2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
4th generation (2019–2026, refreshed for 2022); an all-new 2027 Silverado arrives late 2026
Spec plateChecked Sep 2026
- Starting price
- $36,900
- 4x4 from
- $41,500
- Max towing
- 13,300 lb
- Max payload
- 2,260 lb
- Most power
- 420 hp
- Ground clearance
- 11.2 in
ZR2
Our verdict
The Trail Boss models are the value play for trail use: 2-in lift, a real two-speed Autotrac case and an auto-locking rear. The ZR2 is the serious one, with DSSV dampers and lockers at both ends, but it costs more than $70,000 and tows about 4,500 lb less than the best-equipped Silverado. With a new generation arriving at the end of 2026, a discounted 2026 is worth pricing against it.
Best for
Full-size buyers who want a factory lift and rear locker (Trail Boss) or a desert-capable ZR2 with a diesel option and two lockers.
Skip it if
You'd rather wait for the redesigned 2027 Silverado, whose ZR2 moves to 35-in tires and a new 6.6L V8 option.
Strengths
- Four engines, including the 305-hp, 495-lb-ft 3.0L Duramax diesel (21–24 mpg combined in 4WD form)
- ZR2 combines Multimatic DSSV dampers with front and rear e-lockers
- Custom Trail Boss gets a 2-in lift, Autotrac two-speed and an auto-locking rear from $52,900
- Up to 13,300 lb towing and 2,260 lb payload
Weak spots
- ZR2 starts at $71,800 before destination, and it is the only trim with a front locker
- Some lower-trim 4WD models use a single-speed transfer case with no low range
- ZR2 tow ratings fall to 8,800 lb (6.2L) and 8,700 lb (diesel)
- A fully redesigned 2027 model is weeks away, so 2026 trucks are the outgoing generation
Capability vs other full-size trucks
- Cabs
- Regular Cab, Double Cab, Crew Cab
- Bed lengths
- 5.8 ft, 6.6 ft, 8 ft
- Fuel economy
- 15–24 mpg combined for 4WD models per fueleconomy.gov (gas 15–19; 3.0L Duramax 21–24; ZR2 15 with the 6.2L and 21 with the diesel)
- Pricing notes
- Excluding the $2,795 destination charge: WT Regular Cab 2WD $36,900; WT Regular Cab 4WD $41,500 (cheapest 4x4, per Cars.com). Chevrolet.com trim starts: Custom $42,400, LT $47,900, RST $51,300, Custom Trail Boss $52,900, LTZ $58,000, LT Trail Boss $59,700, High Country $62,900, ZR2 $71,800.
- Configurations
- Regular Cab (standard or long bed), Double Cab (standard bed) and Crew Cab (short or standard bed). Trail Boss models and ZR2 are Crew Cab 4WD only; ZR2 is short-bed only.
Off-road hardware
4WD / AWD system
Two 4WD setups. Trail Boss models and ZR2 get a two-speed Autotrac transfer case, which adds an automatic 4WD mode to 2H, 4H and 4-Low. Some lower-trim 4WD trucks use a single-speed transfer case with no low range; GM says those models get a Terrain mode that mimics 4-Low at crawling speed (stated for the identical 2026 Sierra 1500). GM does not publish the 4-Low ratio.
Locking differentials
ZR2 (and ZR2 Bison): front and rear electronic locking differentials. Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss: automatic locking rear differential (G80-type). Chevrolet does not spell out locker availability on the other trims on its consumer site.
| Approach angle | 33.5° |
|---|---|
| Breakover angle | 23.4° |
| Departure angle | 23.3° |
| Ground clearance | 11.2 in |
| Water fording | Not published |
Off-road tech
- Multimatic DSSV dampers (ZR2)
- Front and rear electronic lockers (ZR2)
- Two-speed Autotrac transfer case (Trail Boss, ZR2)
- Terrain mode (on 4WD models with the single-speed transfer case)
- Z71 Off-Road Package (Trail Boss)
Engines & transmissions
| Engine | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L TurboMax turbo I-4Standard on WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST and LT Trail Boss. | 310 hp | 430 lb-ft | 8-speed automatic |
| 5.3L EcoTec3 V8Standard on LTZ and High Country; available on WT Double/Crew Cab, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST and LT Trail Boss. | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic |
| 6.2L EcoTec3 V8Available on RST Crew Cab 4x4, LT Trail Boss, LTZ 4x4, High Country 4x4 and ZR2. EPA lists it on premium fuel. | 420 hp | 460 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic |
| 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel I-6Continues for 2026. Chevrolet lists it as standard on ZR2 and available on Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ and High Country. | 305 hp | 495 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic |
The off-road trims
Custom Trail Boss
2-in factory lift, Z71 Off-Road Package, two-speed Autotrac transfer case, automatic locking rear, skid plates, 18-in wheels with Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires; TurboMax standard, V8 or diesel optional.
LT Trail Boss
Same 2-in lift, Autotrac and auto-locking rear as the Custom Trail Boss with LT interior, 20-in wheels and the option of the 6.2L V8 or 3.0L diesel.
ZR2
2-in lift, Multimatic DSSV spool-valve dampers, front and rear e-lockers, cut front bumper, aluminum underbody skid plates, 33-in Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires on 18s; 3.0L diesel or 6.2L V8.
ZR2 Bison Edition (package on ZR2)
AEV front and rear bumpers, AEV hot-stamped boron steel skid plates for the differentials, transfer case and fuel tank, and gloss-black 18-in AEV wheels.
What's new for 2026
No powertrain changes, and the 3.0L Duramax carries on. The ZR2 now gets the Multi-Flex tailgate, the Technology Package (head-up display, rear camera mirror) and a more aggressive Sport-mode exhaust valve calibration as standard. A new RST Select package arrives, the Realtree package becomes a dealer accessory, and White Sands and Polar White Tricoat replace two colors. This is the last year of the generation.
Rivals worth a look
Sources & data notes
These specs were checked on September 24, 2026 against the sources below, starting with the manufacturer's own material. When a figure isn't published, we leave it blank instead of estimating. Ratings are maximums for the best-equipped configuration; confirm yours on the door-jamb labels.
Sources for this page 15
- chevrolet.comchevrolet.com/trucks/silverado/1500
- chevrolet.comchevrolet.com/content/dam/chevrolet/na/us/english/index/trucks/trailering-and-towing/2026_Silverado_1500_Max.pdf
- chevrolet.comchevrolet.com/upcoming-vehicles/2027-silverado-1500
- news.gm.comnews.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2022/aug/0816-bison.html
- news.gm.comnews.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2026/jun/0516-chevrolet-next-generation-2027-silverado.html
- news.gm.comnews.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/topic/us/en/2026/mar/0318-zr2.html
- gmc.comgmc.com/trucks/previous-year/sierra/1500
- gmauthority.comgmauthority.com/blog/gm/chevrolet/silverado/2026-chevrolet-silverado/
- gmauthority.comgmauthority.com/blog/gm/chevrolet/silverado/2026-chevrolet-silverado/2026-chevrolet-silverado-1500/2026-chevrolet-silverado-1500-updates-changes-new-features/
- gmauthority.comgmauthority.com/blog/gm/chevrolet/silverado/chevrolet-silverado-zr2/chevrolet-silverado-1500-zr2/
- gmauthority.comgmauthority.com/blog/gm/chevrolet/silverado/2027-chevrolet-silverado/
- gmauthority.comgmauthority.com/blog/2026/09/2027-chevy-silverado-1500-pricing-announced/
- cars.comcars.com/research/chevrolet-silverado_1500-2026/trims/
- edmunds.comedmunds.com/chevrolet/silverado-1500/2026/features-specs/
- fueleconomy.govfueleconomy.gov/ws/rest/vehicle/menu/model?year=2026&make=Chevrolet
Understand the hardware
