Six Reasons the Silverado is Our Favorite Truck

There’s no denying there are a lot of great trucks out there; even just looking at full-size trucks, we can see plenty of options to choose from. With such a crowded and competitive market, it can be difficult for one model or another to stand out from the rest, which we see with a lot of trucks that are available. When looking at a Chevy Silverado for sale, however, it’s impossible for it to blend in or disappear into the crowd. This is a truck that stands out aggressively, with a number of excellent features on display that make it impossible to ignore and set it apart from everything else that’s out there. Let’s take a look at some of our favorite things about the Silverado that are exclusive to it and that demonstrate how well Chevy understands what we look for in a great, full-size pickup.

#1 – The Duramax Turbo-Diesel Engine

There’s a lot to be said for the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 in general, but one point we have to touch on is just how impressive its engines are (this is the first of two engines we’re going to talk about). You have four different engines to choose from, and while they’re all great, one that constantly gets our attention is the available 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel engine. This beast offers 305 hp and a massive 495 lb-ft of torque, letting the Silverado haul up to 13,300 lbs behind it when properly equipped.

That kind of capability is already impressive, but what makes this most remarkable is that this is the last light-duty truck of its type available with a diesel engine (not counting the GMC Sierra 1500, the sibling to the Silverado). There are still diesel engines available on trucks like the Ford Super Duty models and the Ram 3500, but you won’t find one on the F-150 or standard Ram 1500 pickup. Many of us appreciate the long-term reliability and muscle that a diesel engine provides, and we never thought we’d see the day that it would become such a rarity. But here we are, and the Silverado has one of the most impressive diesel engines available anywhere.

#2 – The Standard TurboMax Engine

We had to start with the diesel engine because it’s just so good and you won’t find another truck in the Silverado 1500’s class with one. But it’s not the only engine that we love on this truck: the standard engine was recently replaced with a new TurboMax powertrain that delivers impressive power and capability. This beauty provides 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque; that’s right, this is the standard engine on starting Silverado 1500 models, so without spending more, you still get excellent power from this truck. That’s not something that can be said for every model out there, so you often end up looking at a truck with tremendous potential, but only the highest trims with the fanciest engines can achieve it. Chevy understands what you expect from your pickup, and even the starting engine has been built to deliver it.

#3 – The Multi-Flex Tailgate

Great performance is one thing, but we want a functional truck that improves our lives each day while we drive it. With the exclusive Multi-Flex Tailgate available for the Silverado 1500, you get incredible functionality designed to make getting the most from your pickup much easier. This tailgate offers six different functions, starting with a primary tailgate that can open easily using a switch inside the cabin, a button on the gate, or your key fob. This primary gate has a load stop designed to prevent extra-long items from sliding out of your bed while you drive. Then there’s an inner gate with loads of functionality: it can fold down to give you easier access to items in the bed, it has a full-width step so you can climb into the bed easily, and it even functions as an inner gate load stop to keep second-tier items stacked up in the bed from sliding out. And since it works as a flat surface for a laptop (or cooler, we won’t judge), it lets you use your truck as a mobile command center.

#4 – The Most Functional Bed in Its Class

This available Multi-Flex Tailgate is fantastic; better yet, you’ll find it at the end of the most functional bed of any competing trucks out there. For starters, you get up to 89.1 cu.ft. of standard cargo volume in this bed, the best in its class. To let you fully take advantage of that space, the Silverado 1500 has 12 tie-downs in the bed, which is standard and rated at 500 lbs per corner. This makes it easy to secure whatever you need to bring with you, and available options like LED cargo area and perimeter lighting, plus the tailgate we mentioned, let you get the most from your truck no matter what you need it for.

#5 – The Super Cruise Hands-Free Driving System

Here we have one of our favorite pieces of tech in the auto industry right now, though we know it’s not something every driver will flock to. Super Cruise is the first true hands-free driver assistance technology developed by GM and offered on select Chevy models, including the 2024 Silverado 1500. On compatible stretches of highway, you simply activate the Super Cruise system; then, you can take your hands off the wheel and let your truck safely guide you to where you need to go. There’s an Automatic Lane Change system that can pass slower traffic, Lane Change on Demand that you can activate by using the turn signal, and even Trailering support that adjusts for the extra stopping distance needed while towing. Every competitor out there is scrambling to catch up with what GM has done, but no one else offers hands-free driving with towing capability.

#6 – The ZR2 Off-Road Trim (and Bison Edition)

We’ll admit that having an off-road trim isn’t exactly exclusive to the Silverado 1500, but the way that Chevy has done it makes it stand on its own. First, you have numerous off-road options for this truck, including a couple of Trail Boss trims, though the ZR2 is undeniably the king of the trail. An off-road cut front bumper gives the ZR2 excellent clearance and maneuverability off-road, while 33-inch MT tires help you maintain traction, plus it comes with the diesel engine. However, the star of the show is the off-road suspension with Multimatic DSSV dampers designed to handle anything the trail throws at you and keep you going.

Recently, Chevy unleashed a special ZR2 Bison Edition for the Silverado 1500 developed in conjunction with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV). This model features unique front and rear differentials, a transfer case, fuel tank skid plates, plus AEV front and rear stamped steel bumpers with heavy-duty cast recovery points. It has Gloss Black 18-inch AEV unique wheels and a variety of other unique details and touches. This just proves that Chevy always looks for ways to improve a truck that is already our favorite pickup on the road.

Many More Reasons Where Those Came From

Honestly, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to listing off things we love about the Silverado 1500 and everything it offers these days. We didn’t even get into the interior and the incredible tech and luxury features it offers, like an available 13.4-inch infotainment system with Google built-in, a seven-speaker Bose Premium sound system, and a 12.3-inch Driver Information Center display. Add in advanced safety tech like a Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert that extends the blind zone warning area to include alongside a trailer you’re towing, and you have a truck that’s truly special. Of course, you don’t have to take our word for it since you can check out the Chevy Silverado for yourself and experience everything it has to offer.