2023 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Review

For those whose work is too heavy or whose toys are too big or too many for a Silverado 1500, Chevrolet offers the step-up Silverado 2500. Built on a sturdier frame with beefier suspension components and more powerful engines, the 2500 is bigger, stronger and harder-working than its light-duty sibling. To suit any buyer's needs, Chevy offers the Silverado 2500 with three different cabs, two bed lengths, and the choice of two- or four-wheel drive. There are also two engine options, a 6.6-liter gas V-8 with gobs of power and a 6.6-liter diesel V-8 with "careful where you point that thing" power.

Some people still refer to the 2500 and its competitors the Ram 2500 and Ford F-250 as "three-quarter ton" trucks based on their once-upon-a-time payload capacity, but that phrase is as outdated as the carburetors that metered fuel on the trucks way back then. The 2023 Silverado 2500 can manage up to nearly two tons of people and cargo depending on configuration, about a full ton more than the Silverado 1500 is rated for. Load your goods onto a trailer and the 2500 can tow more than 18,500 pounds when properly equipped, which is about 5,000 pounds more than what the 1500 can manage. Ideally, those maximums should be considered occasional-use ratings. Buyers whose regular loads close in on the truck's maximum capability will be happier with the next step up the heavy-duty-truck ladder.

While the Silverado 2500's specs generally align with those of its chief competitors, it lags in one important arena. Compared to the F-250 and the Ram 2500, its interior looks dated. We've also found that the Silverado's prominent hood inhibits forward visibility, which can be an issue when you're parking in tight spaces. Still, trucks like this aren't about comfort. They're about capability. If you need a truck to work, the Chevrolet Silverado will do a lot of it.

With the 2023 Silverado 2500HD, buyers get to mix and match three cabs, two bed lengths, two engines, two- or four-wheel drive, and five trim levels: WT (Work Truck), Custom, LT, LTZ and High Country. (The two-door cab is not available with the shorter bed, though, and not every trim level is available with every combination of cab and bed.) A 6.6-liter gas V8 is standard and makes 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a six-speed automatic. The optional diesel also displaces 6.6 liters, but it makes 445 hp and an astounding 910 lb-ft. That one is paired exclusively to a 10-speed automatic.