2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 and LTZ Premium: Launch review

GMSV’s 2023 Chevrolet Silverado pick-ups have been revealed for Australia, and they come with a few changes. Gone is the previous entry-level model, the LT Trail Boss, with a new hero model now positioned at the top of the two-model range.

The Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Premium becomes the entry-level rig at $128,000 (plus on-road costs), while the new ZR2 tops the range from $133,000 (+ORC).

Both 1500 trucks are powered exclusively by GM’s 6.2-litre petrol V8 engine backed by a 10-speed transmission and 4x4 transfer case that offers 2WD, on-demand 4WD and 4x4 in both high and low range. The engine makes a stout 313kW and 624Nm and is officially rated to return 12.2L/100km on the combined cycle.

All Australian-delivered LTZs come equipped with the Z71 package, which is an option in the USA. This ensures they get the two-speed transfer case, auto-locking rear differential and underbody protection, so it’s essentially an off-road package.

The DSSV shocks soften at low speed to allow a more compliant ride and free up wheel travel

The ZR2 was a new model for the Silverado back in 2022, and this is the first time we’ve seen it in Australia. It was previously applied only to the mid-size Chevrolet Colorado utes and designates the premium off-road models.

Like the Colorado ZR2, the Silverado’s key components are the DSSV (Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve) dampeners from Multimatic. These shock absorbers were developed and used by high-end performance sports cars and even F1 racing teams, but Chevrolet revalved them for off-road uses on its trucks.

Put simply, the DSSV shocks soften at low speed to allow a more compliant ride and free up wheel travel, and then firm up at higher speeds to improve control and dynamics no matter what the terrain. And they work extremely well.

JUMP AHEAD

• Signficant changes
• Exterior
• Heavy hauling
• On-road driving
• Off-road driving
• VERDICT
• Specs: LTZ Premium
• Specs: ZR2

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Significant changes

Both 2023 Silverado 1500s are essentially carried-over vehicles, but significant changes lie inside as both models get an all-new dash with a 13.4-inch colour touchscreen and 12.3-inch configurable instrument cluster, replacing the much smaller screen and analogue gauges of the older model.

Apparently one of the reasons the LT Trail Boss - the better driving and value package of the past models - fell from favour, was that buyers of these rucks wanted a premium feel to the interior, and the LT’s standard cloth seats didn’t meet muster.

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As such, both the 2023 models come with a premium interior including leather seats with heating and cooling on the front, power adjustment on the front and heating in the back. Rear-seat space is cavernous and accommodates three adults like none of the popular mid-size utes could ever achieve.

The LTZ Premium still gets the most luxurious appointments, adding a power sunroof and Bose sound system over the ZR2, but driving and riding in both of these trucks is a comfortable experience. Both models get a full suite of safety kit including low-speed AEB (up to 80km/h) TPMS, rear cross-traffic alert, ESC, ABS, ETC, lane-keeping alert, and enough exterior cameras to populate a Hollywood film studio.

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Exterior

The 2023 Silverado models are distinguished by a revised radiator grille and headlights, but you’d have to sit the old and new side by side to pick the differences.

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More significant are the visual differences between the LTZ and the ZR2. The ZR2 forgoes the LTZ’s chrome for blacked-out details, and it has a shorter front bumper that improves the truck’s approach angle. The ends of the front bumper are also removable for off-road use, which will make them more affordable to replace as you may not need to purchase an entire new bumper.

The ZR2 rides on 18-inch alloy wheels (black, of course) wearing practical sized 275/70-18 Goodyear mud-terrain tyres instead of the 20-inch wheels and low-profile tyres fitted to the LTZ Premium. The ZR2 also benefits from aluminium underbody plates to protect from damage when driving off-road, and its DSSV-equipped suspension rides 67mm higher than the Z71 suspension on the LTZ.

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Heavy hauling

Many buyers seek out these full-size trucks purely for their towing capacity, which is generally up to 1000kg more than anything a mid-size ute or 4x4 wagon can legally haul. For the 2023 Silverado, the tow rating is 3500kg when towing on a standard 50mm tow ball; but step up to a heavy duty 70mm tow ball and the capacity goes up to 4200kg for the ZR2 and 4500kg for the LTZ Premium. With this in mind, both models come with factory-fitted electric trailer brake controllers.

Despite their massive cargo beds, what these full-size trucks don’t deliver on is payload - the LTZ can only legally carry 757kg, and 717kg for the ZR2. Most of our popular 4x4 mid-size utes can carry 900 to 1150kg on board. The GVM of the Silverado is 3300kg, while the GCM is 7160kg for the LTZ and just 6851kg for the ZR2.

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Look closer at these numbers and you’ll find that were you to load one of these trucks up to the maximum towing capacity - something that is never recommended, even if the numbers say you can - you would have barely enough payload left to put an adult driver behind the wheel. In the case of the ZR2, it’s just 68kg.

We were given the opportunity to tow with both the LTZ and the ZR2, each with loads of around 3000kg. The V8 powertrain and driveline pulled the loads over the admittedly billiard-table-flat ground like they weren’t there, while the suspension and brakes performed well. The ZR2’s off-road-biased suspension more so, as the ride was much smoother and less affected by the trailer behind it.

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On-road driving

Without the trailers behind them, the Silverados defy their size when you put your foot down, delivering surprising performance for such trucks. The petrol-fuelled V8 engine delivers diesel-like torque right off the bat and gets the truck moving in such a way that it’s easy to place it where you want it in freeway traffic.

Around the suburbs it’s no trouble either, but parking in a shopping centre bay can be more of a challenge as the almost six metres of overall length will leave one end or the other hanging out.

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On less-than-perfect sealed backroads, the ZR2’s suspension was composed over undulations, but a little fussy crossing patched and repaired sections where the higher frequency small bumps were felt - but this is clutching at straws.

It was more impressive over rougher terrain with bigger bumps which it handles well, controlling the trucks 2500kg of mass.

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Off-road driving

Proper off-road, the ZR2 has a few tricks in its drive modes, which includes a Terrain mode that effectively make the brake pedal redundant. You press the accelerator to move at the speed you want, and when you lift off the vehicle automatically applies the brakes to bring the car to a stop, no matter the angle it is on.

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Another mode allows you to drive around at a set low speed using no pedals at all, like an off-road cruise control. While these modes seem like answers to questions nobody ever asked, they are there to make off-road driving easier for the inexperienced driver. More importantly, the ZR2’s mud-terrain pattern tyres, DSSV-equipped suspension and driver-actuated front and rear locking differentials are what make it a stand-out off-roader.

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Verdict

The Silverado 1500 would be an easy vehicle to live with, particularly if you lived out of town and were not using it in congested or built-up areas, as there’s no hiding its sheer size and presence. It is a superb touring truck that will effortlessly eat up long-distance miles in comfort, towing most of what you could ever need to.

The rear seat accommodation makes it ideal for families doing such trips, particularly those with older teenagers that will appreciate the legroom that can’t be matched by any of the smaller utes.

The lack of a diesel engine will be a disappointment for many buyers, but it seems manufacturers and importers of these 1500 trucks seem to think we’ll be happy with petrol. The fact is, there are not many diesel offerings for them in their home country and the tiny market for them in Australia excludes any special models for us.

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The 1500 class pick-up market continues to grow in Australia through both independent importers/convertors, as well as factory offerings. It is about to get a whole lot more competitive, with the official entry of the Ford F-150 to Australia later this year starting at just $106,000, and the likely introduction of the Toyota Tundra in the coming years.

At the moment the only real competitor to the Silverado 1500 is the Ram 1500, which is the sales leader and offers a broader product range that includes a more affordable older generation of truck as well as the newer DT premium vehicles, including the $200,000 supercharged RAM TRX.

The TRX is the only real competitor to the ZR2 in terms of all-road performance, but there's a big difference there in terms of both price and performance, so they are both in a league of their own.

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Specs: LTZ Premium

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Specs: ZR2