Chevy has done it yet again. For the fourth time this year, it has increased the price of the Silverado 2500HD. This time it is a $1,000 hike across the board. So now it is more expensive than a Ford F-250 Super Duty. And the top-of-the-line High Country with a diesel engine tops out at $81,245. Yikes!

How much has the Silverado 2500HD gone up in 2022?

This means that the 2022 Silverado 2500HD is now $4,000 more than when it first became available. A base regular cab Silverado starts at $41,195, while its Ford F-250 counterpart begins at $39,700, with the destination charge. That’s enough of a difference for Ford to exploit.

COVID, supply chain, demand, yada yada. The market looks like it can bear these price increases without impunity. How long things will be like this is anybody’s guess? While we wouldn’t say all 2500HD purchases are for fleets, most companies dealing with the price hikes will consider it the price of doing business. But for consumers, it puts much more of a burden on the budget. 

Why buy a 2022 Silverado 2500HD over a 1500?

So why would someone spend the extra for the Silverado 2500HD when they could spend less for the cheaper 1500? The 2500HD can tow up to 18,510 lbs equipped with the 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine. For the 1500, it can handle a maximum of 11,000 lbs.

The same difference is seen in payloads. The 2500HD can take almost 4,000 lbs, while the 1500 can carry up to 2,280 lbs from the 2.7-liter turbo. Don’t get us wrong, the Chevy Silverado 1500 is a very capable half-ton truck. Especially, if you’re looking for off-roading chops, and doing moderate hauling and/or towing. But the differences are fairly stark. 

But the other difference to keep in mind is that the Silverado 1500 comes with a lot more engine options. The 2500 has only two, the 6.6-liter V8 with 400 hp, and the Duramax turbodiesel with 910- ft-lbs of torque. With the 1500, there is a 2.7-liter turbo as standard, then the 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel, the 5.3-liter EcoTech3 V8, and the 6.2-liter EcoTech3 V8. 

Are there trim differences?

Both are offered with the same trims, which come to nine. They are Work Truck (WT), Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country, and ZR2 trims. Really, that should satisfy every Silverado customer. 

Now, to show you how much prices have increased, let’s look at 2021 Silverado prices. The 2021 Silverado 1500 WT started at a base price of $28,900. For the 2500HD WT, the price was $35,900. So in one model year, the price has jumped more than $5,000. In one year. 

So does this suggest you should wait before you order your new Silverado pickup? Look, prices aren’t going to go down. There may be some incentives thrown on the hood if sales soften up. But, then again, that may never happen. We’re in a strange period for both new and used vehicles that have never been seen since right after WWII.