The total-size pickup section in Australia continues to develop, however the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 nonetheless has a few distinctive promoting propositions.
Firstly, it’s the one one in every of its aggressive set – which additionally contains the Ford F-150, Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra – to supply a variant in Australia particularly tailor-made for off-roading.
Sadly, off-road pickups just like the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 1500 RHO aren’t bought right here, a minimum of not but.
Secondly, with the Ram 1500 shifting to twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engines, the Silverado is the final pickup standing with a V8. Once more, you possibly can nonetheless get V8 energy within the F-150 and Ram 1500 abroad, however not right here.
Subsequently, the Silverado 1500 ZR2 has a particular attraction to each American pickup truck traditionalists and off-road fanatics.
WATCH: Paul’s video evaluation of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2
It’s pricier than the extra tarmac-oriented Silverado 1500 LTZ, however is the ZR2 well worth the premium?
How a lot does the Chevrolet Silverado value?
The ZR2 instructions an $11,000 premium over the LTZ, with costs ranging from $141,500 plus on-road prices.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium | $130,500 |
| 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 | $141,500 |
To see how the Silverado strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What’s the Chevrolet Silverado like on the within?
Climb on up – and sure, it’s a little bit of a stretch – and also you’ll discover a lovely inside.
The ZR2 is subtly differentiated inside from its LTZ sibling, however the modifications are constructive.
The very first thing you’ll discover is the two-tone Jet Black and Greystone colourway with inexperienced stitching, bringing some extra heat and distinction than the black-on-black cabin of the LTZ.
A facelift in 2023 introduced a dramatically overhauled inside that’s one of many nicest on this section.
Ram is commonly held because the section commonplace when it comes to opulence, however I’d argue the Chevy’s inside is extra resolved visually and extra user-friendly because of a touchscreen angled in the direction of the driving force.
Thoughts you, that display screen isn’t totally user-friendly, because the anchored shortcut buttons sit on the passenger facet as a substitute of the driving force’s facet.
The infotainment system is straightforward to navigate and has enticing graphics. There are some lacking options, nevertheless.
There’s no embedded satellite tv for pc navigation, so that you’ll want to make use of wi-fi Apple CarPlay or Android Auto – and in case you’re heading someplace with poor reception, it’s finest to obtain offline maps forward of time. There’s additionally no digital radio, simply AM and FM.
There’s a lovely digital instrument cluster that’s straightforward to learn and navigate, in addition to a head-up show.
Aside from buttons being on the ‘mistaken’ facet of the touchscreen, there aren’t many different left-to-right-hand drive conversion quirks, nevertheless, and every thing additionally feels well-assembled.
As with the LTZ, you’ll discover soft-touch trim on a lot of the sprint and doorways, plus enticing metallic trim for distinction and slightly little bit of smudge-prone gloss black trim too.
We recognize the Silverado helpfully turning on the heated seats and steering wheel upon startup when it’s chilly out, or the ventilated seats if it’s scorching. These seats are snug, too, and have 10-way energy adjustment plus reminiscence for the driving force.
In one other surprisingly considerate and opulent contact, the heated steering wheel may even finally flip off, whereas the climatised seats will drop down although the phases earlier than turning off, too.
It’s particulars like these, in addition to the illuminated USB surrounds and the best way the inside lighting gently prompts, that reveals GM sweated the small stuff within the Silverado’s inside.
We additionally recognize the continued use of bodily switchgear, together with for the local weather management. There’s additionally a helpful shortcut button to toggle the lane-keep help on or off; that is positioned on the centre stack as a substitute of the steering wheel, nevertheless, and it might take you a second to regulate to the amount and skip monitor buttons being behind the steering wheel.
Storage is ample, and features a deep centre console bin, two glove compartments, a big tray on the base of the centre stack, and commodious bottle holders within the doorways.
There are even little surprising books and crannies like a pocket within the facet of the centre console and a groove behind the touchscreen. We additionally just like the cleverly located wi-fi cellphone charger that retains your cellphone snugly in place.
There’s much more storage within the rear. Carry up the bench and there are capacious storage compartments, whereas there’s even a intelligent compartment inside the rear seatback. There are bottle holders within the doorways, plus cupholders on the rear of the centre console, and map pockets on the (delicate) entrance seatbacks.
Different facilities embrace heated outboard seats, air vents, a USB-A outlet and a USB-C outlet.
As anticipated of a full-size pickup truck, it’s positively palatial again right here with ample headroom and legroom. You’ll be able to sit three adults side-by-side comfortably.
The rear window may be opened in order for you extra air circulation, or maybe in case you’re carrying an extended merchandise. Not like its rivals, nevertheless, the Silverado can’t be had with a panoramic sunroof – solely a single-pane unit.
ABOVE: LTZ pictured
You’ll discover helpful steps within the rear bumper make it simpler to get into the bathtub, whereas the tailgate can drop with the press of a button.
Inside the bathtub, there’s a spray-on liner and 12 fastened tie-downs. There’s additionally an LED mild again right here, plus a digicam pointed down on the tub itself.
| Tub dimensions | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 |
|---|---|
| Size | 1776mm (1400mm from curler shutter) |
| Width | 1813mm |
| Width between wheel arches | 1286mm |
| Depth | 569mm |
| Cargo quantity | 1781L |
To see how the Silverado strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What’s below the bonnet?
There’s a giant V8 below the bonnet, not like the Silverado’s six-cylinder rivals from Ford, Ram and Toyota.
| Specs | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 6.2L naturally aspirated V8 |
| Energy | 313kW |
| Torque | 624Nm |
| Transmission | 10-speed auto |
| Drive sort | Full-time four-wheel drive Electronically locking entrance and rear differentials Selectable low-range gearing |
| 0-100km/h time (as examined) | 7.64 seconds in 2WD 7.24 seconds in 4A |
| Gasoline financial system (claimed) | 12.2L/100km |
| Gasoline financial system (as examined) | 13.7L/100km (inner-city, suburban, freeway loop) 14.9L/100km (general) |
| Gasoline requirement | 91-octane common unleaded |
| Gasoline tank | 91L |
| Kerb weight | 2587kg |
| Payload | 713kg |
| Braked towing capability | 3500kg (4200kg with 70mm ball) |
| Gross car mass (GVM) | 3300kg |
| Gross mixture mass (GCM) | 6851kg |
We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the most important international recall GM is conducting, following a number of engine seizures. The corporate says it has recognized the difficulty and has made modifications to the engine from mannequin yr 2025 (MY25) that deal with it. Extra on this difficulty right here.
We averaged 13.7L/100km on a loop consisting of inner-city, suburban and freeway driving. Whereas that was greater than the LTZ over the identical loop (12.9L/100km), it was nonetheless lower than the previous V8-powered Ram 1500 Laramie Sport (13.8L/100km) and the present twin-turbo V6 Ford F-150 XLT (13.9L/100km).
Not unhealthy for a giant V8…
On the finish of my time with the ZR2, it was sitting at 14.9L/100km. That’s a little bit of a bounce up from the declare, and it’s price noting a lot of this driving was finished with one individual on board and no load. Hook up a trailer and gas consumption is prone to get loads greater, although a minimum of it’ll take common unleaded gas.
As with many full-size pickups, the payload determine isn’t something grand – you’ve got simply 713kg to play with once you begin loading the car up with folks and their stuff.
To see how the Silverado strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How does the Chevrolet Silverado drive?
You’ll really feel such as you personal the street in a Silverado 1500 ZR2, although in narrower facet streets and lanes you’ll really feel such as you’re pleading to borrow it.
I’ve been in loads of these large American pickups now, to the purpose the place I’ve gotten completely used to driving them within the city grind. However in case you’re a newcomer to one of these car, you’ll initially discover their dimensions daunting.
If you happen to’re something like me, you’ll shortly get used to the sheer consolation full-size pickups supply, each when it comes to their expansive cabins and their usually pliant experience high quality. Oh, and with the ability to see over every thing in need of buses and vehicles in site visitors is pleasant, too.
We had back-to-back loans of the LTZ and ZR2, and whereas the latter nonetheless rides comfortably – like basically each American pickup bought right here at this time – it feels barely firmer and extra fidgety than the LTZ.
A part of this could possibly be attributed to the Goodyear Wrangler tyres, which additionally require you to be aware of stopping distances when the roads get moist. Additionally they let in additional noise into the cabin, which isn’t as quiet as some rivals just like the tranquil F-150.
A lot of that noise, although, is from the bellowing V8 engine quite than the wind, and that’s hardly the worst factor to listen to…
The ZR2 encompasses a raft of enhancements over the LTZ, together with an upgraded two-speed switch case, electronically locking entrance and rear differentials, and Multimatic DSSV dampers.
These function an exterior oil reservoir and two units of spool valves, one dealing with rebound and the opposite compression. A 3rd spool valve in the principle chamber takes care of tougher rebound and compression.
In brief, they provide extra variability with out having all of the trick electronics of adaptive dampers.
There’s nonetheless a little bit of float to the ZR2’s experience, like within the LTZ, which supplies the Silverado a considerably extra ponderous really feel than, say, an F-150 – one thing furthered by steering that’s a bit slower, heavier and vaguer than its fellow American.
That makes the Silverado a bit extra of a handful in a parking zone, whereas the dearth of entrance parking sensors additionally makes this large pickup tougher to park.
Oh, and be aware of peak limits in parking tons because the ZR2 stands even taller than the LTZ. The thwack of the steel antenna towards the Warning bar can be your signal to not proceed additional.
There’s an computerized cease/begin system which can irk you, however it’s simply turned off.
Sadly, there’s no auto maintain perform within the Silverado, whereas the paddle shifters don’t will let you manually shift by way of all 10 gears and as a substitute lock you to a highest gear.
There’s a set of lively security and driver help options, together with adaptive cruise management, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep help.
The lane-keep help can show a bit intrusive, whereas GM’s vibrating security seat is polarising – I really like the concept of an alert that solely warns you with out alarming others within the car, however many individuals I’ve spoken with discover this to be extra akin to a sudden and violent therapeutic massage.
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The Silverado’s digicam system is great, with nice decision and myriad selectable digicam views together with an underbody view very best for off-roading and an invisible trailer view.
Whereas we didn’t take the ZR2 off-road up right here in Queensland – other than a brief seashore drive, the place it carried out commendably – we’ve beforehand put the pickup by way of its paces on our off-road check course in Victoria.
This features a water crossing, rocky rails, offset moguls and hill climbs, all of which the ZR2 tackled with out fuss.
You’ll be able to see how the ZR2 dealt with all of it in our video evaluation above.
If you happen to’re towing a trailer, there’s a helpful trailer menu. This lets you not solely carry out a trailer mild test, but in addition undergo a trailering guidelines. There’s additionally a perform that tells you ways shut you might be to your gross mixed mass.
| Off-road dimensions | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 |
|---|---|
| Floor clearance | 296mm |
| Strategy angle | 31.8 levels |
| Departure angle | 23.3 levels |
| Ramp breakover angle | 23.4 levels |
To see how the Silverado strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What do you get?
There are simply two members of the Silverado 1500 lineup regionally, not like in North America the place there are lots of extra trim grades, extra engines, and extra physique kinds.
2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium highlights:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- All-terrain tyres
- Rancho Twin Tube shock absorbers
- LED reflector headlights
- Automated high-beam
- LED tail-lights
- Cargo mattress LED mild
- Twin lively sport exhaust
- Z71 skid plates
- Chrome exterior highlights
- Chrome facet steps
- Energy up and down tailgate
- Energy sliding rear window
- Energy sunroof
- Spray-on bedliner
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Head-up show
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Seven-speaker Bose premium sound system
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Proximity entry and push-button begin
- Rear digicam mirror
- Energy tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
- Black leather-based upholstery
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- 10-way electrical adjustable entrance seats
- Heated outboard rear seats
- Tow bar and 12-pin wiring harness
- Electrical trailer brake controller
- Automated trailer mild check
- GCM alert
Silverado 1500 ZR2 provides:
- Removes up perform for energy tailgate
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Goodyear Wrangler mud-terrain tyres
- Full-size spare wheel
- Multimatic DSSV dampers
- Enhanced two-speed switch case
- Electrical locking entrance and rear differentials
- Black exterior highlights
- ZR2 skid plates
- Entrance restoration hooks
- Jet Black and Greystone leather-appointed upholstery
To see how the Silverado strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
Is the Chevrolet Silverado protected?
None of those large pickup vehicles have been crash-tested by ANCAP, and there’s no Euro NCAP ranking both. The Silverado did, nevertheless, obtain an general ‘Good’ ranking from the US Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security.
Commonplace security gear throughout the vary contains:
- 6 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane-keep help
- Adaptive cruise management
- Encompass-view digicam
- Entrance parking sensors (LTZ Premium solely)
- Rear parking sensors
- Tyre stress monitoring system
How a lot does the Chevrolet Silverado value to run?
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is backed by a three-year, 100,000 kilometre guarantee.
GMSV and Ram are laggards on this section with regards to their aftersales providing. Each firms supply shorter warranties and haven’t any capped-price servicing scheme, not like Ford and Toyota.
Service intervals are 12 months or 12,000km (whichever comes first), matching the Ram and (virtually) the Ford, which has 12-month/15,000km intervals. It betters the Tundra’s six-month/10,000km intervals a minimum of.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Chevrolet Silverado
The enhancements Chevrolet has made to the Silverado 1500 to remodel it right into a extra off-road-capable pickup nonetheless make the ZR2 well worth the premium – in case you’ll truly take it off-road.
If you happen to’re not a eager off-roader, you’ll discover the ZR2 rather less snug and slightly bit extra cumbersome to stay with than the LTZ.
No matter which Silverado you purchase, nevertheless, you get a cushty, spacious and well-appointed full-size pickup truck.
Oh, and also you get a giant honkin’ V8 engine – and for lots of patrons, that’ll make all of the distinction.
CarExpert can prevent hundreds on a brand new Chevrolet Silverado. Click on right here to get a fantastic deal
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