2022 Chevrolet Silverado Review: Fun and Capable In all the Right Places
Vehicle Review Highlights:
- 2022 Chevrolet Silverado ($32,195 – $60,295)
- “2017 KBB Best Resale Value: Full-Size Pick-up” – Kelley Blue Book
- “2017 KBB 5-Year Cost to Own” – Kelley Blue Book
- Pros: The new-for-2022 Chevrolet Silverado has a new interior design, upgraded tech features, and a revised front end.
- Cons: Despite the powerful engines available, a hybrid option is not part of the roster.
The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado competes in one of the toughest segments against five other rivals. Some of these include the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, and its corporate cousin, the GMC Sierra. However, its updated looks inside and out for the new model year make it a lot more competitive than before. We spent some time in the Silverado and came away impressed with its on-road and off-road manners, comfortable interior, and powerful engine.
What’s new for 2022?
The Chevrolet Silverado was completely redesigned in 2019, but for 2022, it received a refresh. GM gave the pick-up truck a new interior for the LT trims and above. Part of the update includes an overall better interior layout, more modern materials, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a large 13.4-inch infotainment screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity.
GM also added a host of safety features to each trim level. However, only the top-trim High Country has the availability of GM’s Super Cruise semi-automatic driverless system.
Which 2022 Chevy Silverado trim is right for you?
There are seven different 2022 Silverado trim levels to choose from, so picking the right one depends on what you need it for. Here’s a breakdown:
- Work Truck: $34,845
- Custom: $41,845
- LT: $45,945
- Trail Boss: $49,745
- RST: $50,145
- LTZ: $56,395
- High Country: $61,495
If you work in construction, are a tradesperson, or are just on a tight budget, the Work Truck and Custom trims could be right for you. The LT trim level and above come with a nicer interior, so if comfort is what you seek, aiming a little higher in the hierarchy could be in order. Also, keep in mind that there are double and crew cab configurations and standard and short bed lengths to factor in.
Our tester for the week was a Silverado High Country 4WD with nearly everything on it except for the Super Cruise feature. The price, as tested, came out to $68,800.
How does the Chevrolet Silverado drive?
The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado feels like a near-luxury car on the road. No, it’s not perfectly smooth, as its body-on-frame architecture makes the ride feel a little jittery over rougher pavement. But on smoother roads and highway driving speed, the Silverado is more comfortable than you would expect a truck this size to be.
The suspension only starts to feel a little choppy when driving the truck off-road, as expected. That being said, the truck still felt confident and capable when we drove it through some rough dirt roads and up a few inclines. While we didn’t do any hardcore towing or hauling during our time with the Silverado, we were still able to get a good idea of how it drives all around.
Our favorite feature was the adjustable drivetrain that can be switched from 2WD to 4H or 4L with the push of a button. In 2WD mode, we were able to get the rear end to kick out when driving in the dirt from a standstill. However, there’s also an “auto” mode, which takes the guesswork out of driving on slippery surfaces. With the auto mode engaged, the truck accelerates from a stop with no drama or slippage on the dirt.
As for the power, our Silverado High Country tester was fitted with the 6.2-liter V8 engine, so there were plenty of horses on tap. The truck accelerated quickly off the line, and passing was never an issue, even when going uphill.
The brakes gripped well, and the pedal had a linear feel to it without being too stiff. The truck’s steering was very comfortable and easy as well, and the turning radius was surprisingly good, given the truck’s size.
Is the Silverado comfortable?
The 2022 Silverado is comfortable enough to take on a drive from one coast to the other. GM did well when appointing the Silverado’s interior with well-crafted materials. Of course, our High Country test model came with open-pore wood trim and premium leather upholstery, which made the experience feel more high-class. However, the seats themselves were comfortable, and the amount of head and legroom in all parts of the cabin was impressive.
Visibility out of all four corners is exceptional as well, thanks in part to the 360-degree camera view. Additionally, all of the buttons on the center console and infotainment screen are well within reach of the driver.
How much power does the 2022 Chevy Silverado have?
The 2022 Silverado can be outfitted with one of four different engine choices. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and produces 310 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. According to the EPA, this smaller engine affords the truck up to 19 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway in 2WD form. Opting for 4WD decreases both of those ratings by 2 mpg.
The second engine option is a 5.3-liter V8 that’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and generates 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, some of the truck configurations with this engine are available with a six-speed automatic as well. The EPA says that the 2WD versions can get up to 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway in 2WD form and 15 mpg city/19 mpg highway in 4WD form. The six-speed option provides the same gas mileage.
There’s also a larger 6.2-liter V8 engine that comes with a 10-speed automatic and puts out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The EPA rates this engine’s fuel efficiency as 14 mpg in the city and up to 19 mpg on the highway. In our real-world testing, we managed an average of 17 mpg in mixed-driving situations.
Lastly, the turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline-six engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic and puts out 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. With this engine, the Silverado can achieve up to an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway in 2WD form. Spinning all four wheels leads to a decrease by 1 mpg in the city and 5 mpg on the highway.
According to Kelley Blue Book, “The 5.3-liter V8 and 3.0-liter turbo diesel models all have 3.23:1 gearing. The turbo 2.7, along with the 5.3- and 6.2-liter V8s equipped with the Max Trailering package get a 3.42:1 gear ratio.”
How much can the Silverado tow and haul?
The Chevrolet Silverado has a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 pounds, making it an extremely capable hauler. That tow rating is achieved with either the turbo diesel engine or the 6.2-liter V8. The 5.3-liter V8 can handle up to 11,500 pounds, and the turbo four-cylinder can pull up to 9,500 pounds, which is still impressive.
As for payload, the Silverado ranges from 1,870 to 2,280 pounds.
Is the Silverado safe?
Yes, every Silverado comes standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which is a suite of active safety features. The most notable features include a forward-collision alert with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, a following-distance indicator, and automatic high beams.
There’s also a trailer side blind zone alert, which accounts for the length of the trailer when changing lanes. This feature is optional on the Silverado.
Additionally, GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving feature is available on the High Country trim level. We weren’t able to test this feature out, but it uses the truck’s radar cruise control and lane-centering systems to drive the truck without much driver intervention. It also works when towing a trailer.
MotorBiscuit gives the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado an expert rating of 8.4 out of 10
The editors at MotorBiscuit award the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado an overall rating of 8.4 out of 10. The Chevy Silverado undoubtedly operates in a segment with stiff competition, but its updated look and tech-savvy features make it highly competitive. We also liked its smooth driving characteristics and comfortable interior. We only hope that a hybrid model, or something similar, is on the way as it could make the Silverado even more competitive going forward.