After months of spy shots and internet speculation, Chevrolet has taken the wraps off its new 2022 Silverado fullsize pickup. A ZR2 off-road trim joins the lineup for the first time, and the trucks feature an overhauled interior with more tech, far more standard safety features and upscale styling.
The ZR2 trim is a first for the Silverado after having been an option for the midsize Colorado for a few years.
It adds a 6.2L V-8 with 420 hp and 460 lb.-ft. (624 Nm) of torque, a factory lift kit, Multimatic 1.5-in. (40-mm) DSSV spool-valve dampers, front and rear electronic lockers, 33-in. off-road tires, a special skid plate package and a steel front bumper that improves the truck’s approach angles off-road.
Also on the powertrain front, the ’22 Silverado’s 2.7L turbocharged 4-cyl. is retuned for reduced noise and 20% more torque (now 420 lb.-ft. [569 Nm]), most of it noticeable at lower rpm. This engine has a maximum trailer rating of 9,500 lbs. (4,309 kg) with 2-wheel drive.
GM engineers also upgraded the chassis to allow the 3.0L Duramax turbodiesel inline 6-cyl. to tow up to 13,300 lbs. (6,033 kg) – a 4,000-lb. (1,814-kg) improvement over the Silverado LTD models. The diesel is rated at 277 hp and and 460 lb.-ft. (623 Nm) of torque.
Remaining in the powertrain lineup for ’22 is the workhorse 355-hp 5.3L V-8 with Dynamic Fuel Management. All V-8s (including the 6.2L) and the 3.0L Duramax diesel are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, while the 2.7L 4-cyl. is mated to an 8-speed automatic.
Perhaps the bigger story here is the Chevy’s interior (pictured, below), which receives a major update for 2022.
A new digital gauge cluster measures 12.3 ins. (31 cm) and pairs with a large 13.4-in. (34-cm) touchscreen.
Models equipped with bucket seats get a new electronic shift knob, and the top High Country trim comes with open-pore wood trim, perforated and stitched leather upholstery, a Bose premium audio system with stainless steel speaker grates and either a black or blue interior color theme.
The ’22 Silverado will be Chevy’s first pickup offered with Super Cruise as an option.
The feature, which has been available in various Cadillac vehicles for a while and now the Chevy Bolt EUV, offers semi-autonomous cruise control on select highways.
Here, it will feature a trailering function, with special calibration for the additional drag and stopping distances required while towing.
The Silverado can be equipped with up to eight cameras for trailering views, and an available Advanced Trailering System works with the truck’s infotainment system to deliver more control.
General Motors usually holds back on safety tech, requiring the addition of options packages or higher trim levels, but that’s not the case with the new Silverado.
Chevy Safety Assist is standard on every trim, which brings forward-collision alerts, lane keep assist with lane departure warnings, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, following distance indicators and automatic high beams. A high-definition rearview camera system and the new Buckle to Drive function also are standard.
