From Engadget · Tim Stevens · · 3m
2027 Silverado 1500: powerful engines, unfinished software
Chevrolet's new truck pairs bigger V8s with a three-display cabin and hands-free driving, but needs software fixes before it's ready.
In brief
Chevrolet's new truck pairs bigger V8s with a three-display cabin and hands-free driving, but needs software fixes before it's ready. The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offers new V8 engines, a three-display Android infotainment system and hands-free driving, but requires software updates to fix interface and safety…
Bigger engines, bigger thirst
The 2027 Silverado 1500 features two new V8 engines: a 5.7-liter with 402 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque, and a 6.6-liter with 481 horsepower and 501 pound-feet.
Four engine choices total
Chevrolet also offers a 2.7-liter turbocharged engine with 350 horsepower and 455 pound-feet, and a 3.0-liter Duramax diesel with 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque.
Diesel promises long range
The Duramax diesel is the most fuel-efficient option, with Chevrolet promising 900 miles out of the 34-gallon tank, though rising fuel prices make it less appealing than before.
Pricing spans $38,600
The Work Truck trim starts at forty one thousand three hundred ninety five dollars. The top-trim ZR2 costs seventy nine thousand nine hundred ninety five dollars after the two thousand seven hundred ninety five dollar…
Three displays plus heads-up
A 16.3-inch central touchscreen and 12.2-inch digital gauge cluster are standard. An optional heads-up display projects speed and safety info, plus an 11.5-inch passenger display with privacy filter.
Passenger screen streams video
The passenger display supports Disney+, Hulu, YouTube, iHeartRadio and Amazon Music, plus HDMI input. A three-prong outlet lets you plug in devices like a PlayStation 5.
Privacy filter limits viewing
The passenger display's aggressive privacy filter creates a vignette effect that fades the outer edges to black, making it distracting to watch. Driver and passenger cannot watch video together.
Passenger screen lacks navigation
The display cannot search for destinations or scroll maps, unlike some competitors. The truck has an AI-powered co-driver that can help, but it did not always work reliably in testing.
Android system has strengths
The Android-based infotainment is bright, clear and easy to reach. Google Maps is built in, and both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work wirelessly, a feature Chevrolet excluded from most EVs.
Interface has navigation quirks
Vehicle settings are scattered across multiple areas, with many hidden behind a tiny icon on the lower-left. The 360-degree camera view is also accessible only via small icons along the top.
Cameras aid towing and parking
Cameras beneath the ZR2 model show whether the rear differential is at risk. Wired remote cameras on trailers enable a transparent trailer mode so you can see behind when backing up.
Super Cruise works, mostly
The hands-free driving system was optimized for towing and kept the truck centered while pulling a 4,300-pound trailer on a bumpy road. However, it once tried to change lanes into a passing motorcycle.
Engines deliver strong performance
All three tested engines proved capable for towing and driving. The 5.7-liter V8 felt nearly as strong as the 6.6-liter on the road, and the four-cylinder should suffice for everyday use.
Ride quality balances comfort
The Silverado 1500 rides pleasantly on highways, with enough harshness to remind you it is a box-frame truck but not punishing. It is reasonably quiet at highway speed and roomy in the Crew Cab.
Software updates needed first
The Silverado is an impressive package but needs software updates to reach full potential.The reviewer averaged 16.2 miles per gallon in a 5.
The bottom line
The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offers new V8 engines, a three-display Android infotainment system and hands-free driving, but requires software updates to fix interface and safety issues.
