, these are entirely digital. This time around, the infotainment center is an enormous 13.4-inch screen that sits between the driver and the passenger, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. A new addition has been made to Android Auto, and that’s the ability to utilize native Google apps on the infotainment center.

RST

Aside from the interior changes that we mentioned with the LT, we suspect the RST will be quite reminiscent of the RST model that preceded it. This trim is more geared towards those who plan on doing some off-roading in their pickup truck, whether it’s a common occurrence or a once every so often kind of thing. The RST comes standard with a 4×4 system, which greatly contributes to its exceptional off-roading capabilities and general traversal through harsh terrains. Also coming with this trim is a Z71 Off-Road Package that gives the Silverado 1500 the proper shocks and a proper elevation to its suspension to allow for proper ground clearance when off-roading.

LT Trail Boss

The LT Trail Boss can be considered the RST 2.0 theoretically. What we mean by this is that the LT Trail Boss includes the same Z71 Off-Road Package as the RST does, but also includes large 18-inch Mud-Terrain tires, which will be highly beneficial to traveling on mud trails, and the LT Trail Boss also includes both the Convenience Package and its sequential upgraded version, the Convenience Package II. The regular Convenience Package introduces a host of features that are meant for extra comfortability, such as a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and more. The Convenience Package II includes a plethora of other additions, including an integrated power-generator in your truck bed and an upgraded audio system, for example. It’s the integrated power generator that we feel will be the main draw to this trim, especially for those using their truck for work.

ZR2

The ZR2 is all-new for the Silverado 1500 this year. The ZR2 is slated to become the best possible choice when it comes to off-roading. According to Chevy, this trim will have a “premium interior,” which will be nice to experience when you are hitting the trails. This new trim offers a more robust suspension system that offers more flexibility than other trim levels.

The tires for the Silverado 1500 ZR2 are simply massive and measure in at 33-inches. Under the hood of the ZR2 is a 6.2L V8 engine standard that produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and this single-handedly makes the ZR2 the most powerful off-roading-oriented trim in the lineup. The addition of different terrain modes is a welcome bonus, and the Silverado 1500 ZR2 offers one-pedal rock climbing, which should make this dangerous task easier and safer.

LTZ

Last year, the LTZ trim had a few additions that made it stand out from the crowd. Firstly, the Z71 Off-Road Package is here, and opting for the Premium LTZ included a Premium Package that included a large amount of safety and infotainment centers. Since a majority of these features are now standard on the WT trim, we’re interested to see how Chevy has made the 2022 model stand out from the crowd. One way it continues to do so is by including more advanced safety features that aren’t available on the prior trims.

High Country

The High Country has been the top-of-the-line Silverado trim for some time. The High Country trim has a history of offering plenty of additions that were not present on the preceding trim levels. For example, last year’s High Country featured an 8-inch touchscreen, but this time it shares the same 13.4-inch touchscreen as the other trim levels, excluding the WT and Custom. This trim will also have the Super Cruise feature available. This new technology allows for a true hands-free driving experience to make your time on the road easier. You can only use this feature on certain roadways but worry not because there are over 200,000 miles of compatible roads with more being added every day. For the highest quality experience and premium feel along with stellar performance, the High Country is the suitable trim for many drivers.