Along with the Ram 1500 and the Ford F-150, the Silverado is one of the most popular trucks on the current market. In 2019, it got a revamped interior design and even better ratings on performance tests. It also got a new turbo four-cylinder and turbodiesel engine.

With the two latest engines, Silverado customers can now choose between five different motors for their pickup. The most powerful engine is the one found in High Country trims. It’s a 6.2 V8 with an output of 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. This version costs 20k more than the standard Silverado, so is it worth the price? Here’s what Car and Driver found in their review.

Better transmission

The base engine for the Silverado is a 4.3-liter V6 capable of 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a six-speed transmission, but every other engine has either an eight- or ten-speed transmission. In addition to making more precise movements, the other transmissions also come equipped with stop-start technology, which improves the truck’s gas mileage.

The High Country comes with a classic column gearshift, which may appeal to fans of old manual gearboxes. There’s even a manual input button on the shifter handle. The only complaint about this transmission was that it couldn’t always select the appropriate gear during sudden acceleration.

Higher ride height

Testers found that driving the High Country felt similar to driving a heavy-duty beast like the 2500HD or F-250 Super Duty. It comes with 22-inch wheels, which are excellent for drivers who want to have a better view from the cabin. However, it couldn’t provide the stability of other trucks in its class. The truck’s suspension got noticeably shaky when going over rough roads and even developed a sideways jerk at times.

To make up for this, the truck has a camera system that covers its blind spots and also monitors any trailers that are attached. Additionally, testers found that the High Country’s steering was very responsive.

Better storage and towing

Inside the truck, the High Country has even more storage spaces than the previous models. The cupholders have generous space and there’s a large center console. However, despite its redesign, the lack of upscale materials inside the cabin is still an issue.

Thanks to its larger engine, you can stow even more items in the High Country’s cargo bed. It has a maximum payload of 2,198 pounds. Its towing capacity also jumps to 12,200 pounds, a 600-pound improvement over the standard engine.

More speed

The bigger V8 also gives the High Country quicker acceleration. It can reach 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds, whereas the regular Silverado needed 6.1 seconds. This makes one of the quickest pickup trucks available, beating out even popular rivals like the Ram Laramie and the F-150 Platinum. It got a quarter-mile time of 13.9 seconds at 100 mph, second only to the F-150 Limited‘s Ecoboost engine.

The Deluxe package

The High Country can be purchased with a Deluxe package for $3,440. This bundle comes with leather seats, all-season blackwall tires, a power tailgate, artificial wood trim for the dashboard, and a power sunroof. It also comes with a host of useful safety features including lane keep assist, front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, and following distance indicators.

Despite the heftier engine, the High Country is quicker than almost all of the competition, has one of the highest towing capacities, and conducts itself reasonably well on the road. If you’re in the market for a useful truck, the High Country is definitely a good option.