Chevy's new Silverado EV electric pickup packs tons of technology and a massive battery rated for 440 miles. We take the Silverado EV for a first drive to see if it's good enough to put range concerns to rest.
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00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 Is this the electric truck that finally puts everyone's range
00:21 concerns to rest?
00:22 The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST
00:26 is rated for a massive 440 miles, which is right up there
00:30 with the range for a similar gas truck.
00:33 But truth be told, there isn't a gas Silverado
00:36 that's comparable to this electric truck,
00:38 because the Silverado EV is loaded with technology
00:41 and smart packaging ideas.
00:43 And it's smooth and quick and comfortable in a way
00:46 that gas trucks usually aren't.
00:49 You've noticed by now that it doesn't look
00:51 like your typical Silverado.
00:52 This truck spent a lot of time in the wind tunnel
00:54 to hit that big range number.
00:56 And you can see that in the sloped sail
00:58 panel between the cab and the bed
01:00 and the way every edge of this truck has been rounded over.
01:04 It doesn't look like a conventional pickup,
01:06 because it isn't one.
01:07 The RST punches through the air with 750 horsepower and 785
01:15 pound feet of torque.
01:16 Those are big numbers, but because it
01:18 weighs an incredible 9,100 pounds,
01:21 this truck is quick, but not bonkers quick
01:24 like the Hummer EV.
01:25 0 to 60 should take about 4.5 seconds.
01:29 On the road, standard air springs and adaptive dampers
01:32 give the Silverado EV a comfortable ride
01:34 in the suspension's Tour mode.
01:37 Bumping it up to Sport mode brings more compromises
01:40 than benefits, though.
01:41 The ride gets stiff and brittle, and you
01:43 hear every impact traveling up through the huge 24-inch wheels
01:47 and into the cabin.
01:48 In tight spaces, four-wheel steering
01:50 makes this big truck drive smaller
01:52 than it is with a turning circle that's
01:54 just a little larger than that of a midsize SUV.
01:58 Every electric truck needs at least one party trick
02:03 to set itself apart from the competition.
02:06 In the Silverado EV, it's a midgate
02:07 that opens to connect the bed and cab for extra long loads.
02:12 Fold the bulkhead forward, and the bed
02:13 extends from 5 feet 11 inches to 9 feet.
02:17 It's not a new idea.
02:18 The Chevy Avalanche did something similar
02:20 more than a decade ago.
02:22 In the Silverado, there's a new 60/40 split function,
02:25 so you can use the rear seats and the midgate simultaneously.
02:29 And if you leave the rear window and tonneau cover in place,
02:32 it creates a weatherproof, lockable space for your gear.
02:36 There's also a 10.7 cubic foot frunk where the engine
02:39 would be in a gas truck.
02:41 Like every full-size gas truck, the cabin
02:44 is absolutely huge with a limo-like rear seat.
02:47 But to fit the battery under the truck without hurting headroom,
02:50 both the front and rear seat bottoms sit close to the floor.
02:54 And the roof is a large pane of glass with no sunshade.
02:57 That's a trend we'd like to see stop.
03:01 The 17.7-inch screen runs Google Maps, Google Assistant,
03:04 and your favorite music streaming app natively.
03:07 But it doesn't support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto,
03:10 which will be a deal breaker for some buyers.
03:13 Super Cruise, GM's hands-free driver assistance system,
03:16 comes standard and is as impressive as it's ever been.
03:20 It works with a trailer attached and can change lanes
03:23 automatically to pass slower traffic when you aren't towing.
03:26 GM says you'll be able to use it on 750,000 miles of roads
03:30 in 2025.
03:32 With the arrival of the Chevy Silverado EV,
03:34 five brands are now fighting over a small piece
03:37 of electric pickup pie.
03:39 Chevy's mid-gate and long range should help it stand out.
03:41 But at $96,395, the Silverado EV RST 1st Edition
03:47 won't do anything to silence criticism
03:50 that today's EVs are too expensive.
03:53 Stay tuned to MotorTrend.com for more coverage
03:56 of the Silverado EV, including real-world range and fast
03:59 charging tests.
04:01 (dramatic music)
04:04 you