2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Review

For general consumers, we recommend skipping the base Work Truck trim due to its skimpy list of creature comforts, though obviously it's called "work truck" for a reason and will undoubtedly appeal to business owners and contractors. The 2500's LT trim level is a better starting point, and it i...

If you live in a city, drivability will be low with any 2500 series pickup truck. Otherwise, the diesel's low-end torque and abundant features make for a pretty approachable truck.

The 6.6-liter diesel makes massive torque and more than sufficient power, which give it a surge of acceleration off the line. In our testing, it accelerated from zero to 60 mph in just 7.7 seconds. In-town acceleration is more reserved, but there's still plenty of power to get this thing up to freew...

There isn't much confidence to be had in these brakes. Under hard braking, the pedal can go all the way to the floor. Braking distances are long, but in traffic they seem to work well enough if you leave some distance. You just don't feel very connected to the action.

The steering is well-weighted and provides stability when cruising straight, but it's hard to judge what the tires are doing around turns. The low steering ratio adds stability when towing but results in busy hands when parking or making U-turns.

The big surprise is how well this gargantuan vehicle takes turns. There's minimal body roll around corners unless you're going way too fast. In parking lots and tight spaces, it maneuvers well enough considering its size.

If you live in a city, drivability will be low with any 2500 series pickup truck. Otherwise, the diesel's low-end torque and abundant features make for a pretty approachable truck.

Our test vehicle had the off-road Z71 package (which is a great deal for the price) and serious ground clearance. You won't be taking this on any tight trails, but it will conquer your average dirt road.

Despite the harsh ride from a very stiff and bouncy suspension, the Silverado HD is relatively comfortable. Put a big load back there and you'll have a road-trip-ready vehicle. But day-to-day comfort suffers, so you might want a 1500 if you don't need the 2500's extra towing capacity.

You'll find big, well-bolstered and comfortable seats no matter which seating position you're in. The seats are wide with sufficient contours to hold you in place, and they provide great road-trip comfort.

This truck bounces, shimmies, shakes and jumps over the slightest road imperfections. That's forgivable in the 3500 class, but this 2500 should be a bit better. Load it up with a heavy payload or a big trailer, though, and the ride quality is significantly better.

While road noise is subdued, there is quite a bit of wind noise from the Silverado's square front end and big mirrors. The diesel engine rumbles a bit, but it isn't particularly grating or abrasive while cruising on the highway.

Big knobs and easy-to-read layouts are a plus. The air-conditioning blows cold. The split-operation for the heated seats is a neat feature ? you can heat your sore back without cooking your butt as well. The vents are vertically mounted, which isn't ideal, but they're easy to direct.

While it might not be the most luxurious vehicle in the class, this Silverado HD has a totally livable interior. The overall design is dated, but materials quality is sufficient.

The 2500HD's controls are easy to use with large, legible buttons and quick touchscreen response times.

A grab handle and side steps make it easier to get in and out of the Silverado HD, but there is still some climbing involved. Still, it isn't any harder than usual in the HD truck class.

Adjustable pedals, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel and a generally good view over the hood combine for an excellent driving position. You've got a commanding view of the road regardless of how you position the seat.

Call all your NBA-player friends and have them stretch out. You can be tall, wide or both and still fit with no problem in this truck. It's big on the outside; therefore, there's lots of space for five people on the inside.

All of the Silverado's roof pillars are wide and thick and obstruct your view. The big towing mirrors and the rearview camera help the situation, but knowing where the corners of the truck are is tough.

Body panels and interior pieces are well put together. We didn't notice any rattling, shaking or malfunctioning during our test. Interior materials aren't the nicest in the class, but they certainly suffice for such a utility-focused vehicle.

The 2500HD can tow and haul massive loads, and it has abundant interior storage. However, offerings from Ford and Ram outclass it in a couple key categories.

Massive pockets everywhere. A giant center console, a split-open glovebox, multiple cup holders in each door, both front and back. If you're looking for more small-item storage, the only place you'll find it is in the Ram equivalent which has small, in-floor cooler boxes in the rear seat.

Mirroring its rivals, the Silverado 2500HD is available with a standard bed (6 feet 6 inches) and a long bed (8 feet 1 inch). Our test truck had the long bed, which allows for a massive amount of cargo space. The rear seats fold up for big interior storage as well.

The 2500 can fit three car seats in the back without much fuss. There are two sets of easily accessible lower latch anchors and three shelf anchors that are a bit harder to reach. But this truck's sheer altitude makes it less than desirable unless lifting kids is your workout program.

The 6.6-liter turbodiesel has massive torque and power, but the Silverado's towing capacities are a bit lower than key rivals. The max trailer weight behind the Chevy 2500HD is 14,500 pounds; it can tow 18,100 pounds with a fifth-wheel trailer.

All full-size truck beds are similar sized. This one can be accessed by corner bed-steps built into the rear bumper corners. Payload maxes out at 3,204 pounds ? lower than the class leaders, but only by a few hundred pounds.

Using Chevy's MyLink interface is pretty simple upfront for the most part, but we had several usability issues with our test vehicle. Finicky voice controls and subpar device integration made for a frustrating user experience.

Menu logic on the Chevy MyLink system is easy to understand, but not the most elegant in the class. Touchscreen responses are slower than class leaders. We like the look of the optional 8-inch touchscreen, but it doesn't stand out much from rival systems.

Our experience with smartphone devices was poor, with many dropped connections over the course of the test. When it worked, we generally like the interface, but even then it takes quite a bit of time to load music. Best to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Multiple attempts to use the Silverado's built-in voice controls fell short, with a success rate of about 50 percent. It was easier to use the physical knobs and touchscreen controls. That said, Siri and Google Voice can be accessed if you've paired your smartphone by holding the talk button longer.