The Chevrolet Silverado is a range of trucks manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand. Introduced for the 1999 model year, the Silverado is the successor to the long-running Chevrolet C/K model line. Taking its name from the top trim level from the Chevrolet C/K series, the Silverado is offered as a series of full-size pickup trucks, chassis cab trucks, and medium-duty trucks. The fourth generation of the model line was introduced for the 2019 model year.
The Chevrolet Silverado shares mechanical commonality with the identically related GMC Sierra; GMC ended the use of the C/K nomenclature a model generation prior to Chevrolet. In Mexico, high-trim level versions of the Silverado use the Chevrolet Cheyenne name (not to be confused with the 2003 concept) starting with the LT trim; Work Truck and "Custom" trims are still called Silverado. The Silverado is among the best-selling vehicles in the United States, having sold over 12 million trucks since its introduction in 1998.
History The Silverado nameplate made its debut for the 1975 model year, becoming the top trim level on all Chevrolet C/K trucks, slotted above Custom Deluxe, Scottsdale, and Cheyenne. For the 1968 model year (seven years before the Silverado), GMC C/K trucks used variations of the Sierra name (Sierra, Sierra Classic, Sierra Grande, and High Sierra). Even after the C/K series officially ended, GM still uses the CK and the CC in their current model codes, to denote a two-wheel drive (CC), and four-wheel drive (CK).
For the 1988 GMT400 model architecture, Chevrolet retained the C/K model nomenclature, with GMC branding its full-size line as Sierras. While sharing the same body and chassis, the model chronology of the Silverado and Sierra are different, with five generations of the Sierra, while four of the Silverado.
In 2018, at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, Chevrolet unveiled the first medium-duty Silverado, expanding the model line to a 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD chassis cab. Largely the successor to the 2003–2009 GMT560 chassis, the medium-duty trucks are exclusive to Chevrolet, with no plans for an equivalent GMC version. Instead, Navistar International (now partnering with GM) would sell the medium-duty trucks as a rebadged counterpart, called the CV. This is in fact a very similar nod to how the Avalanche did not have a GMC Yukon–based equivalent, but instead, Cadillac would take its place as the former's rebadged counterpart, the Cadillac Escalade EXT.
First-generation Silverado / second-generation Sierra (GMT800; 1999)
The GMT800 Silverado/Sierra 1500 and 2500 pickup trucks were released in August 1998 as 1999 models. The "classic" light-duty GMT400 C/K trucks continued to be produced for the first two years alongside the new models, and the Heavy-Duty GMT400 pickups (alongside the GMT400 SUVs) were continued until 2000, with the new GMT800 Silverado/Sierra HD (Heavy Duty) released a year later. A 3500 model was added later for 2001, with the introduction of the HD moniker (though it was not until the 2007 GMT900 model year a 3500HD debuted).
The trucks were refreshed in 2002 for the 2003 model year, bringing slight design changes and an upgrade to the audio and HVAC controls. The 2007 GMT800 trucks, built after the new GMT900 entered production, used the name Classic to denote the difference between the two generations.
Second-generation Silverado / third-generation Sierra (GMT900; 2007)
The GMT900 generation of the Silverado/Sierra arrived in the last quarter of 2006 as a 2007 model. It features a redesigned exterior, interior, frame, and suspension as well as power increases on certain engines. Like the previous generation GMT800's and earlier C/K lines, it takes many styling cues from the GMT900 SUVs of the same year. Like the GMT900 SUVs, these pickups have improved aerodynamics over their predecessors thanks to steeply raked windshields and tighter panel gaps which help improve fuel economy. The previous GMT800 models were continued through 2007 badged as "Classic," just as the GMT400 models continued for two years after the GMT800's introduction.
The new Silverado earned the North American Truck of the Year award for 2007, and was Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year for 2007.
Production continued until 2013, and 2014 for 2500HD and 3500HD models.
Third-generation Silverado / fourth-generation Sierra (GMT K2XX; 2014)
On December 13, 2012, the fully-redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra were both introduced in Detroit, Michigan, later making their public debut at the North American International Auto Show. With this generation, GM dropped the GMT900 platform, and replaced it with the K2XX platform. This generation of the Silverado/Sierra 1500 has three new gasoline engine options: a 4.3 L EcoTec3 V6, a 5.3 L EcoTec3 V8, and a 6.2 L EcoTec3 V8, all featuring cylinder deactivation and aluminum blocks, while dropping the 4.8 L V8 from the last generation. Chevrolet's MyLink multimedia touchscreen interface system became available on most models. It included A2DP stereo streaming technologies, Bluetooth hands-free telephone, USB hookups, and an input for an iPod or iPhone. A Bose premium audio system, as well as a Bose surround sound audio system, was available on most models. OnStar became standard on all models. A Crew Cab model with the 6.5' bed became available for the first time on 1500-series trucks.
Underneath, the Silverado rides on a fully boxed high-strength steel frame with hydroforming technology; truck cab's frame is built with high strength steel as well. The third-generation Silverado uses aluminum on the hood, for the engine block, and for the control arms in order to save mass. The truck's bed is made of roll-formed steel instead of stamped steel used by other manufacturers in order to save weight and gain strength. The third-generation Silverado introduced the all-new upmarket top-of-the-line "High Country" trim level which includes saddle brown leather interior, which is Chevrolet's very first entry into the luxury truck market since the 1955–1959 Task-Force 3100 "Cameo Carrier." A fully-squared front fascia takes retro-modern styling cues from the GMT400 and 1981–1987 Square-Body trucks, and on Z71 models, a Z71 badge was added to the bottom right place of the grille. The first production Silverado was built on April 29, 2013. The Silverado 1500 went on sale in May 2013 as a 2014 model, with the Silverado HD being available in early 2014 for the 2015 model year. On January 10, 2014, a recall was issued for 370,000 Silverado and Sierra pickups over a fire risk.
Trim levels for the Silverado included Work Truck, LS, Custom, LT, LTZ, and High Country. For the Sierra, they were the base "Sierra", SLE, SLT, and Denali. On the 1500 models, the 4.3 L V6 was standard on trims up to LT and SLE, and flex-fuel capability was included. The 5.3 L V8 was available on all trims and standard on LTZ, High Country, SLT, and Denali (these four trims also offered the 6.2 L V8 as an option), as well as all 2016–2018 Crew Cab models with the 6.5' bed.
On January 14, 2014, the Silverado, along with the Corvette Stingray, received the 2014 North American International Auto Show's Car and Truck of the Year awards, respectively.
For 2018, this generation of Silverado was officially exported to Australia and converted to right-hand-drive and Australian Design Rules (ADR) by General Motors Australian subsidiary, Holden Special Vehicles (HSV). In the past, several independent specialists imported and converted Silverados and Sierras for Australian and right-hand-drive markets. Only 2500HD and 3500HD models equipped with 6.6L Duramax diesel option were available. Neither gasoline engines nor 1500-series trucks were offered.
2015 For the 2015 model year, the 6.2L EcoTec3 was paired with the new eight-speed 8L90 transmission, offering a wider ratio spread with more closely spaced gears, quicker shifts, improved acceleration, and fuel economy. The Silverado 2500HD/3500HD models carried over the 6.0L L96 flex-fuel capable Vortec engine combined with the 6L90E transmission, installed with engine oil and transmission fluid coolers for hauling/towing applications. The 6.6L Duramax also continued to be backed by the six-speed Allison 1000 automatic. The LS trim made its return to the Silverado 1500, slotted between the Work Truck and LT trims. The 1500 Regular Cab Long Box model became available from the factory without a pickup bed (i.e., as a chassis cab). GM last offered its half-ton trucks as chassis cabs in 1980.
The GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD were the first "heavy-duty" trucks to offer Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), a Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS), and a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) available together as part of the available Driver Assist Package. The Driver Assist Package was standard equipment on the GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD Denali, and optional on most other Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500HD/3500HD models. Other new options for the Silverado and Sierra 2500HD/3500HD models included an eight-inch, full-color, reconfigurable LCD Driver Information Center (DIC) screen (for Sierra 2500HD/3500HD Denali models only), a 110-volt AC household-style power outlet, up to six available USB ports, an available eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a power-sliding rear window with integrated defroster.
In mid-year 2015, Chevrolet and GMC made enhancements to the all-new Silverado 2500HD/3500HD and Sierra 2500HD/3500HD. Some of these enhancements included a new OnStar telematics system with 4G LTE Wi-Fi capabilities, new wheel designs, new exterior paint color options, new exterior tow mirror designs, a USB port added the glove compartment of trucks equipped with a front bench seat, Duralife brake rotors, the availability of dual-150-amp and 220-amp alternators for models equipped with the 6.6-liter Duramax Turbodiesel V8 engine, an off-road information screen added to the instrument cluster of 4×4 models equipped with the Z71 or All-Terrain Packages (the latter is a GMC-only option), a Bi-Fuel Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) option for models equipped with the 6.0L Vortec gasoline V8 engine, a new All-Terrain Package available on SLE and SLT Double Cab and Crew Cab models (for GMC models only), a standard heavy-duty locking rear axle for all models, and the removal of HD Radio from the "up-level" IO5 and IO6 infotainment systems. A Regular Production Option (RPO) code of "AVF" on the Service Parts Identification sticker in the upper glove compartment distinguishes early-build 2015 models from their 2015.5 successors.
Special Editions For 2015, Chevrolet introduced a Special Edition for the Silverado truck series. They are in the following series of Rally Edition 1 and 2, Midnight Edition, Custom Sport Edition, Custom Sport Plus Edition, Black Out Edition, and Texas Edition.
2016 mid-cycle refresh