Once upon a time, luxury features were solely for folks who liked to drive sedans and coupes. Truck makers went in the whole other direction. They figured pickup drivers wanted an interior as rough and rugged as their trucks. However, it soon became clear that people wanted a bit of both in their pickup trucks. With this in mind, the folks at Chevrolet introduced the High Country trim level for its lineup of Silverado trucks in time for the 2014 model year, which means there are plenty of used Chevy Silverado trucks out there that have a splash of luxury to them.
Now, pickup drivers can get a truck with a roomy interior cabin with luxury appointments and features while still getting a truck that could haul heavy loads, tow trailers, and do everything else another truck can. Since this trim level has been out now for over 7 model years, you can ride the High Country in a used Chevy Silverado for a lot less than it will cost if you bought your truck new. So if you want a truck that has it all, then you need to take a High Country focus when purchasing your next pickup. You’ll not only see the difference but also feel and hear it as well.
High Country Looks to Thrill
When the designers at Chevrolet conceived the Silverado High Country, the goal was to create a truck that showed the influence of Westerns on the development of the pickup truck. You can see this on the current model of the Silverado, with its distinct trim exclusive grille featuring a stamped bar with the famous Chevy gold bowtie logo. Chevy continues this Western theme with a two-tone bronze and chrome finish, utilizing black outlines to accentuate the truck’s lines. This continues with chrome assist steps that extend for the full length of the truck’s cab.
The High Country trim is only available with the CrewCab configuration. This provides four full doors with two full rows of seats. This means that your rear passengers will have plenty of legroom, a full 40.9-43.4 inches. That is almost as much legroom as in the front row. The High Country was not only offered on the Silverado 1500, but it was also offered on the heavy-duty Silverado HD so that all customers of these full-size trucks had the opportunity to get the ultimate in luxury.
Those first models of the High Country gave drivers the choice of a 5’8” or 6’6” cargo box. The current model has taken things to the next level, with the first power-up/power-down tailgate on any production truck, providing greater ease loading and off-loading the payload section of your Silverado High Country. The High Country rides on 20-inch painted aluminum wheels with light argent pockets. These handle a set of 20-inch all-terrain blackwall tires. You will feel the difference these large wheels and tires make, giving you greater control and traction than a standard Chevy Silverado truck.
Chevy added LED taillights to the High Country in time for the 2016 model year. These third-generation models can also feature the Intellibeam high beam assist system. This automatically turns your truck’s high beams on and off in low light, depending on driving conditions. The current fourth-generation model, introduced in time for the 2019 model year, sports high-intensity discharge LED headlights, and signature curtain LED daytime running lights, improving the safety of the Silverado.
High Country Saddles Up the Inside
If you haven’t been hit by the High Country theme yet, once you step inside this Silverado’s cab, you will feel yourself transported back to the wild, Wild West. The interior is upholstered with so much saddle brown leather; you’d wonder if the engine’s horsepower rating refers to actual Palominos. Chevrolet has added the right amount of chrome accents to really bring out the finish on these seats.
The Silverado High Country seats up to 5 passengers in the most luxurious truck cab on the market. The front row contains a pair of 10-way power driver seats, with a power lumbar system in the driver’s seat to provide maximum support and comfort. You can even pre-set up to two driver’s seat settings if you plan on sharing your High Country with another lucky person. In addition, the front and rear outboard passenger seats are heated, as well as the Silverado High Country’s leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Since its introduction in 2014, the Chevy Silverado has featured the most advanced version of the Chevrolet Infotainment System with an 8-inch color touchscreen. This is paired with a Bose Premium audio system with 7-speakers and a Richbass woofer. Chevy added Apple CarPlay and a Navigation system in 2016, followed by a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, so you and your passengers can stay connected wherever you are in the High Country. The current fourth-generation Silverado High Country’s Infotainment System includes navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, an HD radio, an HD rear vision camera, a hitch guidance system with hitch view, OnStar & Chevrolet connected services, a trial subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio, and plenty of USB ports to connect and charge your devices.
The High Country also includes Chevy’s Teen Driver system. If you have a new driver in your household, you can keep track of his or her driving habits, as the Teen Driver system will give you a full post-trip report on their performance. In addition, you can lock certain safety features so your Teen Driver cannot disable them. Finally, you can also limit the volume level on the Bose Premium sound system to reduce the chance of your Teen Driver getting distracted.
Performance for High Country
The first models of the Silverado High Country offered drivers a choice of rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive. The rear-wheel drive models are equipped with a 5.3-liter V8 Flex-Fuel engine that produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The Silverado High Country with this engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and gets a solid fuel economy.
The third generation Silverado with the High Country trim and 4-wheel drive comes with an even larger 6.2-liter V8 also with Flex-Fuel. This engine is also paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. This engine is slightly less fuel-efficient but much more powerful.
With the introduction of the fourth generation Silverado in the 2019 model year, Chevrolet made some changes to the engines available for the High Country. The standard engine for both the rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive High Country models is a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 with dynamic fuel management paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. This engine provides a fuel efficiency of 17 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway for rear-wheel drive High Country models, and 16 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway for 4-wheel drive models.
Silverado High Country trucks with 4-wheel drive also have the option of a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 with dynamic fuel management and a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Whichever engine you choose, you will have exceptional towing and payload capacity, up to 13,400 pounds of trailer with the proper equipment, and 2,250 pounds of cargo.
It’s Time to Ride the High Country
A used Chevy Silverado High Country provides an excellent blend of luxury, durability, and performance. You can find one with rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive, as well as two great engines to choose from. From its unique exterior to its Western-themed interior, the High Country truly looks the part and gives you exceptional luxury in a rugged truck. Whether you find an original third-generation model or choose a more recent fourth-generation model, the used Chevy Silverado High Country will have you riding the High Country in style.
