Staying Ahead of the Curve With the Fourth-Generation Chevy Silverado 1500

Drivers seeking a Chevy Silverado 1500 for sale certainly have plenty of choices. Between the countless trims, optional equipment packages, and individual model years, no two Silverado pickups are 100 percent identical. While some are more geared towards life as a daily driver or reliable family vehicle, others are designed with more extreme applications in mind. The fourth-generation Silverado 1500, first unveiled in 2019, is a perfect example of this versatility. Chevy has been working overtime to integrate new performance-, style- and tech-related advancements into its best-selling pickup, and the results speak for themselves.

So how has the Silverado 1500 evolved over the course of the fourth generation, and what features has Chevy introduced to keep the pickup relevant in a rapidly changing market? Let’s take an in-depth look at each offering since 2019 and see how the Silverado stays at the top of its game with each passing model year.

2019

The debut of the fourth-generation Silverado 1500 ended a half-decade of anticipation, and it was well worth the wait. Aside from the styling changes that come with any new generation, the highlight of the 2019 model could be found under the hood. Chevy introduced two new engines for the new model year: a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel and a 310-hp turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four. A little forced induction goes a long way toward helping the Silverado maintain its performance-minded resume.

The turbo-diesel’s 277 hp might not turn many heads, but it’s 460 lb-ft of torque is another story altogether. The 2.7-liter’s 310 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque represents a well-rounded base option, especially when you consider the engine’s above-average fuel economy that clocks in at 20 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. This feat is made possible thanks to Chevy’s Dynamic Fuel Management technology, which has also been expanded to the truck’s two V8 engines.

The new fourth-gen model sets itself apart with a new grille, split light housing, and some slick aero elements, but the real standout from a design perspective would have to be the new RST trim. A body-colored grille, mirrors, door handles, and bumpers tie the truck together, giving it a sporty look that immediately distinguishes it from the rest of the trim ladder.

Another new trim in the Trail Boss adds some off-road capability to the full-size pickup, from a two-inch factory suspension lift and off-road tires to all the goodies from the Z71 Off-Road package. Chevy also expanded the Silverado’s cargo bed and shaved 400 lbs from the fourth-generation Silverado, upping the truck’s cargo and towing capacity for improved functionality. A power tailgate and a new trailering app make towing and hauling easier than ever, while the interior gains a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, an available wireless charging pad, and a new arsenal of advanced safety features.

2020

Even after only one year on the market, Chevy couldn’t help but tinker with the fourth-generation Silverado. The 2020 model saw the brand introduce a range of new features and engine options, with the most notable addition being the expansion of the 6.2-liter V8 and 10-speed automatic transmission across much of the lineup. With a maximum towing capacity of 13,400 lbs, 420 hp on tap, and a scintillating zero-to-60-mph time of just 5.4 seconds, the V8 has the potential to transform any of the truck’s trim into a true performance machine. The Silverado 1500 also gained a Duramax diesel 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that churns out plenty of power with 460 lb-ft of torque to its name.

The 2020 Silverado received some important updates to its portfolio of safety-enhancing advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), including an extensive multi-view camera system borrowed from the Silverado HD and a new adaptive cruise control feature that allows drivers to sit back, relax, and lay off the gas pedal when cruising the highway. Add in the pickup’s available forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring rear cross-traffic alert lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist and you’ll feel safer than ever when you climb behind the wheel of the 2020 Silverado. The 2020 Silverado rounds out its roster of updates with a new vertical trailering mirror with power-folding, -extending, and adjustment capabilities, as well as a new Carbon Black Metallic exterior color option and the introduction of SiriusXM 360L on the LT trim and above.

2021

The Silverado has never been afraid to put in some hard work, but the popular pickup doubled down on its industrious reputation with the introduction of the 2021 model year. Not only did the Silverado gain the GMC Sierra’s ingenious Multi-Flex tailgate, Chevy also upgraded the maximum towing capacity of the truck’s six-cylinder diesel and four-cylinder gas engines by a considerable margin. The diesel sees a nearly 2,000-pound improvement to its maximum towing capacity for a new grand total of 9,500 lbs, while the four-cylinder engine enjoys a 37 percent increase that gives the Silverado’s base engine a hefty 9,600 lbs of pulling power.

Increased towing capacity isn’t the only improvement that makes the 2021 Silverado more work-ready than ever. The pickup also gains a full suite of new trailer-assistance tech like a trailer-length indicator, cargo bed camera view for smoother connections, and a jackknife alert feature that’ll help drivers avoid some of the worst towing-related outcomes.

Tech upgrades include the introduction of modern connectivity apps like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a new Safety Confidence Package for the WT, and Custom trims that feature forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and front pedestrian braking, but the 2021 Silverado’s most significant advancement can be found at the end of the cargo bed. The new Multi-Flex Tailgate can seamlessly transition between six different functions: extending the bed, acting as a load stop, doubling as a handy work surface, or improving cargo bed access by transforming into a knee-high step. These types of multi-function tailgates have since become a more popular feature in the pickup segment, but the 2021 Silverado was one of the first to embrace this clever design.

2022

A mid-cycle refresh gives automakers an opportunity to bring a truck up to date without totally reinventing the wheel. Four years into its fourth generation, the Silverado 1500 was treated to its own mid-cycle refresh with Chevy restyling the truck both inside and out, packing in some cutting-edge tech and rolling out a new off-road-focused model that makes the 2022 Silverado the most rugged version to date.

We’ll start at the front, where a restyled grille and bumper bring every Silverado trim firmly into the modern era. The cabin follows suite with a new 13.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system dominating the dashboard on some of the more premium models. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster brings some welcomed futurism into the mix, allowing drivers to customize their layout and monitor relevant driving metrics at a glance.

Chevy has also infused the interior with a new slate of premium materials, a seemingly minor touch that makes all the difference when it comes to keeping pace with the competition. Many previously optional safety features become standard for the new model year, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist, but it’s the addition of GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving technology for the High Country trim that represents the most alluring upgrade for 2022.

While these styling and tech features are worth a closer look, it’s the new ZR2 trim that really turned some heads going into 2022. Designed with backwoods adventure in mind, the ZR2 trim turns the truck into a no-holds-barred off-road machine complete with Multimatic spool-valve dampers, robust underbody skid plates, 33-inch all-terrain tires and more. With standard 4WD and 420 lb-ft of torque on tap, the ZR2 is ready to chew through mud, crawl over rocks, or speed through the sand at a moment’s notice.

2023

For some pickup drivers, there’s no substitute for a good diesel engine. Between the improved towing power, durability, fuel efficiency and the sort of low rev torque that comes in handy on challenging off-road terrain, diesel engines are the perfect pairing for a hardworking truck like the Silverado 1500. The truck’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax was already a standout from a performance perspective, which is why the decision to update the engine came as such a pleasant surprise in 2023. Chevy graced the diesel with a freshly tuned turbo, fuel injectors, new pistons, and a redesigned combustion bowl to increase Duramax’s output by 28 hp and 35 lb-ft of torque. That brings the engine’s stats up to 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque with a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 lbs—a number only matched by the 6.2-liter V8.

2023 was also the year the ZR2 Bison entered the fray, leveling up the existing ZR2 trim thanks to a generous complement of heavy-duty equipment from the off-road and overlanding experts at American Expedition Vehicles (AEV). The trim includes everything you need to conquer the road less traveled, from AE-stamped front and rear bumpers and five hot-stamped boron steel skid plates to a three-piece durable steel front bumper, steel rocker panel protection, and black 18-inch AEV wheels wrapped in 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires.

2024

The Silverado 1500 might be settling into its fourth generation, but Chevy knows that a brand can’t simply rest on its laurels in today’s ultra-competitive pickup market. In an effort to make the 6.2-liter V8 sound a little meaner, Chevy has introduced a new Active Exhaust feature that ensures a resonating rumble from the 420-horsepower engine. The Active Exhaust feature can be activated whenever the Silverado is in Sport Mode, a unique setting that also tightens the truck’s steering response, increases suspension responsiveness, adjusting the transmission’s shift points, improves the throttle response and more.

Chevy expanded the Midnight Edition package to the High Country trim, allowing the range-topping trim to take advantage of the performance goodies from the Z71 Off-Road package. From Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac off-road tires and black 18-inch wheels to black door handles, a black grille and black bumpers, the Midnight Edition gives the truck a moody makeover that instantly sets it apart from the crowd. Those looking to enjoy these darker styling elements without shelling out for the off-road tires should look into the Blackout appearance package which is extended to the Silverado’s Custom, Custom Trail Boss, RST, and LT Trail Boss trims. The metallic Lakeshore Blue and Slate Gray exterior exterior colors also make their way onto the options list for 2024.

2025

The 2025 Chevy Silverado introduces some contemporary color options for the new model year in the form of Cypress Gray and Riptide Blue Metallic. Aside from these new hues the Silverado remains largely unchanged, sticking to the same time-test formula that’s brought the full-size pickup so much success in the past and rocketed it up the sales charts to become one of America’s best-selling pickups.

The Evolution of the Chevy Silverado Continues

The fourth-generation Chevy Silverado has made plenty of waves since it first hit the market in 2019. A commitment to continual improvement has kept the full-size pickup ahead of the game and at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to discussing today’s best full-size models. There’s a reason that Chevy routinely sells more than a half-million Silverado 1500s every year. The brand has found a unique recipe for success, combining robust performance features and advanced tech with sleek, modern design and the type of comfort and convenience elements that help give the Silverado an edge in the hotly contested segment.

Whether you’re looking for a quality, pre-owned fourth-generation model or want to upgrade to the latest and greatest model, Riverton Chevrolet is your one-stop shop for all things Silverado. We offer a wide selection of both new and used Silverado pickups, allowing customers to find a trim and model year that fits their own unique driving needs. Stop by today and see why so many drivers have found their happy palace behind the wheel of a Silverado 1500.