The Chevrolet Silverado 2500 is a big, capable, smooth-operating heavy-duty pickup that costs thousands less than similarly optioned competitors. If you really need to tow and are OK with an interior that features fewer premium materials than rivals, the Silverado 2500 HD becomes a compelling option.Read full review
Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at Edmunds and was the first editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.
Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the Senior News Editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.
Pros
Stout power and quick acceleration
High-tech interior on most trim levels
Roomy cabin with plenty of storage
Available camera system makes towing easier
Cons
Can't match best-in-class payload ratings
High, broad hood inhibits forward visibility
What's new
Improved powertrains and increased towing capacity
New interior with tech upgrades for most trim levels
Off-road-ready ZR2 model joins the lineup
Part of the fourth Silverado HD generation introduced for 2020
Overview
Offering more towing and hauling capability than a Silverado 1500 but not the all-out max capacity you'll find in a Silverado 3500HD, the Silverado 2500HD blends value and performance in equal measure. This year, the 2500HD gets fresh styling, a new interior with upgraded technology, and improved powertrains with a higher maximum tow rating of 22,500 pounds when properly equipped. There's also a new ZR2 off-road version of the truck that's ready to take you farther off the beaten path than ever before.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Work Truck 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 10A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in California.
The Silverado 2500HD ZR2 slots into the lineup just below the High Country model. It features a standard ZR2 suspension lifted 1.5 inches and equipped with exclusive off-road shock absorbers, an aluminum front skid plate, an electronic locking rear differential and a hill descent control system. Goodyear Wrangler Territory mud-terrain tires are also standard, and the ZR2 looks the part with blacked-out exterior trim and matching wheels. You can upgrade this version of the truck with a Bison Edition package, which adds decorative and protective equipment from off-road outfitter American Expedition Vehicles (AEV).
Competitors to consider
While the updated 2024 Silverado 2500HD is better than ever, it still can't muster the same amount of towing and payload capacity as the recently redesigned Ford F-250 Super Duty. However, the heavy Chevy is newly competitive with the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty, and the Silverado's corporate cousin, the GMC Sierra 2500HD, gets the same improvements but wrapped in different styling. Intrigued? Then be sure to read our testing team's Expert Rating of the refreshed 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500HD.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our Verdict
The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Average
7.6
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The Chevrolet Silverado 2500 is a big, capable, smooth-operating heavy-duty pickup that costs thousands less than similarly optioned competitors. If you really need to tow and are OK with an interior that features fewer premium materials than rivals, the Silverado 2500 HD becomes a compelling option.
How does the Silverado 2500HD drive? For something this big, the Silverado is a smooth operator. The diesel-fuel V8 we tested hauled the big Chevy to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, which is more than respectable for something that tipped our scales at just over 8,000 pounds. That said, the burly diesel's 975 lb-ft of torque acts like a wave you simply ride on from one stop to the next. The transmission shifts promptly and unobtrusively.
For a truck weighing over four tons, braking and handling are never going to be high points. But in general, the Silverado 2500HD is easy to drive. The truck stops smoothly in city traffic and the steering is accurate and direct, which helps you stay within your lane with little effort.
Comfort
7.5/10
How comfortable is the Silverado 2500HD? The Silverado 2500HD manages to strike a nice balance between being ready for work but also comfortable when unladen. The ride is firm, but every little rut in the road doesn't make its way into your back as you roll along. The seats, on the other hand, could use softer padding and more support — our staff found them too flat and firm.
The climate system is easy to use and is capable of cooling or heating the cabin quickly. However, the fans whir away pretty loudly at their higher speeds. Otherwise, the cabin is pretty quiet at highway speeds. There is some wind noise that comes off this truck's massive side mirrors, but it isn't enough to be a major disturbance. Even the diesel engine is nothing more than a mild hum on the open road and doesn't make much of the characteristic diesel rattle.
Interior
7.5/10
How’s the interior? The Silverado HD's latest interior is a big improvement compared to earlier iterations. The interior is easy to use and all the controls are in sensible places, meaning they're easy to locate even while you're on the go. The crew cab we tested also felt capacious, with good headroom and legroom for passengers in all seats.
There are some drawbacks, however. The seating position, while commanding, feels too high, especially for taller drivers. Also, visibility is pretty poor in all directions. Looking over your right shoulder doesn't show anything beyond the huge rear roof pillar, and because the truck is so high off the ground, seeing smaller vehicles is tricky at best. You'll need to rely heavily on the massive side mirrors and cameras. And unless you're pretty tall, it's also difficult to get in and out of even with the truck's wide door openings and fold-out side steps.
Save as much as $3,767 with Edmunds Click on the trim you’re interested in to see what Edmunds suggests you should pay to get a good deal. Savings vary by trim; $3,767 refers to estimated savings off of MSRP for the LT trim.
2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab pricing in Salinas, CA
*The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price excludes destination freight charge, tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Click here to see all Chevrolet vehicles' destination freight charges. Dealer sets the final price.
How’s the tech? The Silverado's available 13.4-inch display has crisp-looking graphics and features Google built-in. This brings major gains to both navigation and voice recognition tech. It easily understands natural speech commands, and it's super easy to enter a navigation destination. It also features wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, as well as several USB ports to make sure you're always charged up.
A few advanced driver assist features come standard on the Silverado 2500HD, and others are available as options. Our test truck had adaptive cruise control, and we found it worked well in city traffic and on the highway. The lane keeping assistance system struggled slightly to keep the truck inside its lane, but that's largely down to the truck's huge width. The available blind-spot warning system and surround-view cameras also help make maneuvering and parking less stressful.
Towing and Storage
7.5/10
How are the towing and storage? The 2500HD with our test truck's diesel engine can tow up to 20,000 pounds, which puts it in the middle of the segment. If you opt for a fifth wheel or gooseneck towing arrangement, the 2500HD can tow up to 22,500 pounds. The 2500 also comes with some neat towing tech like a camera system that effectively removes a compatible trailer from the driver's view and hitch guidance, which should make hooking your truck up a simpler affair. Max payload for the 2500 is 3,900 pounds, again solidly middle-of-the-class. As with all trucks, maximum payload and towing number vary with your choice of body style, engine, and two- or four-wheel drive.
Thanks to its massive size, the Silverado 2500 has plenty of space to put small personal items. The two gloveboxes, huge center storage area and large center console can be used to store items at a moment's notice. The rear seat area is cavernous and features a rear bench that folds up in a 60/40 split, revealing a large floor to put bigger items into. The floor itself isn't completely flat, but that only takes a small amount of utility away.
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA doesn't rate heavy-duty pickups for fuel economy, so we don't have anything to compare our real-world data with. In general, we saw around 13 mpg in combined driving during our time with the 2500, and you expect to see a number in that range, especially if you opt for the diesel.
Value
8/10
Is the Silverado 2500HD a good value? This is the Silverado's strong suit. The High Country trim we tested is the highest possible trim you can get in a 2500, and the build quality of this truck was top-notch. It doesn't have some of the premium materials (like a leather-covered dash) that rivals do, but it sharply undercuts other top-spec competitors on price and, frankly, a truck that's built to work doesn't benefit too much from the extra leather our 2500 didn't have. In general, a Silverado HD is priced a bit less than the competition, and we think you're getting your money's worth.
Wildcard
7/10
The Silverado 2500HD is meant for those who truly need its immense towing capabilities or those who live way outside a city and could comfortably make use of this burly diesel pickup. We think the truck's styling is appropriately macho for the class, though it's not really memorable enough to really stand out.
Which Silverado 2500HD does Edmunds recommend?
As much as we're drawn to the new ZR2 version of the Silverado 2500HD, the LT trim level provides the best value. It gets the new interior with digital instrumentation and a 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system and grants access to numerous appealing upgrades. They include larger wheels, black badges, additional tailgate utility, leather seats, and all the available trailering cameras and technology.
Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD vs. Ford F-250 Super Duty
Ford pulled no punches when it redesigned the fourth-generation Super Duty lineup. The latest F-250 tows more, hauls more, and offers more features than the Chevy. However, the refreshed 2024 Silverado 2500HD makes up some ground with its new, more sophisticated interior and tech improvements. We like the styling more than before, too, and the 2500HD's tow rating closes in on the F-250's. Still, if you're buying a heavy-duty truck for heavy-duty work assignments, you can't beat the Ford.
GMC positions the Sierra 2500HD as a premium choice in the segment, so it costs more than the Silverado 2500HD even though the trucks are nearly identical under the skin. To justify the higher price, GMC throws in exclusive ownership perks, gives the Sierra fancier styling, and offers the Denali Ultimate trim level with high-end materials you can't get in the Chevy. Still, we think the Silverado is the better way to go unless you simply cannot live without the Sierra's bolder appearance.
With the Silverado 2500HD's upgrades for 2024, the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty isn't the slam dunk it used to be. It remains a great truck, wrapping a quality interior in classic Ram styling and offering a massive Mega Cab variant with more rear legroom than you could possibly need. But the Ram now falls short in maximum towing capacity, and the Silverado's new interior and ZR2 version make deciding between these two trucks harder than before.
*The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price excludes destination freight charge, tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Click here to see all Chevrolet vehicles' destination freight charges. Dealer sets the final price.
Warns the driver if the weight of the Silverado and a trailer exceeds the truck's gross combined weight rating.
Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert
Warns the driver when other vehicles are in the truck's blind spots. It provides extra coverage when towing.
Adaptive Cruise Control with Trailer
Maintains a driver-set speed and safe following distance automatically. When trailering, it accounts for trailer drag and longer braking distances.
FAQ
Is the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2024 Silverado 2500HD both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.6 out of 10. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. Learn more
What's new in the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD:
Improved powertrains and increased towing capacity
New interior with tech upgrades for most trim levels
Off-road-ready ZR2 model joins the lineup
Part of the fourth Silverado HD generation introduced for 2020
To determine whether the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Silverado 2500HD. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Silverado 2500HD's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2024 Silverado 2500HD and gave it a 7.6 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2024 Silverado 2500HD is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD?
The least-expensive 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Work Truck 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 10A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $44,400.
Other versions include:
Work Truck 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $44,400
Work Truck 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $47,200
LT 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $48,400
LT 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 10A) which starts at $51,200
What are the different models of Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD?
If you're interested in the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, the next question is, which Silverado 2500HD model is right for you? Silverado 2500HD variants include Work Truck 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 10A), Work Truck 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 10A), LT 2dr Regular Cab LB (6.6L 8cyl 10A), and LT 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (6.6L 8cyl 10A). For a full list of Silverado 2500HD models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
Related 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab info