After The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a light-duty pickup truck – but don’t let that fool you. Light is anything but with this truck, especially in it’s most luxurious form, the High Country. This is one big truck, with a big engine and a big price tag to boot. Let’s take a look at it.
Today’s Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has been around since 2019 and has seen some minor changes and upgrades to become the pickup that it is today. It is a big, aggressive looking truck that is home to an equally large interior. And with nine (yes, 9!) different trim levels, there is a Silverado to fit every need and want.
Recently I spent time in a beautiful 2024 Silverado High Country – the top-spot in the Silverado lineup, with just about every option selected. Crew cab – check. Leather interior – check. Four-wheel drive – check. Optional engine – check. Optional suspension – check. Hands-free driving – check. And there is more. Without a doubt, in High Country form, the Silverado stands as a unique fusion of luxury and performance.
The High Country comes standard with the 5.3-litre V8 (355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque), but a Duramax 3.0 liter turbo-diesel (305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque) is a $2,390 option, as is the 6.2-liter V8 (420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque). The tester was fitted with the latter.
Entering the Silverado High Country, you’ll be greeted by a meticulously designed dashboard that revolves around a 13.4-inch diagonal touch screen, along with a 12.3-inch driver information center (that replaces the traditional gauge cluster on lesser Silverados). There is even a 15-inch heads-up display. The information center elevates the experience for the driver by showing off fancy graphics and images when you turn on and off the vehicle as well as allow the driver to configure the display to their liking. It is impressive, I admit, but at the same time, I still miss the traditional gauges found in lesser Silverados.
As you settle into the driver’s seat of the Silverado High Country, the true essence of a full-size pickup envelops you. The well-bolstered and supportive seats strike a balance between practicality and indulgence. The open-por wood trim and top-notch leather interior looks amazing. The center console contains physical knobs and buttons make interacting with the various systems painless. The Silverado’s infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, along with built in Google integration and a mobile hotspot.
While the interior may be luxurious, that doesn’t mean the Silverado High Country has gone soft when it comes time to work. It has impressive capabilities that are right in line with the competition, sporting a maximum payload capacity of 2,080 pounds and able to tow up to 11,000 pounds. This blend of luxury, comfort, hauling and towing positions the Silverado High Country as an enticing option for those seeking both versatility and capability.
The Silverado drives as big as it looks. Power from the 6.2 liter V8, which happens to be the largest-displacement, most powerful naturally aspirated V-8 in the segment, is quite stout and you won’t regret having it. Zero to 60 mph happens in just 6 seconds – which makes it the quickest naturally aspirated V-8 around. Daily driving the Silverado around town is easy enough thanks in part to its light steering and secure handling. The ride is good, although midcorner bumps easily upset the Silverado.
With all the cool things the High Country has to offer, Super Cruise has to be my favorite. GM’s semi-autonomous hands-free-driving system, when engaged, it can take over steering, acceleration and braking duties on supported highways and interstates under the driver’s supervision. While not a fully autonomous system, it does allow the driver to remove their hands from the steering wheel during extended periods of highway driving – perfect for playing air guitar or air drums as music is belted out of the Bose audio system.
Pricing for the High Country, is, well, high. The tester has an MSRP of $78,000. And to think, the High Country, while the most luxurious Silverado, is not the most expensive Silverado. That honor goes to the off-road ZX2 model. On a lighter note, base Silverados start at $44,500.
As the High Country, Chevrolet shows off what the Silverado has to offer. And I must say, it is an impressive package. With it’s big engine, luxurious interior and the modern technology it possess, like Super Cruise, the Silverado 1500 High Country is a winning combination.
— Christopher A. Randazzo
By The Numbers:
Base Price: $66,200.00
Price as Tested: $78,000.00
Layout: front-engine / four-wheel drive
Engine: 6.2 liter V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Horsepower: 420 hp
Torque: 460 ft-lbs
EPA Fuel Economy: 15 city / 20 highway mpg
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