Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ – The ultimate all-rounder

The humble, hay-hauling ute is as Australian as a meat pie. It was invented here, in response to a wife of a local farmer asking for a vehicle capable of going to church on Sunday and then carrying the pigs to market on Monday.

We love utes so much now that they have become the most popular type of vehicle in the country, with the latest crop of dual-cab cargo carriers delivering on the promise of being proper all-rounders that are truly capable as weekday work tools, weekend play toys and suburban family runabouts.

However, there is one vehicle that towers over its rivals as a true all-rounder, both in its physical presence, its capabilities and comfort: the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ. This is a car that amplifies every aspect of what a ute can do, from towing and carrying the tools, to crossing the Simpson Desert and taking the kids to school. It can do it all.

So, let’s check out what the Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium has and what it can do.

The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium is in the latest crop of full-sized American dual-cab utilities (or pick-up trucks, as they’d say) that have arrived in Australia over the last few years.

Traditionally, these types of vehicles were exclusively made for the North American domestic market and only available locally through specialist importers that converted them to right-hand drive. As such, they were prohibitively expensive, and the conversion process lacked the quality and refinement of an original manufacturer.

But the Chevrolet Silverado is sold officially through General Motors Specialty Vehicles. and converted to right-hand drive locally in Melbourne.

The Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium, which costs from $130,500 (plus on-roads), is the entry model in a three-variant range which has undergone a major mid-life upgrade that features a new-look front fascia design and totally revised interior with a host of significant new features.

No matter whether you are an urban cowboy or a real one, the Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium is where luxury meets performance.

For starters, it highlights its presence with an elevated, stylish new-look front design that showcases its pinched grille with lashings of chrome, signature curved daytime running lights and the prominent Chevy gold bowtie badge.

The chrome trim is tastefully repeated in the sweeping arch of the lower door trim, rear badging and matched to the 20-inch Sterling Silver wheels wrapped in all-terrain tyres.

But it’s inside the cabin where the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ genuinely takes comfort and convenience to a new level in the dual-cab ute sector. Here you’ll find a long list of standard features normally only found in exclusive European luxury limousines, such as full leather trim with heated front and rear seats, dual zone climate control with rear air vents, and a twin digital display set-up that pairs a 12.3-inch configurable instrument cluster with a wide screen 13.4-inch infotainment touch screen that includes sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless smartphone mirroring and a premium seven-speaker Bose audio system with a Richbass Woofer.

Uniquely, the Chevrolet Silverado also features a standard sunroof and power sliding rear window, while the rear bench seat has a 60:40 split fold function with storage space under the cushions.

As a full-size pick-up, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium is larger than most other dual-cab utes on sale in Australia.

It measures 5931mm in overall length and 2086mm wide, which makes it approximately 700mm longer and 200mm wider than a Toyota Hilux, as an example.

Sure, that means the Silverado is a big car. But all transfers to create a much larger cabin with ample space for five adults, and a bigger tray that can carry larger and longer items in the back.

Front seat occupants are treated to generous and supportive ventilated seats with 10-way power adjustment that offer a commanding view of the road ahead, while having plenty of head and shoulder room.

Those in the back have rear air vents and USB power connectors as well as significantly more legroom (1102mm) than most other dual-cab utes as well as wide-opening doors with standard skid plates for easy access. The Silverado caters to new families too with three child seat anchor points across the rear bench.

The rear tray measures 1776mm long and 1813mm wide, which is big enough to fit an Australian pallet between the wheel arches.

Beyond its physical dimensions, the Silverado has a host of smart solutions to make carrying a heavy load easier, including a powered rear tailgate, LED lighting, 12 tie-down points and a standard spray-on bedliner. Uniquely, the driver can activate a camera view of the bed through the display screen in the cabin to ensure whatever is in the tray remains secure while on the road. That’s clever.

Building on that technology, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZLT Premium features a comprehensive suite of advanced safety systems that ensures it is comfortable and convenient drive in any condition, whether that be navigating the urban jungle, on the farm, trekking through the toughest terrain and towing a large caravan, boat or trailer.

Among its many features, the Silverado has autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and rear cross traffic alert. That’s on top of the protection delivered by six airbags.

Cleverly, the Silverado uses its array of cameras and sensors around the car to make sure its easy to drive within the city limits, with 14 different high-definition camera views on the display screen, front and rear parking sensors.

Here’s the kicker, especially for enthusiasts that have grown up with Australia’s appetite for muscle cars, as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium features the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine in its class, a 6.2-litre EcoTech3 powerplant that produces 313kW of power and 624Nm of earth-moving torque.

Similar to the thumping heart of the Corvette sportscar, the 6.2-litre V8 provides effortless performance with a characterful soundtrack to match thanks to its dual active sports exhaust.

It is paired to a 10-speed automatic gearbox that delivers seamless and smooth transitions between the ratios, which is fitted with a standard auxiliary transmission cooler that provides security when towing heavy loads.

The gearbox is linked to a heavy-duty four-wheel drive transmission with a low-range transfer case and four drive modes (2WD Hi, 4WD Auto, 4WD Hi and 4WD Lo) that are activated via push button controls.

Combined with the standard Z71 Off-Road Suspension package with Rancho twin-tube shock absorbers and 228mm of ground clearance, the Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium delivers rugged, go-anywhere capabilities.

The Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium stands out from the competition when it comes to handling heavy loads with ease. Its tray area is not only larger but also more versatile than many other dual-cab utes, offering a solid payload capacity of up to 748kg.

But where the Silverado really shines is in towing capability. Whether you're hauling heavy machinery, a caravan, horses, a boat, or a race car, it’s equipped with advanced features that make towing a breeze. With a maximum braked towing capacity of 4500kg (when using a 70mm tow ball), you'll be ready for just about any towing task.

It also comes fitted with a 12-pin wiring harness and an electric trailer brake controller as standard, so the only thing left to add is a tow hitch and ball, which you can easily choose from its range of genuine accessories.

The Silverado’s Trailering App is where the real innovation lies. It offers unique trailer profiles and a suite of tools designed to make towing safer and more straightforward. These include a pre-departure checklist, light sequencing, maintenance reminders, and safety alerts.

The system also integrates with existing safety features like the automated cruise control with Cruise Grade Braking, which downshifts on long descents to protect your brakes, and the StabiliTrack stability control with Trailer Sway Control, which applies brakes to individual wheels and adjusts power if it senses the trailer swaying.

An additional standout feature is the trailer theft alert system. If the trailer harness is disconnected while the vehicle is locked, it triggers an alarm and flashes the headlights.

To make hitching easier, the parking camera system offers three views: a top-down look at the hitch for precise alignment, a split view combining top-down and rear perspectives, and a bird’s-eye view that shows the hitch and its surroundings. And when you're on the move, the clever camera system can make your trailer seem “invisible,” offering a clearer view of the traffic around you—reducing the stress of towing large loads like a trailer, van, or boat.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ is more than a capable all-rounder. It’s among the best at every discipline for dual-cab utes.

First of all, it looks stylish and classy on the outside that it could easily blend into the carpark on the high streets of Australia’s wealthiest suburbs, and the cabin is just as spacious and luxurious as any European luxury sedan or SUV with the latest in cutting edge digital technology and conveniences.

On top of that, it’s easy to drive, even around town, thanks to the effortless power of its brilliant V8 engine, seamless 10-speed transmission and sure-footed dynamics. And it will go anywhere outside of the city limits too.

But, more than anything else, the Silverado is a champion at towing. And, for many Australians these days – farmers, tradies, families travelling the country and anyone with a weekend play toy on four legs, the water or a racetrack – the Silverado is the perfect lifestyle accessory.

Model: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 313kW
Torque: 624Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic, 4WD
Fuel use: 12.2L/100km
Towing Capacity: 4500kg
Payload: 748kg
Price: From $130,500 (plus on-road costs)