For decades, Australians were absolutely obsessed with locally-produced utes, and even after the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon were killed, demand for ever-larger pickups from Toyota, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Ford, Mazda, and others, continues to grow. Last year, the nation’s three best-selling new vehicles were the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, and Isuzu D-Max.
This is a nation obsessed with trucks and in 2015, American truck manufacturers started to take notice. That year, Ram Trucks inked a deal with a local importer to start selling and converting its pickups to right-hand drive. This has proven to be a masterstroke, so much so that Ram is now considering building RHD trucks at its U.S. factory and sending them straight to Australia.
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Not willing to let Ram have all the fun, GM Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) ventured Down Under in late 2020 as the spiritual successor to the Holden brand and started importing and converting Silverado 1500s and 2500s. While its full-size pickups aren’t yet a common sight on local roads, I do see them occasionally. However, not even seeing them from afar could prepare me for living with a Silverado 2500 HD for a week.
Quick Facts
Big and bold
In the U.S., vehicles like the Silverado proliferate, and numerous other pickups are just as gargantuan. Things are different in Australia. Locals are not used to seeing or driving pickups larger than a Hilux or Ranger, and this makes something like the 2500 HD instantly stand out. Indeed, it’s been quite some time since I’ve driven a car that’s attracted as much attention as this.
All Silverado 2500 HD models available in Australia arrive in LTZ Premium guise with the Z71 Package. Prices start at AU$163,000 (~$108,900) before on-road costs, undercutting an equivalent Ram 2500 HD by approximately AU$10,000 (~$6,700), but roughly double what you’ll pay for a well-equipped Ford Ranger. This is a hefty figure compared to what Aussies have become accustomed to paying for pickups. But the 2500 HD is no regular pickup.
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
The sheer size of the thing is what immediately took my breath away. The Chevy is 6,387 mm (251.4 inches) long, 2,263 mm (89 inches) wide, and stands 2,039 mm (80.2 inches) tall with a massive 4,036 mm (158.9-inch) wheelbase. That makes it almost 1-meter longer than a Hilux, ~400 mm (15.7 inches) wider, and ~200 mm (7.9-inches) taller. It’s also a full meter longer than the average 5.4 m (17.7-foot) parking space, but more on that later.
The word ‘imposing’ doesn’t even begin to describe the 2500 HD. The huge LED daytime running lights and headlights of this most recent version stand out, as do the massive wing mirrors that seem fitting for a full-sized semi-truck. All models sold locally sit on 20-inch black wheels with Goodyear Wrangler A/T tires and there’s a set of black side steps, as well as plenty of black badges.
Just a single engine is on offer. It takes the form of a 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel V8 with 350 kW (469 hp) and 1,322 Nm (975 lb-ft) of torque. This behemoth is coupled to a 10-speed automatic transmission and provides the Silverado with 4,500 kg (~9,920 lbs) of towing capacity, well beyond the 3,000 kg (~6,600 lbs) that’s common among smaller pickups.
A truck with a premium cabin, who would have guessed?
After pulling myself into the cabin for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Whereas I’d expected to see an interior that felt basic and was finished almost entirely in hard-wearing, black plastic, I found one that was well-appointed and felt premium.
Dominating the cabin is a massive 13.4-inch infotainment display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. As few Chevys are sold in Australia, this was my first time experiencing the most up-to-date Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus operating system. I was thoroughly impressed. The resolution of the screen is superb, and it responds quickly to inputs with very minimal lag when scrolling through menus and changing settings. The gauge cluster is also just as nice to use, although it could be improved if there was slightly more scope for customization.
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Beyond these two major screens, the Silverado 2500 HD rocks a digital rear-view mirror, a seven-speaker Bose sound system, wireless phone charging, and one of the biggest center console storage cubbies I’ve ever seen. Welcome touches that add to the premium feel include the wooden veneer on the dashboard, soft-touch leather, heated and ventilated seats, and a welcome smattering of piano black surfaces. There’s also a slew of systems and cameras to aid in towing, as well as a heated steering wheel.
Read: GM Rushing To Launch Chevy Silverado And GMC Sierra Hybrids
Making the fit and finish of the truck all the more impressive is the fact that when it leaves the U.S., it’s left-hand drive. Aussie firm Walkinshaw is tasked with converting each and every Silverado to RHD, and it’s done a fine job of ensuring this conversion is up to GM’s factory standards.
Space in the second row is more than generous. Owing to the fact that the 2500 HD has a 4-meter wheelbase, the rear leg room is incredible, and the truck will carry five tall adults comfortably and with ease.
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Big on grunt, big on the road
When I was first handed the keys to the 2500 HD, I was in a tight car park and immediately felt out of my depth, worried that at every input of the steering, I would run the risk of hitting a parked car with the seemingly never-ending rear half of the truck. Once I pulled out onto the open road, however, the Chevy started to feel much more car-like.
Make no mistake, this thing is big, but it only took me a few minutes to get comfortable. It easily fits in a single lane, and the high driving position gives you an excellent vantage point of all four corners, as well as other road users.
The Duramax V8 is the perfect engine for a vehicle like this. While it has to lug around 3,762 kg (5,180 lbs) of Chevy, it has enough power and torque to make it feel relatively spritely. Power delivery is linear across the limited rev range and the sound of a big diesel isn’t overbearing.
The 10-speed transmission is a solid companion to the V8 and, for the most part, remains smooth during upshifts and downshifts. Curiously, the column-mounted shifter doesn’t include a manual mode, nor are there any paddle shifters behind the steering wheel that let you manually shift cogs. We didn’t have the chance to tow with the Silverado, but imagine doing so could be annoying without that function.
If you’re desperate to change gears yourself, there’s only one option. That involves shifting the stalk into ‘L’ or Low Gear and pressing on the small plus (+) and minus (I) toggle on the shifter. Not the best solution, then.
For much of our week spent living with the Chevy, we drove around in four-wheel drive mode, and while that’s a good idea in inclement conditions, it does make the Silverado’s engine sound a little louder, and the ride feels slightly rougher than when rear-wheel drive only is enabled. I’m not sure why it felt more refined in 2WD mode, but it did. Either way, ride comfort is good, and the independent front end is a welcome inclusion. The multi-leaf springs at the rear give the tail a firm ride, but when it’s loaded up, things are smoothed out.
Fuel efficiency is not the Silverado’s strong suit. Chevrolet quotes 15 l/100 km (15 U.S. mpg) over the combined cycle, but we couldn’t get close to that, consistently averaging over 19 l/100 km (12.3 U.S. mpg), despite driving very sedately. Our final gripe with the 2500 HD is that when turning at full lock, the rear wheels skip and buck as if it has a rear differential that’s always locked.
Parking can also be an issue. The 2500 HD is too big for some parking garages and will stick out of any space you manage to squeeze it into.
The bed of the Chevy is huge, stretching 2,089 mm long (82.2 inches), 1,814 mm (71.4 inches) wide, and sitting 533 mm (21 inches) deep. There are also 12 fixed tie-down points, a spray-in bed liner, and a maximum payload of 1,386 kg (3,055 lbs). A welcome accessory of our test car was the electric retractable tonneau cover from Roll-N-Lock that can be operated with a remote.
Unfortunately, we could not test the Silverado’s off-roading abilities, but we are sure it can climb over some hefty obstacles with little issue. However, the sheer size of the 2500 HD would make it very tough to navigate through many of the tight trails across Australia.
Verdict
The Silverado 2500 HD is the type of vehicle that will only appeal to a certain type of buyer. Whether that’s someone who wants to tow a large caravan, a boat, or perhaps a couple of jetskis, all while transporting their family and luggage in comfort, the Chevy is a compelling option. It’s not cheap, and the size does have its downsides, but the premium feel makes it a comfortable cruiser both in the city and on the open road.
