2022 Chevrolet Silverado High Country First Drive: A Fierce and Fancy Truck
Chevrolet updated the Silverado for 2022 with a new front end and a more modern interior design. I have the top-trim Silverado High Country for a week, and thus far, I’m truly impressed. From the outside, the Silverado looks fierce with its massive front grille and imposing stature. It looks like it dwarfs everything else on the road.
But the inside is where the magic happens. Everything is wrapped in leather, from the seats to the steering wheel. Even the parts that you don’t normally touch, like the dash, have some leather treatment on them. Overall, it feels more like a limo than a full-size truck, and I think it’s pretty fancy.
The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado High Country drives smaller than it looks
When setting out to drive the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado High Country, the first thing I noticed was how long the front end is. The hood sits a little high, so it can be tough to see out of until you get used to it. Fortunately, there are parking sensors and cameras on all four corners, so parking the massive truck isn’t as hard as it looks.
On the road, the Silverado handles bumps and road imperfections with ease. There is a slight jarring nature to the suspension, which makes sense since it’s made to tow up to 11,500 pounds. My tester is fitted with the Max Trailering package, which includes an upgraded rear axle, an enhanced cooling radiator, revised shock tuning, and heavy-duty rear springs. Hence the somewhat stiffer ride.
Otherwise, the Silverado drives pretty smoothly. It’s quick too. Under the hood is a 6.2-liter V8 engine that generates 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque and rockets the truck up to 60 mph in only 5.4 seconds, according to Car and Driver. It sure feels that way on the street. The truck accelerates with Corvette-like spriteliness as passing cars and going up hills isn’t much of an issue.
The only issue is getting used to the truck’s size. It’s definitely not a small vehicle, but thanks to its responsive un-truck-like steering feel and good visibility, the Silverado drives more like a large sedan. It’s also easy to get in and out of due to the power side steps.
The interior is comfortable and puts safety first
Sitting in the 2022 Silverado, I feel a slight sense of jealousy. I’m jealous because it feels more spacious than my shoebox-sized apartment and looks nicer. In addition to an abundance of leather, there’s wood trim on the dash and door panels. There’s also a huge 13.4-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash that looks sleeker than my TV.
It’s easy to use as well and connects wireless to Apple Carplay without any guff. The HVAC buttons are easy to see and use, but my only is that there isn’t a tuning knob. Yes, I’m old-school like that and I should probably get a new TV. But I digress.
The first thing I noticed after turning on the truck was the seatbelt warning message. The 2022 Silverado comes equipped with a “Buckle to Drive” feature that makes you put your seatbelt on before you can shift it out of “park.” I will say that it’s a handy feature – which can be turned off – but it’s a little annoying if you only have to move the car a few feet to adjust your parking.
The Silverado High Country looks to be worth its high price tag
The 2022 Chevy Silverado that I’m testing is priced at $68,800. That’s a high price tag for a truck. But considering how much stuff is on it, it looks like it’s well worth it. No, the truck doesn’t ride like a limo, but it’s adorned like one and almost as comfortable.
I’m going to drive the Silverado around for the rest of the week and report back accordingly. Until then, I’m also going to look for a larger apartment. Stay tuned for our full review.