Drivers, your eyes aren’t deceiving you; there really are two entirely different versions of the 2022 Silverado to choose from. Representing more than a third of Chevy’s total sales, the Silverado is easily the brand’s marquee vehicle, but introducing two at once still seems a little excessive. That’s not exactly what’s happening here, but it can still be confusing. While a quick visit to your North Park Chevrolet, your San Antonio Chevy Silverado dealer, should clear up any confusion, those contemplating the 2022 Silverado vs 2022 Silverado LTD might appreciate a little context.

The 2022 Chevy Silverado LTD is a bit of an anomaly. Owing to an ambitious mid-cycle refresh and supply chain issues tied to the recent pandemic, Chevy was unable to launch the 2022 Silverado 1500 on schedule and settled for an interesting compromise. The automaker decided to release a minimally-changed LTD version for the time being, with the full release of the updated Silverado to follow in Spring 2022. The LTD features all the same trim options, colors, and available upgrades as the 2021 model but doesn’t incorporate the vast array of changes expected for the all-new 2022 model. The Silverado LTD is essentially a stop-gap measure intended to satisfy demand until Chevy can roll out its much-anticipated replacement, which puts more of a focus on the truck’s interior. 

If early reports are any indication, we’re more than happy to wait a little longer for the all-new 2022 Silverado to roll onto the lot. With an entirely reimagined interior, a bevy of new tech features, including one of the industry’s first applications of an intriguing new software platform, and the introduction of a high-performance off-road option, the 2022 Silverado is sure not to disappoint. Let’s see how it stacks up against the holdover model and what else drivers can expect from these latest iterations of the best-selling pickup. 

Which Interior Is Worth It? 

If there’s one area where the updated 2022 Silverados will put the LTD to shame, it’s the interior. The fourth-generation Silverado, launched in 2019, was no slouch in the technology and design departments, offering an 8-inch infotainment system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, Bose premium audio, and a multi-angle camera system. While impressive by 2018 standards, Chevy couldn’t predict the arms race for tech-heavy interiors that would grip the industry within the next few years, and the Silverado eventually fell behind competitors as drivers sought all the new bells and whistles. The 2021 model added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into the mix, but it still wasn’t enough for many drivers who had quickly become accustomed to refined, futuristic interiors offered on similar pickups in the class. 

The people spoke, and Chevy listened, taking the almost unprecedented step of announcing an interior refresh to all models LT level and up just three years into the fourth generation of Silverados. The overhaul is well-appreciated, even if it puts the full lineup of 2022 Silverados a little behind schedule and is easily noticeable as soon as you step into the cabin. Where the Silverado LTD retains the 2021 model’s 8-inch infotainment screen, the all-new 2022 version gets a massive upgrade boasting a 13.4-inch display. The difference is night and day, with the newer version not only being easier to see but also easier to interact with owing to its larger display. Divided into three columns, the display has dedicated sections for icons, menus, and maps. Configurable digital instrument clusters are the next big thing in dashboard tech, and the all-new Silverado’s 12.3-inch instrument display is an impressive example, bringing digital flexibility to one of the vehicle’s most important areas. 

The 2022 Silverado will also see one of the industry’s first applications of Google’s new Android Automotive operating system. Designed with the automotive market in mind, this open-source platform opens the door to near-endless customization of in-vehicle technology. The effort is a departure from the norm but could well signal the wave of the future. Since the introduction of dashboard infotainment systems, manufacturers have largely opted to create their own in-house solutions. The results varied, with some earning praise and others garnering negative reviews. With the introduction of technology like Android Automotive, that will likely soon become a thing of the past. Why reinvent the wheel when one of the world’s leading tech companies is already on the job? 

To be clear, Android Automotive is a distinct system from Android Auto, which was largely conceived as a way for Android-enabled smartphones to communicate with the vehicle’s infotainment system to display notifications and a limited number of apps through the vehicle’s dashboard display. Android Automotive, on the other hand, is an entire operating system onto which brands can customize user interfaces and integrate apps specifically designed to work with the vehicle. The system will not only allow brands to integrate apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant but also holds the potential to control everything from lighting and seats to cameras and air conditioning. While there are few details on what the debut of this technology will look like on the 2022 Silverado, it represents many intriguing new possibilities.  

Is It Still Stylish?

The interior upgrades on the 2022 Silverado aren’t limited to the tech department. Chevy has really approached this refresh from the ground-up and wasn’t shy about overhauling anything and everything that called for it. The all-new 2022 model has a distinctly more premium feel than the LTD, which integrates a little too much nondescript black and grey plastic in its overall design approach. The older layout does include some nice comfort features like a heated steering wheel, heated front/rear seats, and ventilated 10-way power front seats, but the overall execution is somewhat clumsy and outdated, which is especially disappointing given that the LTD only represents the third model year of the newest generation. 

Drivers might expect such aesthetics on an entry-level work truck, but when you start to get into the upper end of trim levels, they’re harder to explain away. In addition to the plastic overload, the glove box on the Silverado LTD sticks out like a sore thumb, disrupting the dashboard’s overall harmony with an inexplicably thick seam around the door itself. Drivers don’t generally navigate to the pickup sector for style points, but the LTD relies a bit too heavily on that logic. While these vehicles are often chosen for their rugged capability and not their looks, the LTD could have a harder time justifying its price tag given the shoestring execution. 

The 2022 Silverado is a noticeable upgrade, with a classy, understated look that integrates advanced technology into the dash in a more unobtrusive, natural manner. Gone are the chunky plastic contours, replaced with more streamlined design elements that lend an air of sophistication. While much of the credit can be given to the higher-quality materials, designers have employed a few simple design tricks to please the eye. Replacing vertical design elements with horizontal lines gives the new Silverado a less chunky look, drawing the eye to the left and right and making the whole cabin seem more expansive. The matte finish has a much more modern look to it, chrome accents set off the dash’s curves, and the LTD’s fake wood panels have been replaced by the real thing on the High Country trim, with open-pore wood adorning the console, upper glove box, and doors. Some higher-end trims will even have new interior color options, with Jet Black and Nightshift Blue to choose from. It’s like stepping foot inside an entirely new truck and is sure to appeal to even the most discerning pickup driver. 

Style changes aren’t limited to the cabin, with the exterior getting a bit of a makeover as well. While not nearly as exhaustive as the interior’s refresh, it does include some interesting new elements. New color options, selected in a joint effort between Chevy and long-time Silverado drivers, include Dark Ash, Sand Dune, and a Glacier Blue Metallic. The grille has also been redesigned, with the Chevy badge being pushed further up and changes to the bars. The grille design will be subtly different on each trim, making it easy to discern the difference between models at a quick glance. Lastly, one fun upgrade: the daytime running lamps will now play a startup animation whenever a driver approaches, starts, or leaves their vehicle.  

Are the Engines Still Good, and What Is the ZR2? 

The 2022 Silverado is a big step up in the engine department as well. In addition to upping from an 8 speed to a 10-speed transmission for the two V8 options, Chevy has retooled the pickup’s base model engine to outshine the competition, squeezing as much as 20 percent more torque out of the 2.7-liter, four-cylinder turbo thanks to a more rigid cylinder block and stiffer crankshaft. The upgrade gives even the base model up to 9,500 pounds of max trailering, an impressive feat on the lower end of the lineup. Another towing-focused upgrade sees a new frame and increased rear differential, which aid in cooling and up towing capacity to 13,300 pounds on Silverados equipped with the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel. The 5.3-liter (355 horsepower) and 6.2-liter (420 hp) V8 round out the engine options for the 2022 Silverado, leaving drivers with no lack of choices. 

As a holdover of the 2021 model, the Silverado LTD doesn’t see any notable performance upgrades aside from some standard engine upgrades. In fact, in some ways, the LTD is a step-down from its 2021 forerunner, with a number of options disappearing as Chevy focuses on the all-new Silverado. Gone are the 3.4-liter V6 engine option, as well as the 5.3-liter V8, though the LTD still has plenty of options to choose from with three powerful gas engines and one diesel setup. On the engine side, the Work Truck, Custom, and Custom Trail Boss now come standard with a 2.7-liter turbo I-4 engine, while the RST Crew Cab gets a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8. Work Truck drivers can now upgrade to the same 5.3-liter EcoTec3, and LT Trail Boss has an available Duramax Turbo-Diesel 3.0L LM2 I-6. 

On the trim side, the Double Cab and Custom Trail Boss trim levels are both nowhere to be found on the Silverado LTD. The holdover also lacks a number of storage solutions found on the previous model, like cargo tie-down rings and tiered storage, though these changes make sense as most drivers are content to wait for the all-new version. 

As far as the all-new 2022 Silverado is concerned, there are more options than ever as Chevy brings the off-road-ready ZR2 trim level to the fan-favorite pickup. Borrowing the badge from its midsize cousin, the Chevy Colorado, the ZR2 designation signifies the Silverado’s arrival as an off-road performance vehicle. This has become a hot sector as of late, with Ford and Ram’s offerings currently dominating the market, but the ZR2 represents an exciting new entrant. 

This isn’t some half-hearted attempt to capitalize on a hot trend in the pickup world; it’s a legitimate competitor with the sort of performance and mechanical upgrades required to hold its own with the other off-road beasts. The ZR2 is not only powered by a massive 6.2-liter V8 capable of churning out 420 horsepower; it also has the tires, dampers, and electronic locking differentials necessary for any serious off-road antics. The truck’s Multimatic 40mm DSSV spool-valve dampers are designed with three separate spool valves and fluid-filled chambers to keep the shocks cool in taxing conditions, and 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory off-road tires give the ZR2 all the grip you could ask for. 

The exterior itself is a sight more aggressive than the base Silverado. It not only sits higher than any other Silverado with a suspension lifted by two inches but also features the sort of bold red tow hooks and skid plates that will be well-appreciated when you’re in the middle of nowhere. The massive grille allows the naturally aspirated V8 to chug all the air it needs, and with a lineup-leading 31.8-degree approach angle, it can tackle even the most intimidating obstacles. Pair this well with a computer-controlled Terrain Mode that allows for one-pedal off-road driving, and you’ve got a fully capable off-road beast ready to hit the trail.   

Will You Get the Holdover LTD, or Will You Wait for the All-New Silverado?

With the all-new 2022 Silverado, Chevy has proven its ability to respond to criticism and work with customers to design a pickup that meets the lofty expectations it’s set over the years. The interior is night-and-day over the previous fourth-generation models, matching and even surpassing the competition in the realm of all-important interior tech and convenience. While we’re still eager to hear more about how Chevy will leverage Android Automotive to deliver a more personalized driving experience, the collaboration is sure to produce some interesting results. The restyled pickup almost seems like an entirely new generation, with extensive upgrades both inside and out, which give the Silverado the mid-cycle refresh it so deserved. Plus, exciting new trims like the ZR2 are sure to attract an entirely new segment of off-road-minded drivers who are eager to test the limits of performance. The 2022 Silverado represents a return to glory for the legendary pickup, and we can’t wait to get behind the wheel. 

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