First drive: 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD [Video review]

The heavy duty pickup truck wars are heating up.

A year after introducing its all-new Silverado 1500, Chevrolet is rolling out a redesigned version of its hard-working Silverado Heavy Duty. Curious to sample the scaled-up version of Chevy's new Silverado, we hopped a plane to Bend, Oregon to put the new HD lineup through its paces.

Knowing the market

The heavy duty truck market is unique in that it really only has two types of buyers -- those that use their truck to earn a living and those that haul their heavy (and really expensive) toys. As such, Chevy designed the 2020 Silverado HD to cater to those two extremes.

Those buying a Silverado HD for work will be happy to know they're getting more for their money for the 2020 model year. And some of that more includes the truck itself -- the 2020 model is longer, wider and taller than the model it replaces. As a result, the Silverado HD is available with a best-in-class cargo carrying abilities (83.5 cubic feet with the 8-foot bed).

Chevy has also significantly improved the Silverado HD's base engine for 2020. Last year's 6.0L gas V8 has been replaced with a new 6.6L gas V8 that includes direct injection. Performance figures stand at 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque, representing improvements of 11 percent and 22 percent, respectively. A six-speed auto is the only transmission available with the HD's gas engine.

When equipped properly, the gas-powered Silverado HD can tow about 17,000 pounds. And to reduce the guess work when it comes to how much your truck can actually tow, Chevy is fitting every Silverado with a VIN-specific Trailering Information Label. In addition to providing information on a truck's max towing limit, the label also includes curb weight, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), gross combined weight rating (GCWR), max payload, max tongue weight, gross axle weight rating (GAWR) and fifth wheel and gooseneck ratings.

In order to reduce the stress of hauling a heavy load, every Silverado HD can be equipped with a network of 15 cameras. Those auxiliary cameras can be installed on a trailer to provide a live feed of whats going on in and even behind your trailer. Feeds from the camera system can be seen on the Silverado HD's infotainment screen, which is a nice bit of integration. However, a larger infotainment screen would greatly help the system's usability.

Drive time

Unlike Chevy's light-duty lineup, there are few models in the Silverado HD's mid-range. We spent time in the LT trim -- which falls smack-dab in the middle of the Silverado HD's five-trim lineup -- and it felt very basic. It had cloth seats, a pair of benches and only one USB port. It was also equipped with the standard gas engine rather than the optional 6.6L Duramax diesel that we'll get to later.

In addition to piloting our LT-trimmed truck unloaded, we were also able to sample its performance while hitched to a 12,000 pound trailer. Although that's well clear of the truck's limit by 5,000 pounds, the V8 struggled to pull the heavy load over the hilly roads that surround Oregon's Mt. Bachelor. High altitude undoubtedly sapped some of the V8's power, but the Silverado felt more like The Little Engine That Could than a heavy duty hauler.

At the other end of the spectrum we sampled a range-topping High Country model with the 6.6L Duramax diesel, which generates 445 horsepower and 910 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately we didn't get an opportunity to tow with the diesel model, but it's the engine to have if you planning on doing any serious hauling. When equipped properly, the Silverado HD diesel can tow 35,500 pounds, which is good enough for best-in-class bragging rights.

But even if you're not hauling the equivalent of a medium-sized mountain, the diesel is nicer to drive than the standard gas engine. Not only does the Duramax V8 provide gobs of torque for easy acceleration, but it's also extremely quiet. And then there's the fuel economy -- we saw low- to mid-20s in the Duramax diesel while you'll struggle to get in the mid-teens with the gas engine.

Obviously the majority of that fuel economy is down to the diesel engine, but Duramax models also benefit from having more gears; whereas the gas V8 uses a six-speed auto, the diesel V8 gets a 10-speed auto.

The interior in the High Country was definitely an improvement over the LT model we drove, but it's still disappointing for a high-end vehicle. The design is decidedly last-generation and the materials aren't as nice as they could be, especially when compared to Ram's latest heavy duty models. The Silverado's center screen also pales in comparison to the tablet-like unit available in the Ram.

For lower-end trims where durability trumps all else, the Silverado HD's interior is just fine. But Chevy kept harping on the fact that people that buy high-end Silverado HD models do so to tow toys that are worth more than their truck. Given that kind of clientele, the High Country's interior simply isn't up to snuff.

Ride quality across the board is about what you'd expect from a heavy duty truck. You feel more bumps and dips in the Silverado HD than you would in the 1500 model simply because its suspension is designed to handle heavy loads. But if you're buying a Silverado HD solely for comfort, you're missing the point.

Chevy is ramping up production of the Silverado HD with single rear-wheel, crew cab models. Dual rear-wheel models with varying cab sizes will come on line later this year.

Even though the single-wheel is the smallest HD model available, it still feels sizable. The front end of the truck is extremely tall -- making forward visibility tricky without employing the truck's front camera -- and standard towing mirrors make the Silverado HD feel even wider than it is. Bu if you want a smaller truck, Chevy will happily sell you a Silverado 1500 or a Colorado.

Pricing for the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD lineup hasn't been announced, but expect MSRPs to start in the $37,000 range. Opting for the Duramax diesel will likely raise that price point to $46,000. The High Country model should start at about $65,000.

Leftlane's bottom line

From an engineering standpoint, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD is an impressive machine. The 6.6L Duramax V8 is a powerhouse, providing the ability to go from 0-60 in 7.4 seconds and tow up to 35,500 pounds. The gas engine isn't in the same league as the Duramax when it comes to power or ability, but it's a solid entry-level engine that should provide years of dependability.

The 2020 Silverado HD also has a lot of nice baked-in tech, like its optional 15-camera system that provides views all around -- and even inside -- a trailer. We found the invisible trailer function -- which allows you to see "through” your trailer via a rear-mounted camera -- particularly useful.

But the aesthetics of the new Silverado HD are a let down. It's not a particularly attractive-looking truck from the outside, and the interior feels a generation behind -- especially when compared to the newest Ram. But if you care more about brawn than beauty, the 2020 Silverado HD might just be the heavy duty truck for you.

Photos courtesy of Chevrolet.