RYAN ZUMMALLEN: Hey, if you haven't heard,
the Chevy Silverado is new and improved for 2022.
So just how improved is it?
In this video, we'll explore the ins and outs
of this refresh truck to show you the most notable changes,
the biggest engines and trims, and figure out
where this version ranks among other light duty pickups
from Ford, RAM, and more.
I'm your host, Ryan Zummallen, and I've
been in a lot of Silverados over the years.
Let's jump right into this examination of the 2022
Silverado 1500 and see if it's time for you to trade up.
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The Silverado is an American icon, a full-size pickup
with decades of history.
But in recent years, it's been an also ran in the truck wars.
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During that time, we've placed the Ford F-150 and RAM
1500 higher on our rankings.
And the redesigned Toyota Tundra passed up
the 2021 Silverado for third.
But this 2022 Silverado gains a bunch of important changes.
First, there's a new look with a more windswept exterior
style compared to when this generation debuted for 2019.
Also, no more V6.
The standard engine is now the turbocharged 4 cylinder,
which we think is a win for buyers
because it's both more powerful and more efficient.
But there are always those truck folks
who squirm at the side of a four banger.
Sorry y'all.
Another big change is the availability of Super Cruise
hands-free driving.
Now, it's only available on the top high country trim.
But this is one of our favorite semi-automated driving
features on the market.
Finally, the interior of the Silverado is all new.
And that is a big deal for this truck.
So let's take you inside right now.
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The interior is the single most significant upgrade
in the new Silverado.
Now, in my ZR2 video a while back,
I already went over some of the main styling themes
and materials in this truck.
So let's go a little bit deeper this time
starting with the screens.
First off, you have a fully digital instrument display
in front of the driver now.
And that show you all of your information.
But what I really like is that you
can change the styling theme of it
to suit whatever kind of vibe you're looking for.
I happen to be a progressive man myself.
You couldn't tell.
Moving on, the center touchscreen is 13.4 inches.
Now, that is seriously large.
And it's seriously functional too.
I really like the maps that you have available,
which move around really quickly and give you
a nice, clear view.
And then everything's easy to find.
When your phone is hooked up, you
can have your music or podcast or whatever over here too.
And this clock looks pretty classy too if you ask me.
One major strong point of the screen
is that it's operated by Google.
And so its voice recognition is really strong.
You can do things like change your destination on the fly
or change the radio station or even
change the temperature in the cabin all by voice.
All you have to do is this--
hey, Google.
[BEEP]
Change temperature to 74.
[BEEP]
SPEAKER: OK, changing the temperature to 74 degrees.
RYAN ZUMMALLEN: Easy as that.
And I really like that it reads back your words to you
so you can tell that it's understanding
what you're saying--
really nice touch.
If you take a look at the way that the buttons and controls
are laid out, everything's accessible and clearly labeled,
satisfying to click and turn.
But importantly, it looks good.
If you put this up side by side against the old version,
you'll immediately notice that this looks more modern.
And really, this is the way that the Silverado
should have come out when it debuted about five years ago.
I'll take the update where I can get it though.
There are also some cool, splashy features
that are available in here.
Now, they're optional, so they're not
going to come on every truck.
But I think they're worth pointing out.
First of all, there's a cool rearview camera right here.
There's also an available heads-up display
to show your speed, turn by turn direction, stuff like that.
And then there are loads of camera views in the center
screen.
If you click on this, you immediately
get tons of different views outside of the truck.
Now, this is really important because this
is a very large truck.
And frankly, trying to see outside of it sucks.
But with this, not only do you have a lot of different views.
But you have a very clear picture.
So even at night, it's much easier
to see what's going on around you.
That's really helpful.
Now, if we're talking storage, the Silverado
does have a pretty good amount of space
in its center console enough for my oversized notebook and bag
of almonds--
two things I'm always lugging around.
The problem is, it doesn't go quite as
far as some of its rivals do.
For instance, in the Ford, this gear shifter
will lay down flat, and you can have a nice, clear workspace.
And in the RAM, the bins are even bigger.
And you can move around and configure them
however you want.
You get the feeling Chevy just didn't go above and beyond
like they could have here.
Let's talk about Super Cruise.
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Now, like I said, it's only available on a high country
trim.
But if you do get it, you'll get a cool, light bar
on top of the steering wheel that
lights up when it's in use.
Now, this is its first introduction to the Silverado,
which is a big win.
I tested it recently on the GMC Sierra 1500
even while towing a trailer.
And it worked great.
It's the best hands-free system you can get in a pickup
right now, period.
Moving into the back seat, there's
a few things I want to show you starting with under this seat.
There's a lot of space down here,
but it's interrupted by this divider.
This is only a small amount of space,
and it's not configurable like some full-size pickups.
However, as I climb inside and close the door,
there is tons of space in here for passengers.
Even at 6 feet, I can spread out real nicely
and get comfortable for a long trip-- quite nice.
One cool thing about some Silverados
is that they have this hidden storage
compartment in the seat.
Now, it's big enough to fit my giant notebook,
but you're probably not getting much else in there.
I don't think your laptop is going to work, for instance.
Let's recap the pros and cons.
On the plus side, that Google system
is fast, responsive, and super helpful.
I also like this much more modern layout and design.
As for downsides, steering wheel is
the same as the last version.
We also feel like Chevy could have gone further
with its storage options.
And some features like navigation and Super Cruise
are hidden in higher trims or pricey option packages.
But all in all, a much needed update inside.
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For 2022, the Silverado has a wide range
of available trim levels just like before.
Everything from a standard work truck for about 36
grand to off-road trail boss models
and a fully loaded high country for, well, a lot more.
Here are the ones we want to discuss specifically.
The LT trim is our recommendation for most truck
buyers because it's on the affordable side
and still comes with a lot of great features.
For instance, it comes with the 4 cylinder.
But you can also option up to a 5.3 liter V8
or a 6-cylinder turbo diesel.
On top of that, it's the cheapest way
to get the beautiful 13-inch touchscreen, which
is a big upgrade over other models.
There's also LED headlights, dual zone climate control,
heated front seats, and steering wheel and more for 50 Gs.
The next notable trim level is the ZR2.
This is the off-roading big daddy of the Silverado lineup.
A new step up from the Trail Boss models.
And the ZR2 backs it up with a raised suspension,
multimatic dampers for extra cushioning, mud terrain tires,
and on and on and on for about $70k.
It's also got a 6.2 liter V8 under the hood.
Now, it's not perfect.
You can watch my off-road drive of the ZR2
to see where I felt it came up short and why.
The Silverado ZR2 is very good at one particular type
of off-roading.
But it can't do the high performance stuff
that the F-150 Raptor and RAM TRX can do.
But its addition to the Silverado lineup
is a major statement that Chevy isn't
going to let Ford and RAM have all the fun.
Finally, there's the High Country,
the top trim level you can get.
This model runs about $61,000.
And while that's less than the ZR2,
the High Country gets more creature comforts.
It's like a showcase for what luxury means to Chevy trucks
starting with that silky smooth interior outfitted with tons
of wood and genuine leather.
This is where you can add Super Cruise if you like.
And it already comes with navigation, running boards,
and a spray-in bedliner.
Those are the three models every Silverado shopper should know.
But for a full breakdown of all the trim levels
and their standard equipment, head
to edmunds.com to find the one for you
or click the link in the description.
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After hitting the highlights, here are the pros and cons.
We still feel the Silverado is lacking ambition.
For instance, the Ford offers a hybrid model
with an available onboard generator.
And the RAM has a much more polished ride.
Chevy also makes some features available only
on higher trims or as pricey options
when competitors make them more widely available.
On the plus side, the Silverado is an ideal everyday workhorse.
Its massive bed has a lot of tie downs.
The multiflex tailgate is bad ass.
And its towing and payload figures are right up there
with the top dogs.
All the engines are solid, but we especially
like those big V8.
The question is where's it going to fall in our rankings?
Well, right now, we've only been able to test the ZR2.
And we don't feel it's fair to have
such a niche off-road version represent all Silverados.
We can say the improvements to the interior
and technology give the 2022 Silverado a much better chance
at moving up a notch or two.
In fact, our scores for the technology
and interior sections are going to improve significantly
for this new version.
Now, that may not be enough to knock off the Ford or the RAM.
But it could place the Silverado in a solid third place
above the Tundra--
could.
So keep an eye on edmunds.com because we'll be ranking
the new Silverado very soon.
Remember to click that Like button
and leave us a comment to tell us your favorite feature
on this updated pickup.
Thanks for watching.
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