Here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse we are anxiously awaiting Spring, daydreaming about new trucks and all the work that will need to be done when everything thaws! The Autoblog review team wrote about the 2023 Chevy Silverado last week and its annual updates, and were pleased with what turned out to be the “finest cabin in the segment” upon climbing inside. Even the LT trim has a luxurious look and feel, and the range-topping High Country knocks things out of the park with upper-end touches and finish.
There are many devout fans of the Chevy Duramax diesel engine, which packs even more of a punch for 2023 even being much quieter than one would expect. The Autoblog drive testing staff claims that the Silverado boasts the back-to-back experience needed for solid towing and hauling duties with a purpose.
The High Country model now has the option to add a Jet Black/Umber interior color, and after last year’s drastic overhaul, the LT model looks and feels just as good as the previous High Country did. The overhaul also included a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch instrument display, with the digital gauge cluster brandishing a bright and crisp look that sunlight can’t’ drown out as much as on the old model. The 13.4-inch touchscreen allows for the operation of multiple screens at once, and the system is among the industry’s first to proudly run on the Android Automotive OS.
One of the first things test drivers notice about the Silverado is its slightly higher bed walls, along with the option of the MultiPro tailgate that makes loading easier than could ever be imagined on the trucks of yesterday. The all-important Payload stat ranges from 2,130 lbs on the 4x4 Crew Cab to 2,280 for the 4x2 Regular Cab, with the HD model proving to be an awesome and very capable choice for those who anticipate pushing payload limits on the regular. The base-level engine is a 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-four, which cranks out 310 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque and is paired with an 8-speed automatic.
Standard on the LTZ and High Country is the 5.3-liter V8 which cranks out 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, with a 10-speed automatic replacing the 6 and 8-speed options. These also now come available with GM’s more advanced Dynamic Fuel Management System, which chips in wonderfully at the job of nailing down good fuel economy numbers. The resident top dog is the 6.2-liter V8, with its 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, with an EPA estimated range of around 15 mpg combined, and 17 mpg minus off-road tires.
The top-spec High Country now is equipped with adaptive dampers, and this group of seasoned auto bloggers was surprised at just how much love they had for the 4-cylinder model, which was an incredibly viable alternative to the very well-known and trusty V8. Their favorite, (as we all expected!) was the Duramax diesel. When you hit the pedal and the torque kicks in there is a rich quality that never fully backs off and provides all the rigidly defined “good stuff” that full-sized trucks have been loved for over the years!
