2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD ZR2

Overview

The 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 is a milestone in truck history because it introduces drivers to a new era of capability on and off the pavement. For decades, trucks were little more than workhorses meant to tackle the demands of the road without concern for comfort or connectivity. AM/FM radios and power windows were once considered luxuries, and staying connected from the driver’s seat via a smartphone was unfathomable. The idea alone was limited to Hollywood and the silver screen.

Fortunately, times have changed, and Chevrolet has led the way with modern marvels like the 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2. The Silverado debuted in the late 1990s as a more sophisticated and better-equipped successor to the C/K Series, leaving drivers amazed by the truck's incredible comfort and ingenuity. Those characteristics have defined the Silverado ever since but take on a new meaning in 2024 as the Silverado 2500 HD makes history by getting its first-ever ZR2 treatment.

The 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 lives up to its heavy-duty name as a workhorse capable of towing and hauling heavy loads. Chevrolet guarantees as much by offering plenty of power across its multi-engine lineup, heightening its capability to get any job done. However, the real kicker is that the 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 isn’t just a work partner; it’s also an adventurer that can help you answer the call of the wild. With the ZR2 trim, the Silverado 2500 HD showcases its penchant for adventure and rolls off the factory floor with off-road components that ready it for the trail. It’s the perfect example of a truck that works hard and plays harder.

What can you expect from the 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2? How does the ZR2 treatment transform this already impressive powerhouse? What differentiates the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 and the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 Bison? It’s time to find out.

Performance

Two Powerful Engine Options

The Silverado 2500 HD is incredibly capable, but Chevrolet takes this capability off the pavement by giving the heavy-duty truck the ZR2 treatment in 2024. Available as a Crew Cab with a Standard Bed, the 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 rolls off the factory floor with a standard 6.6L V8 engine under its hood. The engine is mated to a 10-speed Allison transmission, which provides smooth gear changes as the engine produces 401 hp at 5,200 RPM and 464 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM. This output makes the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 incredibly agile. Moreover, it yields the highest payload of 3,397 lbs, making this workhorse capable of hauling heavy loads in its bed and exploring the unknown without missing a beat.

Chevrolet knows the appeal of its Duramax powertrain and gives adventurers a diesel option with the 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2. The Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo-Diesel is also mated to the Allison 10-speed automatic transmission but pushes the Silverado 2500 HD’s low-end torque to new heights and makes it an incredible workhorse that can pull up to 18,500 lbs. The numbers don’t lie, with the Duramax producing 470 hp at 2,800 RPM and 975 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 RPM. On the trail, the Duramax’s low-end torque is even more appealing because it allows the truck to effortlessly crawl over obstacles and meet the demands of more technical terrain.

Regardless of the power plant, Chevrolet gives you more control over the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2’s performance off the pavement by equipping it with Off-Road Mode. This feature, which is inspired by the ZR2 models in the Colorado and Silverado 1500 lineups, calibrates the Silverado 2500 HD for the trail. For example, it alters the throttle response and how the transmission shifts, finetunes the anti-lock brakes, and adjusts the traction and stability control to accommodate rugged terrain.

Off-Roading

The ZR2 Treatment

The 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 is the first heavy-duty truck in Silverado history to roll off the production line ready for the trail. Chevrolet started a trend with the Colorado ZR2, transforming the midsize marvel into a trail-worthy rig. Today, the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 marks the next member of the ZR2 family and proves it can work hard and play hard without missing a beat or breaking a sweat.

Chevrolet ensures as much by giving the Silverado 2500 HD its ZR2 treatment. This treatment outfits the ZR2 with an exclusive front grille, wheel moldings with integrated mudguards, and ZR2-specific badging. These features distinguish the truck aesthetically and complement other significant design details, like the 1.5-inch suspension lift and the more prominent 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires.

The Power of Collaboration

The Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 has even more components working behind the scenes to ready it for the trail. Chevrolet outfits the workhorse with unique upper and lower control arms in the front with specific steering knuckles and its racing-inspired Multimatic DSSV dampers. Chevrolet’s partnership with Multimatic to create these special spool-valve dampers differentiates the ZR2 models from other off-road-oriented rigs in the industry, replacing traditional shim-style dampers with a spool valve design for unlimited variability. The result is phenomenal, heightening the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2’s performance as it seamlessly shifts from the pavement to the trail. The precision is impeccable, giving you more control in every situation, whether towing a trailer or exploring the unknown.

While these upgrades give the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 an edge, Chevrolet takes the heavy-duty workhorse a step further with the ZR2 Bison package. The Bison is the result of Chevrolet’s collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles to build the ultimate off-road warrior. Where the ZR2 is tough, the ZR2 Bison is tougher and equips the Silverado 2500 HD with exclusive AEV elements, from 18-inch wheels and stamped steel underbody skid plates to stamped steel front and rear bumpers with integrated recovery points and winch provisions at the front.

Features

Unique Versatility

The 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 is one of the best-equipped and most versatile trucks in the segment because it doesn’t forget its roots. This truck lives up to its heavy-duty reputation but also introduces a new level of innovative technology and functional tools that make your life easier from the driver’s seat. We see this firsthand in features from the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2’s expansive suite of connectivity, driver-assist, and trailering tools to its functional tailgate and class-leading Durabed.

When it comes to functionality, the Silverado HD ZR2 is the perfect work partner. Its revolutionary Multi-Flex Tailgate and class-leading Durabed are an incredible combination that transforms how you use the bed of your truck. The tailgate offers six unique functions, from load two stops and a flat work surface to a full-width step that can support up to 375 lbs. This functionality complements the Durabed, which integrates 12 standard tie-downs that make it easy to secure your cargo, whether it’s lumber, dirt bikes, camping gear, or bulkier items.

Fun and Functional Technology

Inside, the Silverado HD ZR2 builds on its functionality by offering a suite of class-leading technologies. This adventure-ready truck features a modern cockpit dominated by a 12.3-inch configurable driver information center and a 13.4-inch infotainment display that gives you seamless access to your smartphone via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, the available 15-inch Head-Up Display takes your experience further on and off the pavement by adding an off-road inclinometer that gives you vital insight into the Silverado 2500 HD ZR2’s performance on the trail.

The 2024 Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 doesn’t lose sight of its purpose as a workhorse and offers an HD Surround Vision camera that provides a bird’s eye view of the truck. As with the rest of the Silverado lineup, the center display is also home to Chevrolet’s class-leading in-vehicle trailering app, which reflects the Silverado 2500 HD ZR’s work ethic and makes trailering loads of any size a breeze. This app lets you create custom trailer profiles, navigate pre-departure checklists, monitor diagnostics, and check the lights from the driver’s seat.