2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Expert Review
Reviewed by Billy Rehbock
The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a staple within the full-size pickup truck segment, with a legacy that stretches back 25 years. One of the Silverado’s greatest strengths is its configurability. Offered in a dizzying array of cab and bed sizes, the Silverado 1500 is a strong pick in its segment, although in many ways, it lives in the shadows of the Ford F-150. Other competitors include the Ram 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, and Toyota Tundra.
What’s New
- Cruise control standard on Work Truck trim
- Trailer brake controller standard on LT trim and higher
- A seven-speaker Bose premium sound system standard on ZR2 trim
- Front and rear parking sensors standard on ZR2 trim
- Available 20-inch high gloss black wheels
- Cypress Gray and Riptide Blue paint colors
What We Think
No matter how you equip the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado, you’ll end up with a capable workhorse. Even with the entry-level turbocharged four-cylinder, Chevy’s pickup has plenty of motivation to scoot off the line. Those who need more grunt can step up to either of the available V-8 engine options, which happen to sound lovely in addition to providing more capability for towing and hauling. You can also opt for the smooth, torquey, and efficient diesel engine. In our First Drive review of the Silverado 1500 ZR2 Duramax Diesel, we praised its off-road performance and extended driving range.
These engine options plug and play with a variety of body styles and trim levels, enabling the Silverado 1500 to alter its character from on-street performance, rock-crawling prowess, or luxurious conveyance. Available Super Cruise lightens the burden of long-distance driving. For good old-fashioned hard work, the Silverado 1500 makes itself useful on a job site with rear bumper bed steps and a handy six-mode tailgate.
The Silverado 1500’s strong showing within our rankings is due in part to updates introduced for the 2022 model year. These changes upgraded higher trim levels with a redesigned interior featuring upscale materials and larger displays. Entry-level models still make use of the pre-refresh interior, however, which we’ve found to be less attractive and cheaper feeling.
If Chevy could sort out the rough ride and rework the exterior styling to be easier on the eyes, the automaker’s pickup could usurp the Ford F-150 for the top spot in the full-size truck class. Still, those shortcomings hardly warrant dismissal, and we have no qualms recommending the Silverado 1500 to prospective shoppers.
Performance and MPGs
Chevrolet offers the 2025 Silverado 1500 with four engine options. RWD is standard on some specifications and 4WD is optional or included on others.
- Engine: TurboMax 2.7-liter turbo-four
- Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
- Horsepower/Torque: 310 hp/420 lb-ft
- Efficiency (city/highway): 17-19/18-22 mpg
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 7.1 seconds
- Engine: 5.3-liter V-8
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic
- Horsepower/Torque: 355 hp/383 lb-ft
- Efficiency (city/highway): 15-17/19-21 mpg
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 6.4 seconds
- Engine: 6.2-liter V-8
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic
- Horsepower/Torque: 420 hp/460 lb-ft
- Efficiency (city/highway): 14-16/17-20 mpg
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 5.5 seconds
- Engine: Duramax 3.0-liter turbodiesel I-6
- Transmission: 10-speed automatic
- Horsepower/Torque: 277 hp/460 lb-ft
- Efficiency (city/highway): 21-24/23-29 mpg
- Acceleration (0-60 mph): 7.6 seconds
Bed and Cab Configurations
The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado can be configured with three bed lengths: a 5.8-foot short bed, a 6.6-foot standard bed, and an 8.0-foot long bed. These bed options can be paired with a two-door Regular Cab, a four-door Double Cab, or a larger four-door Crew Cab.
Towing and Hauling
The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s towing and payload capacities vary depending on cab, bed, and powertrain configurations. Towing maxes out at 13,300 pounds when the Silverado 1500 is outfitted with RWD and the Duramax turbodiesel engine. The Silverado 1500 attains its highest payload rating when equipped with RWD and the TurboMax inline four-cylinder engine. For the most bed volume, ticking the box for the Silverado 1500’s Long Bed allows for 89.1 cubic feet of stowage.
The All-Electric Chevy Silverado
Although the Silverado EV shares part of its name with the Silverado 1500, the two trucks are entirely different vehicles and utilize separate platforms. The Silverado EV uses GM’s Ultium architecture, dual electric motors, and a 200-kWh battery pack. Range is rated at 393 to 450 miles depending on configuration. Other features that are specific to the Silverado EV include all-wheel steering, an “eTrunk” frunk, and a panoramic glass roof.
Safety Ratings and Features
The basic 2025 Chevrolet Silverado WT comes equipped with minimal active safety tech. Standard equipment on this model includes automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and lane departure warning, while an available safety package can be equipped to add front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims can be outfitted with rear automatic emergency braking and trailer blind-spot monitoring. The highly capable Super Cruise hands-free semi-autonomous driving system is available as well.
Technology
If you want a high-tech Silverado 1500, avoid the WT and Custom trims. These basic trucks receive a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 3.5-inch driver display, and six-speaker audio. Fortunately, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is included even with the most basic trims.
Stepping up to the Silverado 1500 LT and beyond adds a 13.4-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play apps. These models also come equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Other higher-end technology includes a seven-speaker Bose audio system, wireless device charging, head-up display, and a 360-degree camera.
Which 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trim Level Is Best?
Choosing a trim from the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s range seems like a tall order, but we think there’s an obvious choice within the lineup. Chevy offers the Silverado 1500 in the following grades: WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country, and ZR2. Of these variants, we think the ZR2 model has the most appeal. Not only does it ride and handle remarkably well due to its special suspension system, it’s offered with the capable 6.2-liter V-8 engine and 3.0-liter turbodiesel. Its interior is among the best in the Silverado 1500’s range and its multi-mode tailgate offers a lot of utility. Pricing starts around $73,500, which isn’t cheap. That said, we think the Silverado 1500 ZR2 is worth the spend.
