Full-size pickup trucks like the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD are extreme, heavy-duty machines that are ready to answer the call of having to tow up to 18,000 pounds. Sitting in the middle of Chevrolet’s pickup-truck lineup, the 2500HD occupies the segment for consumers looking for more capability than the base Silverado 1500 can provide, but not enough to require the extra oomph from the 3500HD.
What's New for 2018
With the addition of a new engine for 2017, the 2018 model gets minimal changes, amounting to little more than new colors minor equipment changes.
Choosing Your Chevrolet Silverado 2500
As with the previous year, the Silverado 2500HD comes in a total of five different configurations – regular cab with a long box, double cab with a standard box, double cab with a long box, crew cab with a standard box, and crew cab with a long box. The Regular Cab is a three-seater, the Double Cab offers a full-length rear seat with small rear doors, and the Crew Cab has full-size rear doors and a spacious backseat.
Opting for the Regular Cab requires the eight-foot long box, while the Double and Crew Cabs can be fitted with the long eight-foot box or a standard 6.5-foot box.
The standard engine is a 6.0-liter V8 that produces 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque that’s matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. The next step up is a Duramax 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8 that generates 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine is matched to an Allison six-speed automatic transmission.
Rear-wheel drive is standard on all Silverado 2500HD trims and all-wheel drive is a $2,955 option. All trims are fitted with an automatic locking rear differential as standard, automatic grade braking, trailer sway control, and an integrated cruise control system. When properly equipped, the pickup truck is capable of towing up to 18,000 pounds and can carry 3,534 pounds in its bed.
The Silverado 2500HD is available in four different trims, including WT, LT, LTZ, and High Country.
With the amount of options and configurations that are available on the Silverado 2500HD, finding the right pickup can be a tricky task. Narrowing a configuration down by how many seats are needed is a good starting point. Consumers looking purely for a work truck will be pleased with the base LT trim, while the Convenience Package is a must-have. Others looking for a truck to enjoy driving everyday will find the LTZ trim as the most tempting option.