Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Which Should You Buy, 2023 or 2024?

Significant changes for 2024: The Chevrolet Silverado’s formidable ZR2 off-road model now has the Duramax turbo-diesel 3.0-liter six-cylinder as its base engine; the formerly standard 6.2-liter V-8 becomes an upgrade. Variants with the big V-8 now include a standard active exhaust system with a Sport mode. Meanwhile, a rear seat belt warning is standard, the base WT trim adds standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and several models now offer new darkened-trim appearance packages. Otherwise, there is a little tinkering with feature availability, two new paint colors, and the base 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine has a new brand name: TurboMax.

Chevrolet has made only minor changes for the 2024 model year to its Silverado 1500 light-duty full-size pickup truck. The truck got an extensive update for the 2022 model year — particularly upgrades for an interior that had fallen behind the competition — and changed little for 2023 beyond significant power upgrades for its Duramax turbo-diesel 3.0-liter six-cylinder option. The conventional Silverado 1500, which remains a profit maker for Chevy, will be joined later by an all-electric Silverado EV.

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Trim Levels for 2024

The Silverado 1500’s nine trim levels carry over from the 2023 model year and range from a work truck to a luxury cruiser to a stout off-roader: WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country and ZR2. The Silverado also continues to offer three cab styles (regular, double and crew) and three bed lengths (standard, long and short).

Powertrains

The Silverado 1500’s four available powertrains carry over from 2023. Most trim levels come with the base 310-horsepower, turbocharged 2.7-liter TurboMax four-cylinder engine that puts out 430 pounds-feet of torque. Also available are a 5.3-liter V-8 (355 hp, 383 pounds-feet), a 6.2-liter V-8 (420 hp, 460 pounds-feet) and a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter six-cylinder (305 hp, 495 pounds-feet). The four-cylinder is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission; other engines get a 10-speed automatic. Rear- and four-wheel drive configurations are offered except with the 6.2-liter V-8, which is available only with 4WD.

The tow ratings for all Silverados range from 8,800 pounds to 13,300 pounds. You can read more details here; note that little has changed even with the ZR2 for 2024.

Fuel economy ratings for the 2024 Silverado 1500 vary with the range of cab, bed, equipment, weight and tire combinations, so it’s best to check the sticker on the specific truck. The powertrain mileage leader is the turbo-diesel, which has EPA ratings ranging from 21 mpg combined for the 4WD-only ZR2 off-road variant to a high of 26 mpg combined in a civilian RWD truck. The gasoline turbo 2.7-liter four-cylinder ranges from 16 mpg combined in a 4WD with mud tires to 20 mpg in a RWD truck. The venerable 5.3-liter V-8 engine ranges from 15 mpg combined in a 4WD chassis cab to 18 mpg with RWD, and the stout 6.2-liter V-8, offered with 4WD only, ranges from 15-17 mpg combined on a strict diet of premium fuel.

Tech Features

Newly available (and standard) on the 2024 Silverado’s base WT trim level with the 7-inch multimedia display is wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; it also gets the capability to access GM’s OnStar connected vehicle communication system. All but the WT have a standard 13.4-inch infotainment touchscreen that features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus a Google-based operating system called Google Built-In that includes Google Assistant. Standard towing tech includes a hitch-guiding backup camera, which helps drivers line up the hitch with a trailer and can provide a view of the trailer while driving.

Available features include a configurable 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a Bose premium audio system. Among trailering tech options is an available Hitch View camera with close-up images of the hitch and an Auxiliary Trailer Camera that can show the road behind the trailer or even a view inside the trailer. A lower-tech but useful option is the Multi-Flex Tailgate.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features and Options

New safety and driver-assistance features include a new standard rear seat belt warning system on all 2024 Silverado 1500 models. The High Country trim level now includes adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors are now included in the Safety and WT Safety packages.

Standard on all models is the Chevy Safety Assist bundle of safety and driver-assistance features. The suite includes automatic emergency braking with front pedestrian braking, forward collision warning, a following distance indicator, lane departure steering assist and automatic high beams.

The most notable optional driver-assist tech for the Silverado is GM’s Super Cruise system, which allows hands-free driving on compatible mapped roads. The system will not only change lanes automatically when you tap the turn-signal stalk, it also will change lanes without you doing anything if it “sees” slower traffic ahead and detects space in the adjacent lane, then move back into the prior lane after passing.

Among other notable options, depending on trim level, are a 360-degree camera system, rear cross-traffic braking, a rear pedestrian alert, enhanced automatic emergency braking that works from 3 mph, blind spot monitor, a trailer blind spot warning, bed and trailer cameras, trailer tire pressure and heat sensors, and a rear camera mirror.

Pricing for 2024

Model-year 2024 Silverado 1500 pickups are arriving at dealers now, with more than 10,000 listed for sale currently on Cars.com. Starting prices for most 2024 trim levels are up slightly from 2023 and are listed below (price change in parenthesis). The exception to the price increases is the ZR2, which starts lower thanks to its new diesel base engine. All prices below are for the cheapest configuration of the trim level and are up $100 over 2023 unless otherwise noted (prices include $1,995 destination charge, up $10 from 2023).

• WT: $38,795 for RWD (up $600), $43,395 for 4WD (up $600)
• Custom: $45,595 for RWD, $48,895 for 4WD
• Custom Trail Boss: $53,795 for 4WD only
• LT: $49,995 for RWD, $53,295 for 4WD
• RST: $53,395 for RWD, $56,695 for 4WD
• LT Trail Boss: $59,995 for 4WD only
• LTZ: $59,195 for RWD, $62,495 for 4WD
• High Country: $64,695 for RWD (up $700), $68,195 for 4WD (up $700)
• ZR2: $71,895 for 4WD only (down $1,500)

Which Should You Buy?

The 2023 Silverado 1500 could be the smart choice if you can find what you want. Most models are nearly identical between the two model years, and the slightly cheaper 2023 sticker prices are more likely to be supplemented with closeout sales incentives for many configurations. You’ll want a 2024 model, however, if you’re in the market for the high-end ZR2 and the diesel appeals. Also consider a 2024 Silverado if you’re shopping for the low-end WT but value wireless phone integration and OnStar connectivity.

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