The 2022 Silverado Will Be A Game-Changer

Products get better with time. Music gets mastered, movies get edited, and food gets tastier as we learn to cook. Vehicles get better with time, too, with manufacturers regularly updating their lineup. However, sometimes the biggest changes don’t come around every year. Those are typically something reserved for refreshes, either generational or mid-cycle. The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 falls into the latter and is a truck you’ll want to check out at DePaula Chevy, your local Chevy Silverado 1500 dealer. What has changed this year? A host of new implementations have arrived in the form of performance and tech, and the introduction of the ZR2 means the Chevy Silverado 1500 is now a proper off-roading work-horse.

While there are some new additions, we can still expect many of the same trims from the abundant trim lineup. This means that the WT remains the base trim, and familiar faces reemerge with the Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, and RST. And of course, the LT’s off-roading oriented contemporary, the LT Trail Boss, makes its return along with the LTZ. The aforementioned ZR2 trim list makes its first appearance, bringing forth a host of exciting capabilities, and the High Country is a familiar favorite blending performance, convenience, and luxury.

Updated List of Powertrains

The first noticeable benefit this year over last year’s model is in its base engine performance. More specifically, the swapping of the engine entirely. Last year’s Silverado 1500 came standard with a 4.3L V6 engine, which produced 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque, along with a max towing capacity of 7,900 lbs. The following engine was a turbocharged 2.7L I-4 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission instead of a 6-speed, and this serves as the basis for the 2022 Silverado 1500’s powertrain. The standard powertrain is now a high output variation of the turbocharged 2.7L I-4 that came before it, and the performance increases see the 310 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque from last year’s turn to 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. With that said, this means the standard towing capacity for the Silverado 1500 has gone up from 7,900 lbs to 9,500 lbs.

Anybody familiar with the Silverado 1500, however, will be pleased to see the return of the venerable 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine, promoting a stunning 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, and it’ll come paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Although the performance may trade punches with its new standard turbocharged I-4 counterpart, it still manages to tow 11,200 lbs, which is about 18% more. And of course, who can forget the powerful and beastly 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine? This monstrous engine will produce 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and the towing capacity is increased once more to 13,300 lbs, which is a clean 40% increase over the base powertrain.

Another powertrain making a return this year is the turbo-diesel 3.0L I-6 engine. Like last year, this engine pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and you’ll get the same 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. This year’s implementation of the turbo-diesel engine, however, sees a towing performance increase from 9,500 lbs to 13,300 lbs, formerly an exclusive luxury of the 6.2L V8. Diesel engines also help make a truck more fuel-efficient than it looks, and installing one into your 2022 Silverado 1500 will get you EPA-estimated ratings of 23 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway.

What About the ZR2?

This year’s Chevy Silverado 1500 is bringing an entirely new trim with it, the ZR2. The ZR2 is a trim designed for the type of Silverado owner who wants to do more than just tow with their truck – they want off-roading capabilities. There are a host of features found on this trim that aren’t available on the others, but under the hood, you’ll find the 6.2L V8 engine we mentioned prior. This power is complemented by a 2-speed transfer case, and an activatable terrain mode at your fingertips means that you can turn it on and off as needed. As for the exclusive features, the ZR2 utilizes massive 33-inch Mud Terrain Tires from Goodyear, one of the most well-known tire manufacturers out there, and a 31-degree front bumper angle ensures you’ll have plenty of clearance on the trail.

Speaking of ground clearance, it’s one of the most important parts of an off-roading vehicle. Poor ground clearance means you’re better off not off-roading to avoid scraping up and damaging the lower portion of your truck. Aside from the 31-degree front bumper, both the front and back bumpers have received an overhaul to their materials, now consisting of strong steel, which is far less likely to show visible damage than the normally used materials and paints.

Compared to the other Silverado 1500 models, the ZR2’s bumpers are designed to allow for greater ground clearance, which helps with moments involving rock crawling, for example. The bumpers aren’t the only parts of the vehicle that received this treatment – skid plates have been installed under the truck too, which serve the purpose of protecting both the underside of your truck and the engine itself. And, of course, off-roaders will be looking for front and rear locking differentials, and you’ll find them on the ZR2 along with Multimatic DSSV Dampers to absorb the vibration you’ll feel when your truck is operating on rough and uneven surfaces.

Also found inside of the Silverado 1500 ZR2 is a significantly-sized 13.4-inch infotainment center. The software you use on the infotainment center is identical to the other trims, but normally the Silverado 1500 will come standard with a 7-inch screen. The 13.4-inch screen offers enough room to display everything you need, meaning you can have your navigation up on one side, and you can still access your music on the other. The ZR2 also includes the 12.3-inch Driver Information Center – a screen that replaces the analog odometers with a digital arrangement, which is both customizable and stylish.

One Year and Many Changes Later

While it’s not quite time for a new generation to come forth, the redesigned 2022 model is one of the biggest jumps made in one year that we’ve seen in a long time. Last year’s model was undoubtedly a must-have, but for the 2022 model, Chevy managed to make one of America’s favorite pickup trucks better than it had already been. From the exclusion of the base V6 engine from last year to the introduction of a true off-roading option, to say that the Silverado 1500 has overgone some changes would be an understatement.

In all of the best ways, the 2022 Silverado 1500 operates as a modern-day Chevy vehicle, from its large range of performance to its newer features, such as Chevy Super Cruise. Like other Chevy vehicles released this year, such as the Bolt EUV, the Silverado 1500 includes some of the best available technology from the manufacturer, so you can be one of the first to experience it. We recommend the Silverado 1500 to any shopper who is new to the world of pickup trucks because these iconic vehicles, with their reasonable price and exceptional capabilities, are hard to beat. We would be happy to show you the new 2022 model and everything that it has to offer.