If you’ve been paying attention to the pickup market over the last decade, you might have noticed an interesting trend. It’s not the growth of the segment itself–-although U.S. pickup sales have grown from 13% to 20% of the auto market since 2012–-but rather the average price tag of a new truck. In 2005, the average transaction price for a pickup was $29,390 but that number has nearly doubled to $54,564 today. There’s a good reason for this hike in the average sale price and for once it has (almost) nothing to do with inflation. As the pickup segment has grown it’s drawn in a new breed of drivers who value not only power, performance, and off-road ability, but also sophisticated luxury.
From high-end cabin materials and convenience features to exterior flourishes and cutting-edge technology, today’s pickup segment is a far cry from the no-frills work trucks of old. Among this new generation of luxury-focused pickups, there are a few standouts. As Chevy’s marquee full-size pickup, the Silverado has long been one of the industry’s best-selling models; but since the introduction of the High Country trim in 2014, it’s also been one of the most luxurious. That reputation carries on with the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country setting a new standard for just how refined, innovative, and opulent a truck can be. So what makes the 2023 version such a standout? Let’s take a look at how Chevy has upped the bar by injecting luxury into the traditionally work-minded pickup segment.
The Refined Interior
A quick survey of the interior is one of the easiest ways to differentiate a luxury model from some of its more pedestrian cousins. While there’s nothing wrong with a pickup that goes heavy on plastic molding and cloth seating, the pursuit of luxury requires higher standards when it comes to the cabin. The Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country telegraphs its luxurious intentions from the moment you open the door and spot the pickup’s open-pore wood trim. Unlike the glossy, almost plastic-feeling wood trim found in some vehicles, the Silverado’s open-pore approach means you’re able to feel the grain of the wood itself.
It might not seem like a big difference, but it’s an example of the thoughtful touches that set the High Country apart from its competitors. Then there’s the pickup’s leather seats. To be fair, leather upholstery isn’t unique to the High Country–-or the luxury segment in general–-but it’s the quality and comfort technology that set the High Country’s seating apart. The truck’s leather seats are designed with custom stitching patterns and perforations, with the latter allowing Chevy to throw in its ventilated seat technology for good measure. Even backseat passengers will enjoy heated seats, bringing opulent comfort to every inch of the cabin.
Innovative and Advanced Technology
In the modern world, the concepts of luxury and technology tend to go hand-in-hand. Nowhere is this more true than in the auto industry, where advanced tech features have become the newest arms race between brands. Given how competitive the full-size pickup segment is, Chevy knew it couldn’t deliver a sub-par suite of tech features when it came to the 2023 Silverado 1500 High Country, and it sure didn’t. A 13.4-inch touchscreen Infotainment screen is the segment’s largest by a fair margin, giving drivers plenty of room to navigate through various apps while providing an expansive display for the pickup’s navigation system.
The High Country also comes standard with a 12.3-inch Driver Information Center display, which lets Silverado owners customize their gauge cluster to display whatever information they decide is most relevant to their drive. See some off-roading in your future? A built-in inclinometer goes a long way in ensuring success when it comes to ascending steep grades. A wireless charger, seven-speaker Bose Premium sound system, and available 15-inch heads-up display round out the Silverado High Country’s key tech features, easily making this pickup one of the most innovative models in its class.
Bold Power and Capability
There’s no questioning the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country’s luxury credentials, but what about the goods under the hood? Premium luxury features aside, a pickup is always going to be judged by its power, and the High Country certainly delivers in that department. The pickup comes standard with a 5.3L V8, but drivers seeking more brawn can upgrade to an available 3.0L Duramax diesel or 6.2L V8. This level of customization is a thoughtful touch from Chevy, allowing drivers to customize their rides to fit their unique performance needs.
See a lot of towing and hauling on the horizon? At 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, the 6.2L V8 is the way to go, besting much of the competition with a 13,300-lb towing capacity. If you’re seeking to offset the pickup’s price tag by saving at the pump, the Duramax diesel offers unsurpassed fuel economy at 23 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. The High Country’s standard 5.3L V8 provides a well-rounded option for drivers, providing 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque to play with while still delivering an impressive 11,500-lb towing capacity.
Cutting-Edge Tech to Tow
Speaking of towing, there’s nothing luxurious about fumbling for that trailer connection, backing up over and over again until you finally get things perfectly lined up. Exclusive to the High Country trim, Chevy’s Hitch View system makes those frustrating missed connections a thing of the past. It leverages the pickup’s eight available cameras to give drivers a comprehensive view of what’s going on behind–-and around–-the Silverado.
The Hitch View system encompasses four distinct angles: the eponymous Hitch View gives drivers a top-down view of the receiver hitch to help with trailer alignment while the Rear Top-Down View pulls the camera back a bit, providing a similar perspective as Hitch View but also displaying the clearance between the truck and any nearby objects. Bed View allows Silverado drivers to check on their cargo or line up a fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer, but it’s HD Surround View that sets the Silverado apart. By splicing together feeds from multiple cameras, the Silverado High Country can display a bird’s-eye view of the truck and its surroundings.
Overall, it’s a bit of a mind-bender, but it’s sure to come in handy next time you’re trying to navigate your boat or RV through a crowded yard or tight campsite. Hitch View is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to getting a new POV on your surroundings. When optioned with all eight available cameras, the Silverado can provide 15 unique views including six dedicated driving views and five parking views. With that kind of technology on your side, parking lot fender benders and near-misses should be a thing of the past.
Making Your Drive Easier
When it comes to the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country, the future is now. While we might still be a few years away from true self-driving technology, Chevy has come as close as you can ask for in the form of its Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system. With the ability to traverse over 400,000 miles of pre-mapped roads across the US and Canada, Super Cruise is a titillating taste of the future. When the right conditions are met, Super Cruise can take over almost every driving duty thanks to a suite of cameras, sensors, GPS, and LiDAR map data.
With all of this data, Super Cruise keeps the Silverado High Country centered in its lane and cruising at a steady speed with adaptive cruise control that even works in stop-and-go traffic. The system can even automatically change lanes, handling all signaling, turning, and passing duties while the driver sits back and relaxes. If being able to hack your frustrating morning commute isn’t the definition of luxury, then I don’t know what is.
A Consistent and Luxurious Ride
The 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 High Country is on a mission to prove that luxury isn’t exclusive to the sedan or SUV segments, giving pickup drivers an alluring option without sacrificing those factors that have made the Silverado 1500 such an automotive success story. Sure, the High Country might boast a sumptuous interior and some of the most exciting technology currently on offer in the industry, but it’s still the reliable workhorse that it’s always been, boasting a trio of powerful engines along with some of the best towing and payload capacity in its class. You’ve got to give Chevy credit for pulling off this deft balancing act, integrating some of the latest and greatest luxury, tech, and safety systems without losing sight of the winning formula that’s served the Silverado so well for the past 25 years. It might not be the most affordable Silverado model, but you can’t put a price tag on the comfort and convenience that it brings to the road.
