Silverado 1500 Allows Drivers to Build Their Dream Pickup

Even in the competitive full-size pickup segment, the Chevy Silverado 1500 is a true standout. This is especially true of the new 2022 model, which, thanks to a mid-cycle refresh from Chevy, sees a host of changes both inside and out. These include a new six-foot box option, a massive new 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, two new engine options, a redesigned interior, and a new off-road-ready trim perfect for some weekend adventures. These upgrades reflect a concession to a changing market. While pickups like the Silverado 1500 were once measured solely by their performance on the job site, drivers have begun expecting more from the historically working-class segment.

Not only are today’s full-size pickups packed with more high-end tech features than ever before, but they’re also integrating new creature comforts that can make all the difference in grabbing the buyer’s attention in a crowded market segment. These upgrades allow the Silverado to keep pace with the rest of the half-ton pack, delivering a well-balanced package that goes a long way in upping the pickup’s luxury factor. If the 2022 Chevy Silverado and its exciting features have you wondering if there’s a Chevrolet in Cincinnati, OH, look no further than McCluskey Chevy. But before you visit us and see the Silverado up close and personal, let us present to you some more of its outstanding features.

High-End Interior

The real highlight of the 2022 Silverado 1500 is the redesigned interior, which brings a suite of exciting new technology into the cabin of one of America’s favorite pickups. Touchscreen infotainment systems have launched something of an arm’s race in the pickup world, with brands competing to see who can squeeze the biggest screen onto the dashboard. These systems serve as the centerpiece of the modern truck interior, providing a wealth of relevant driver information, entertainment, and communications options that almost feel like an extension of your smartphone. Chevy has leapfrogged the competition in that respect, introducing a huge new 13.4-inch touchscreen display on the LT trim and above that blows Ford and Ram’s 12-inch entries out of the water.

The system isn’t notable just for its size but also its responsiveness. Unlike some of the clunkier user interfaces, the Silverado 1500’s touchscreen is easy to navigate with crisp performance that’s light on lag. This might not sound like a big deal, but many other automakers struggle to perfect this formula, resulting in touchscreens that are slow to react to user inputs. In those cases, we’d almost rather have some good old-fashioned buttons to press, but Chevy seems to have cracked the code to offer an ultra-responsive touchscreen that improves both convenience and safety.

Chevy’s digital dominance doesn’t end there with the 2022 Silverado 1500 introducing a new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster that replaces the analog readouts of old. The display serves as a centerpiece for all the information you could want to know about your Silverado 1500, from the standard metrics like speed, RPMs, and fuel range to more advanced gauges indicating speed limits, tire pressure, coolant temperature, entertainment options, and more. The system is endlessly customizable with Chevy, including multiple ways for each driver to craft their ideal instrument panel. Users can not only select which gauges they’d like to display, but also give options when it comes to layout offering Classic, Progressive, Digital, and Clean options that can make the display as complex or simple as you desire. On the High Country trim, this screen will also be used to display information about the pickup’s Super Cruise hands-free driving system.

Powertrain Options Galore

High-end tech features aside, a pickup is always going to be judged on its performance above all else. Luckily, this is another area where the Silverado 1500 excels, with Chevy offering a generous powertrain selection for its flagship truck. The 2022 model can be had with four different engines: a turbocharged four-cylinder, two V-8s, and a Duramax diesel 3.0-liter inline-six, as well as three transmission options in either four-wheel drive or two-wheel drive. With so many choices, it’s easier than ever for drivers to craft their ideal pickup and customize the powertrain based on its expected use.

Despite its four-cylinder construction, the Silverado’s base 2.7-liter engine still squeezes out an impressive 310 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque thanks to a healthy dose of turbocharging. This represents a significant upgrade over the base engine in last year’s model, which offered 72-less lb-ft of torque than the new version. It’s nice to see Chevy upping its game for entry-level models, and only serves to strengthen the Silverado’s reputation as a capable and affordable workhorse. The 2.7-liter engine gets a respectable 20 MPG combined (18 MPG for the 4WD setup), but drivers seeking the ultimate fuel economy should look into the 3.0-liter turbodiesel. This economical option boasts an impressive estimated fuel economy of 26 MPG (24 MPG for 4WD), and while it’s a little lacking in horsepower compared to some other options, at 277 hp, it more than makes up for it in the torque department where it can output some 460 lb-ft of force. An optional addition on the Trail Boss trim and above, it actually provides more torque than even the V8 option.

As the standard engine on the Silverado LTZ and High Country, the 5.3-liter V8 outputs 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque and is the most versatile of the bunch, with the ability to be paired with either a six, eight, or ten-speed automatic transmission. This V8 includes Chevy’s Dynamic Fuel Management, a cylinder deactivation system that goes a long way in improving the truck’s fuel economy. The system constantly monitors driver input to determine how much power is required, selectively deactivating cylinders when less power is called for. Fuel economy stats vary depending on the transmission and choice of 2WD or 4WD, but the V8 generally averages 18 MPG.

Lastly, the towering 6.2-liter V8 has 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. This hulking engine is the standard option for the off-road beast that is the ZR2 and an available upgrade for RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, and High Country trims. This engine has power in spades, with enough brawn to haul the weighty Silverado 1500 from zero to 60 in just 5.4 seconds. This V8 is a little less customizable than the rest of the lineup, paired exclusively with the 10-speed automatic transmission and 4WD. Like the 5.3-liter option, this V8 comes with the Dynamic Fuel Management system, but special MPG varies between the ZR2 (14 MPG thanks to its knobby all-terrain tires) and the other trims, averaging 17 MPG.

Off-Road Ready

Off-road performance models are nothing new in the truck world, but there seems to be a renewed interest in the niche as of late, with almost every automaker rolling out their own off-road-ready version of their most popular pickups. Never one to be left behind, Chevy introduces the new Silverado 1500 ZR2 for the 2022 model year, bringing a slate of heavy-duty upgrades to the brand’s best-selling pickup. Featuring a 420-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8, and 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory off-road tires, the ZR2 is not some surface-level trim package; it’s the real deal. Sure, it might not have the gaudy 700-horsepower of the Ram 1500 TRX or the massive tires of Ford’s high-performance off-road entry, the F-10 Raptor, but with an MSRP below $70,000, it’s also a good deal cheaper than the competition.

Aside from the upgraded engine and tires, the ZR2 also includes a host of exterior upgrades, including a 2.5-inch lifted suspension, red tow hooks, a high-mounted steel bumper, and large skid plates that go a long way in protecting the pickup’s underbelly during off-roading excursions. These attributes, combined with the Silverado 1500’s 31.8-inch approach angle, make the pickup a more-than-capable off-roader that can handle most trails right off of the lot.

Rounding out the ZR2’s off-road bona fides are the pickup’s Multimatic spool-valve dampers. A major advancement over the standard twin-tube shock absorbers that have been the standard in the auto industry for over 100 years, these new dampers were first introduced to the international racing circuit in 2010, where they were instrumental in helping Red Bull Racing earn four consecutive F1 titles. Now, the technology has come to the consumer market, allowing ZR2 drivers to experience the same cutting-edge shock absorption found on some of the world’s top race cars.

Typical dampers use thin discs to cover ports in the piston, regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid between the different chambers to control body and wheel motion. The system works well in the short term, but once the odometer starts to rack up some miles, these thin discs start to fatigue, and performance can go right out the window as debris from the damper seals, piston, and shaft clog up the space between the disc layers. Multimatic has done away with the discs altogether, replacing them with hollow cylindrical sleeves separated by a coil spring. When the piston is depressed, and pressure starts to build beyond the force of the spring, the sleeves move to uncover small ports which allow hydraulic fluids to flow between the chambers. This spring and sleeve setup is far more resistant to fatigue resulting in a longer-lasting shock absorption system that can take whatever off-road obstacles you can throw at it.

Come Experience the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 for Yourself at McCluskey Chevy

With the 2022 Chevy 1500, Chevy has pulled out all the stops. It’s a surprisingly ambitious mid-cycle refresh that shows how serious Chevy is in trying to top the ultra-competitive class. From a tech-heavy interior featuring a best-in-class touchscreen infotainment display and customizable digital gauge cluster to the wide range of engine options and exciting new off-road ZR2 model, there are a lot of fun surprises in store when it comes to this newest iteration of Chevy’s popular pickup.

Want to learn more about the 2022 Silverado 1500? Stop by McCluskey Chevy today. We’ll take you on a test drive and show you everything this new model offers because no matter how useful some internet research might be, some things are best experienced from behind the wheel. As one of Greater Cincinnati’s most-trusted Chevy dealers, we pride ourselves on offering a friendly, no-pressure environment focused on building relationships rather than making a sale. We’re not here to sell you a vehicle, we’re here to learn about your unique needs as a driver and give you all the information you need to make a choice that’ll leave you satisfied for years to come. Whether you’re looking for a new 2022 Silverado 1500, another Chevy model, or a vehicle from our wide inventory of pre-owned options, there’s always something new to discover at McCluskey Chevy.