Fans of science fiction love the idea of a glimpse into the future. From Tenet to Doctor Who, science fiction staples provide brief looks at what the future may hold, teasing the audience with possibilities. While I can’t show you 2050 (maybe we’ll have the flying cars by then, but probably not), I can show you a glimpse of 2024. No, no, don’t worry, I’m not referring to the Presidential election. I’m talking about the 2024 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD.
Chevy made a grand show of revealing the new Silverado last fall. Clearly, Chevy thinks the pickup truck’s new model will be a step into the future for the company, and the automobile industry at large. That description may sound a little over the top, but it might not after you hear a bit more about the model and how much of a leap forward it represents.
The Backstory
Anyone who has spoken to an historian knows that to understand the future, you have to look to the past. This holds true for understanding the nature of the 2024 Chevy Silverado.
The Silverado first came to market in the late 1990s, branching out of the Chevrolet C/K truck line. The Silverado aimed to merge the utility of the C/K line with the glossier look of sportier vehicles while adding a healthy dose of power to its appearance. The Silverado’s next generations featured luxurious interiors that made traveling with even the heaviest cargo a relaxing yet fulfilling adventure. It seemed to state that there was no reason to choose between capability and comfortability. In the years since, I’d argue it’s proved that to be the case.
The Silverado’s safety features also make it stand out compared to previous trucks. Long viewed as strictly utilitarian vehicles, the Silverado’s security systems show it can be the ideal ride for those with friends and family. This pickup truck comes with up to date tech, ranging from lane keeping assistance to blind spot detection.
Despite becoming more family friendly, though, it lost none of its power, which was its original appeal. Its 2023 iteration can tow up to 20,000 pounds at its best trim. Yes, this truck comes in a lot of trims levels. Consumers expect choices, and the Silverado delivers). The fusion of performance and beauty marked a new era in automobile culture, the line between what constituted a labor vehicle and a family vehicle fading.
As with many advances, it can be difficult in the moment to picture how it could get even better. Remember dial-up internet connection? Believe it or not, there was a time when people thought it couldn’t improve. It’s easy to laugh at now, but back in the 1990s, we all stared wide-eyed at its speed and thought little of the fact that we couldn’t place a phone call at the same time. The same can be said for the Silverado. Its current model appears so far from older pickup trucks that the average driver may feel it’s hit its max potential.
Chevy, however, disagrees.
Chevy Silverado: Future Tense
Let’s go from “was” to “will.” The 2024 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD will set a new expectation for pickup trucks. From my perspective, the first “wow” moment comes with its towing capacity. The trailering capability on the diesel-powered Chevy Silverado 3500 HD goes all the way up to 36,000 pounds. (I was so shocked when I saw that number I read it over a few times to make sure it was correct.) To put that into perspective, the 2023 Silverado’s highest trim has towing ability up to 20,000 pounds. That alone means this new model will change the game. Chevy is doing some serious muscle flexing with those numbers. Even the gas powered 2024 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD comes away with impressive numbers: it can tow up to 21,600 pounds.
Payload will be solid, too. While not as initially eye-popping as the trailering, the 2024 model’s payload allows up to 7,290 pounds. If you’re wondering why I keep saying the 2024 Silverado shows a glimpse of the future, it’s because these leaps usually take years to happen. Here, it will be in one year. That’s an astonishing achievement.
With all this power, though, I did start to wonder about control. Will it feel laborious to drive? The verdict may still be out as the pickup hasn’t been released yet, but early word is that it’s a smooth ride considering its size and abilities. Those who have had the chance to sit behind the wheel reported a great time. Fuel efficiency remains an open question, too, as not many outside players have had the ability to test its MPG rate yet. If it will come with a respectable fuel efficiency, then it’s truly a game changer. There will be a 2024 Silverado EV, which hints to me that fuel efficiency is on Chevy’s mind.
Inside to Match
Okay, so the pickup will have incredible capabilities. But a lot of drivers may not need those high numbers and will wonder if it still suits them. The lowdown on the Silverado’s interior assures us that it will leap into the future, too. The interior photographs I’ve seen make the cabin look more like first class on an airplane than how I normally picture the inside of a pickup truck. Long gone is the scene of a tight, cluttered cabin. Leather and wood accents add a level of class to the Silverado’s cabin, and the 13.4 inch diagonal infotainment touchscreen supplies a futuristic touch (another bonus for my fellow science fiction fans). There’s a 12-inch driver information screen behind the wheel, perfectly situated to provide you with what you need to know without forcing you to look away from the road.
In short, the Silverado’s interior will be a perfect mix of class and comfort. If it doesn’t appear to be as much of a leap forward as performance, that’s only because the interiors have already advanced significantly over the past few years.
Looking Sleek
It appears that the Silverado will come with more exterior color options than before. White, silver, dark blue, black, red, and more shades will be yours to choose from to help your vehicle will fit your personality (the Midnight Edition looks particularly cool in my book). The front bumper and grille have also been redesigned. The grille, in particular, impresses, looking like a tight, aggressive smile, yet another way in which the Silverado projects power when on the road. Massive 22-inch high gloss wheels are an option, so that your Silverado will tackle any terrain. You’ll be in as good shape off-roading as driving down the highway.
When Will the Future Arrive?
You can already preorder the 2024 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD. The vehicle itself is slated to be released in the first half of 2023, but an exact date has not yet been set. In the second half of 2023, an EV version of the 2024 Chevy Silverado will also hit the market. That, too, will be a look at the future as EV options only become more popular.
Just how much the 2024 Silverado will change the market remains to be seen, but there’s a reason Chevy showed off this new truck at a special presentation in Texas last year. Chevy is banking on the new Silverado setting the trend going forward. It likely will, especially as Chevy rolls out similar EV options down the line. For the moment, it’s worth looking over just how far the Silverado has jumped from the 2023 model to the 2024 model. Who knows how much further the 2025 Silverado will end up bringing us? Plus, imagine if these types of leaps become the norm from year to year? At that rate, we’ll be well past the flying cars in 2050 and welcoming time traveling ones.
