What is it:

This is the biggest of the big US pick-ups sold by Chevrolet in Australia. 

People who don’t understand why cars like this exist, seem to have a strong dislike of them. 

People who buy cars like this don’t understand why some people like electric cars.

Guess what? There’s room for both types of vehicles – and everything in between.

In Australia, big US pick-ups are typically bought by people on the rural fringes of our capital cities who tow huge boats, horse floats, massive caravans, or work machinery.

Indeed, it’s safer to haul a heavy load in one of these than in one of Australia’s most popular pick-ups such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger or Isuzu D-Max etal. 

The Chevrolet Silverado sold here with factory-backing by General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) is remanufactured by the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, the former parent company of Holden Special Vehicles.

Price: 

There is only one model grade in the Chevrolet 2500HD range in Australia. 

We get the LTZ Premium edition which blends luxury, towing ability, and hardcore off-road hardware (heavy duty suspension and all-terrain tyres).

It is listed at $163,000 plus on-road costs, which dealers estimate works out to be $170,000 to $175,000 drive-away (or thereabouts) depending on registration and stamp duty fees in each state.

Engine:

Get a load of this: Under the bonnet is a 6.6-litre V8 turbo diesel with 350kW of power and an epic 1322Nm of torque. 

Read that last part again: 1322Nm of torque.

That’s the highest torque rating in the segment, and up from the output of 332kW and 1234Nm from the previous model.

To top it off, the engine blends the three best sounds in the automotive world: V8, turbo, and diesel.

Transmission:

Paired to a 10-speed auto (with the convenience of a column shift), it’s a surprisingly smooth operator.

0 to 100km/h (as tested):

Are you sitting down? On our precision VBox test device the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD did the 0 to 100kmh dash in 7.5 seconds.

We were so blown away, we did it three more times to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.

After all, this thing weighs 3.7 tonnes. Dang!

That’s faster than a single-motor Tesla Model Y (7.8 seconds on our test equipment). 

Ok, now I’m stirring, but the acceleration times are real.

Emergency braking from 100km/h (as tested): 

Here’s the other surprise: it pulled up in an emergency stop from 100km/h in an impressive 46.8 metres – despite its epic weight.

For perspective, a Ford Ranger Raptor (which weighs 2.4 tonnes) pulls up in 47-plus metres.

The average braking distance for popular diesel double-cab utes such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max etal (which weight 2.0 to 2.2 tonnes) is between 42 and 44 metres. 

Good points:

It looks the business. Your mates will love you, and it’s great way to upset your neighbours.

This is an impressively comfortable vehicle to drive – once you’re used to the size, which takes about five minutes.

Despite running all-terrain tyres, they don’t ‘hum’ at freeway speeds and have surprisingly good grip on tarmac.

Acres of space inside, front and back. Including a massive centre console and large door pockets front and rear.

Extendable sun visors do a great job at blocking side glare.

Awesome premium audio system. Widescreen digital instrument cluster an infotainment display.

Convenience of a gear selector on the steering column.

Incredible acceleration and braking for such a large vehicle.

Fuel economy ranged from 11L/100km (unladen on the open road) to 14.4L/100km in a mix of suburban, inter-urban and freeway driving.

Massive cargo area (with spray on bed liner as standard for our market). Power-operated tailgate (open and close).

Bad points:

Despite the big and bold headlight design, the bi-LEDs project only an average beam.

For example, in our testing, the bi-LED headlights on an Isuzu D-Max or LDV T60 have a brighter, broader and further spread of light. 

The absence of speed-sign recognition technology is frustrating given it’s so common on most new cars these days.

There are 14 camera views, which is great when trying to see around the vehicle in tricky situations, but some of the cameras appear to not be high definition.

What the haters say:

That’s too big, why does anyone need a car like that?

What the haters don’t understand:

These vehicles are more stable and secure on the road than popular diesel double-cab utes such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max when it comes to hauling heavy loads.

Australian sales data shows US pick-ups are primarily sold to customers who live on the rural fringes of our capital cities – or in regional areas – and not in the suburbs.

There are hundreds of thousands of trucks on the road in Australia that are way bigger and heavier than these US pick-ups, and yet no-one is trying to ban those.

Should you buy one?

If you have the need for a vehicle like this – and you have the money – do not pass go, do not collect $200, go straight away and buy one of these.

They’re epic and make Toyota LandCruisers and Nissan Patrols look like toys.

And yet they are surprisingly comfortable and SUV-like to drive. An engineering marvel. 

Remember, these are family cars in the US.

Also consider:

Ram 2500HD, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2, Ford F-150 Lariat LWB.