GMSV prices updated Silverado 1500 for Oz

GENERAL MOTORS SPECIAL VEHICLES has this week introduced its updated fourth generation Chevrolet Silverado 1500 to the Australian market, the locally engineered and converted model range adding new technology, a new-look dashboard and an off-road-focused ZR2 variant to the range for the first time.

The updates come as part of a move by parent company General Motors to outsell Ford’s F-Series trucks in Northern America. The General’s pick-up offering is now just 130,000 units behind Henry’s own F-Truck, a gap that GM hopes to narrow, while also competing with the never-say-die Ram 1500 range.

Locally, two variants of the Silverado are offered for 2023, the luxury-focused Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium (up $7000 to $128,000 plus on-road costs) with standard Z71 package to enhance its off-roading capability, and the new Silverado 1500 ZR2 (up $9000 to $133,000 + ORCs).

The latter offers a Ford Raptor-style boost to its all-round driveability, courtesy of lifted suspension, bespoke dampers, additional off-road-focused drive modes, and unique styling details that butch-up its looks and improve approach and departure angles.

Beyond the updated Silverado 1500’s deeper grille, higher-mounted Chevrolet ‘bow-tie’ logo, restyled bumpers and brighter C-shaped LED running lights, the ZR2 incorporates a unique black-chrome grille with a ‘flow-tie’ emblem (open for improved cooling), a raised black bonnet insert with ZR2 badging, wheel arch flares, unique gloss-black 18-inch wheels with chunky 275/70 Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tyres, and two-tone black/grey leather-appointed upholstery with dark trim.

It also gains driver-selectable ‘E-locker’ electronic locking differentials front and rear, instead of the auto-locking rear diff in the LTZ Premium.

Raising the ZR2’s ride height to a towering 296mm (from 228mm in LTZ Premium) and incorporating a new three-piece black front bumper (to enable easier replacement if damaged) with a silver bash plate and red tow hooks dramatically improve its approach angle – from a modest 21.0 degrees in LTZ to 31.8 degrees. The ZR2’s breakover angle rises from 20.0 to 23.4 degrees while its departure angle goes from 21.0 to 23.3 degrees.

Uniquely, the LTZ Premium features bright-silver 20-inch alloys with 275/60 Bridgestone Dueler tyres, an all-black leather-appointed interior, adaptive cruise control, a (relatively small) glass sunroof, and a technology pack that includes a full-colour 15.0-inch head-up display, a rear camera mirror and a bed-view camera.

Aside from the MY23 Silverado’s more imposing front end and muscular new ZR2 variant, it’s inside the cabin where the upgrades are glaringly obvious. A completely new dashboard replaces the over-styled previous effort with a clean, horizontally configured layout dominated by a vast, crisp 13.4-inch centre touchscreen, joined by a configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

While the previous analogue dials were neat and attractive, the centre stack was inexpensive-looking – even on top-spec GMC variants in the US – and the technology lagged way below the class best.

Now the MY23 Silverado is arguably the leading full-size pick-up for cabin tech, and when you’re paying well into six figures for the privilege of owning this enormous 5900mm-long, 2500kg dual-cab, that’s the stuff that will get well-heeled truck punters to sign on the dotted line.

2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.