When choosing the right truck, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the options. The versatility of pickup trucks has spawned a market of option after option, and truck loyalists can be tough to sway. Once a buyer manages to narrow down a brand from all the automakers who have proven their truck-building abilities over decades, then the buyer still needs to look at models. And, if they’ve successfully narrowed down a model after sifting through that massive pile, the buyer still has to choose a trim. Chevy alone sells the Colorado, Silverado, and Silverado HD, not to mention all the levels and trim packages for each. But one candidate sticks out among the rest: the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 RST. Buckle up as we explore why the RST is the star of the lineup and offers a satisfying array of features without burying us under a pile of unnecessary gadgets.
The Silverado 1500 is a special truck, so it’s no surprise that it comes with an outstanding variety of options to enhance the driver experience. The RST trim is a sporty mid-level model loaded with enticing creature comforts adorning the cabin, including heated seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless open and start, plus standard remote start (brilliant). Maybe there is snow where you drive, or maybe it’s a desert climate with bone-chilling temperature after the sun goes down. The ability to remotely start an engine is a gamechanger. The 2022 model also has advanced safety features compatible with a trailer, a significant technological win for buyers choosing a model based on towing capabilities and forward-thinking extras.
Why the RST Over the Others?
The 2022 Silverado 1500 comes in nine trims: WT, Custom, Custom Trail Bross, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country, and ZR2. But when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, the RST trim is the sweet spot, enhancing the basic build just so while curbing unnecessary extras and staying within a price point that makes sense for this class of truck. When it comes to the Silverado 1500, the RST trim seems to squeeze right past the others.
Why choose it over the LT? First off, it’s a much sportier look. The RST comes standard with bigger wheels than the LT trim. The 18-inch aluminum wheels are bigger for a beefier, more dominating aesthetic. The RST also comes standard with the 5.8L V8 engine, generating the high performance that Silverado, the workhorse of trucks, is known for. The RST delivers an impressive 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. The optional 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel brings a 13,200 lb towing capacity that makes it a top contender in its class for those planning to hitch up hefty loads.
It’s even easy to see the value in choosing RST over the most basic WT trim, which as the name suggests, is a very watered-down version of the truck geared towards business use and driving down costs. The WT engine is a smaller 2.7L turbocharged four-cylinder, and it uses a simpler 8-speed transmission. While the WT does get better mileage than the RST, it’s at a substantial cost to speed and power.
It’s Entertaining
If the RST interior is built with one central goal, it’s to allow the driver to see everything possible. The 2022 Silverado 1500 offers a 12.3-inch diagonal driver information center located above the steering column. It’s outfitted to show driver key data in real-time but looks sleek and refined with an easy-to-read digital drive summary. The center 13.4-inch diagonal infotainment touch screen display with Google, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. And as an added bonus, it comes with the option for Bose speakers, an industry leader in quality sound.
It Offers Great Packages
There are still many more ways to outfit your RST beyond the basic trim. Chevrolet has devised a mix of packages that can be added to make the Silverado 1500 feel uniquely yours. Each package is designed with the RST in mind and features interior and exterior add-ons that compliment the truck’s existing configurations. Let’s get into some of those options.
RST All Star Premium Package
Included in the RST All Star Premium are eye-catching 20-inch aluminum wheels with Grazen painted pockets, a Chevytec spray-on bedliner, and leather seats. Other fun features include a universal home remote, rear power sliding window, Hitch Guidance with Hitch View, and a trailer brake controller. All very alluring additions to a driver buying for towing purposes. Beauty and practicality can coincide in this configuration.
RST Texas Edition Premium Package
Crammed with desirable extras, the Texas Edition Premium Package boasts everything in the Safety Package and Convenience Package II. Drivers can benefit from the HD Surround Vision, a trailer camera, trailer side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, and rear pedestrian alert. This package also comes with the stylish 20-inch wheels that are found in the All Star Premium Package. The bed comes with the Chevytec spray-on bedliner and standout Texas Edition badging. What makes this edition special is its limited availability. It will only be available to order in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
Rally Edition
One of the more expensive packages, the Rally Edition is all about styling. It includes black rally stripes (hence the name), black CHEVROLET tailgate lettering, and black badging. This package also gets black chrome exhaust dual tips and comes with a special protection plan for the 22-inch high gloss black wheels. The rally stripes can be found on the hood and tailgate. Plus, the Rally Edition comes with assist steps to help climb into the cab.
Designed With the Driver in Mind
If you’re not looking to break the bank with special editions, the standard 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 RST comes loaded with luxury. The standard interior can be ordered with cloth or leather seating and Jet Black or Very Dark Atmosphere colored trim. The general layout of the interior is more modern than previous models, and the infotainment system is nothing to sneeze at. The RST enjoys the added benefits over basic models but at a reasonable price tag that starts at $49,100. This compares to the top-of-the-line High Country, whose hefty sticker starts at $59,800.
Fans of Chevrolet and the full-size truck market already have a keen sense of what makes the Silverado a cult classic. With the driver in mind, the 2022 Silverado 1500 RST was designed bearing in mind that comfort, technology, and power are all top priorities. Chevy knows it’s just as important to deliver impressive tow capacity as it is to dish out a high-tech dashboard, giving drivers that touchscreen and visibility that many competitors are not prioritizing yet in the greater truck market. The additional packages like the RST All Star Premium Package, Texas Edition Premium Package, and Rally Edition offer a variety of performance and safety features, styling, and accents to make your RST stand out in the crowd. It’s easy to land on the RST after doing the research, and with a little luck and a little more decisiveness, there may just be one in your driveway soon.
