Driven: 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST First Edition
2024 | chevrolet | chevrolet silverado ev | evs | reviews | truck reviews
While it shares a name with Chevy’s most popular pickup, the Silverado EV is a totally different vehicle. Riding on GM’s Ultium electric platform, the top-of-the-line RST First Edition is one of the most versatile trucks we’ve ever driven. It offers exceptional driving range, carries larger items than most pickups, and can even power your home in an emergency.
Many people have commented that the Silverado EV bears a resemblance to the discontinued Chevrolet Avalanche, which was basically a Suburban with a short truck bed out back. While there are certainly some similarities, like the sloped body panels behind the cabin, the Silverado EV is anything but retro. It was built from day one as a pickup and is one of the most technologically sophisticated models on the market today. The truck's modern aesthetics are immediately apparent from its smoothly curved front end and horizontal LED accent lights that span the width of the truck. The RST model features a sporty hex weave lower grille and rolls on enormous 24-inch alloy wheels.
Underneath its body is where the magic truly happens. The Silverado EV rides atop a large skateboard packed with batteries. Built on GM's modular Ultium electric vehicle system, the RST First Edition gets a massive 200 kWh battery pack capable of delivering up to 440 miles of driving range. That's connected to a pair of motor drive units that provide up to 754 horsepower and 785 lb-ft. of torque. The truck can tow up to 10,000 pounds and has a 1500-pound payload capacity. Its battery charging system is compatible with DC fast chargers up to 350kW, and Chevy says you can top up 100 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes. Granted, with a battery this large, it'll take a whole lot longer to charge it from 0 to 100%, especially at home. On one of GM's high-throughput 19.2kW Level 2 home chargers, adding 34 miles of juice takes an hour. And if you have any concerns about longevity, Chevy warranties the battery and electrical systems for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Beneath the hood, you won't find an engine. Instead, there's a nicely sized frunk, or as Chevy calls it, an "eTrunk," that can carry up to 10.7 cubic feet of cargo. The space is great for backpacks, groceries, tools, or anything else you want locked up and out of sight. Under here, you'll find the first of the truck's numerous AC power outlets. When fully equipped, the Silverado EV has 11 AC outlets scattered between its frunk, interior, and bed. All but one of those delivers 110-volts, while there is a single 220-volt outlet in the rear of the bed. These outlets can provide up to 10.2 kW of electricity for powering tools, lights, coffee makers, or other items at a campsite, job site, or tailgate party. It can also work with ULTIUM's vehicle-to-home technology to power an entire home during a power outage. We got to see this system in action and even enjoyed dinner in a Silverado EV-powered home.
We got our first taste of what this EV's powerful motors and batteries can deliver on an improvised drag strip on private property. By putting the truck into its Wide Open Watts (WOW) mode, it maximizes low-end torque and can launch the truck from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.3 seconds. That's not too shabby for a vehicle that weighs more than 8,500 pounds. We also got to test out the truck's ample brakes at the end of the road with a hard stop and then its reduced turning radius thanks to its four-wheel steering system. That technology allows the 233.1-inch-long truck to negotiate tight corners like those in parking garages as well.
Thanks to its low center of gravity, the Silverado EV feels planted and easy to drive for its size. The air suspension system helps provide a cushioned ride, decreases ride height by up to 2 inches for loading and highway driving, and raises it by up to 2 inches for increased ground clearance. Our truck came equipped with Super Cruise technology, which provides hands-free driving on hundreds of thousands of miles of U.S. highways. It works brilliantly, maintaining speed, a safe distance, and keeping the truck centered in the lane. It can even change lanes automatically if it finds the opportunity to pass slower-moving vehicles safely. The only thing it asks of you is that you keep your eyes on the road. If you're not paying attention, the system will deactivate. The version of Super Cruise installed on the Silverado EV also works while towing a trailer.
Like other modern Chevrolet trucks, the Silverado EV is available with a Multi-Flex tailgate. In addition to functioning as a standard tailgate, it folds at mid-point, providing a work surface in its upright position, a backstop for longer items in the bed, and a weight-bearing step when in its lower position. The smartly designed bed has built-in indentations where you can place boards for stacking two layers of cargo, as well as bed lighting and plenty of AC outlets. There are also bumper steps that make it easier to access the bed's contents. Things get even more interesting at the front of the bed.
If there's one must-have feature in the Silverado EV, it's the Multi-Flex Midgate. This allows you to fold down the entire back wall of the cab to place longer items inside the truck bed. In standard mode, the bed holds items up to 5 feet 11 inches long, but with the midgate folded and out of the way, that increases to 9 feet. Open the tailgate and raise the backstop, and this truck will carry items up to 10 feet 10 inches long.
Operating the midgate is easy, too. After learning where all the latches and buttons are, the whole process can be done in less than a minute - and by one person. The sequence goes like this: 1) lift and fold the rear seats forward; 2) unclip the rear window; 3) stow the glass securely in the back wall; 4) push the electronic release button twice to drop the wall flat to the floor. In addition, you can drop just part of the midgate and still use one of the rear seats. Remember what we said about this truck being versatile? And yes, we know Chevy borrowed this idea from the Avalanche, but it's even better executed and faster to perform in the Silverado EV.
The interior of the RST First Edition features seats wrapped in black leather with red stitching and piping along the edges. This theme continues across the dashboard and on the flat-bottomed sports steering wheel. The overall look is sporty and modern, though for a $95,000 truck, we were hoping to see fewer hard plastics - especially on the door panels and center console. We're not sure when automakers will learn that piano black plastic is a bad idea - it's a magnet for dust and fingerprints and scratches easily.
Technology abounds in the Silverado EV, with access to its systems controlled through an 11 inch digital instrument panel and a 17 inch touchscreen. Other than climate controls and volume, everything is controlled via the touchscreen. The system is backed by Google technology, which means you can log into your Google account, access apps in the Google Play Store, and ask Google for directions, news, and information. There's nice integration between the vehicle and this system as well. For instance, when you pull up a map, it shows you how much battery charge you'll have left when you reach your destination. Chevy made the decision to exclude Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality from its EV lineup, which is disappointing, especially for those of us with huge Apple Music libraries or who like to use iMessage to communicate. Oddly, Chevy's gas-powered vehicles still get these features, so we hope they change their minds at some point down the road.
There is a lot to like about the cabin, though, including the cavernous center console, which has a 7-gallon storage capacity beneath the sliding cupholder. There are also storage pockets on either side of the console, as well as a shelf on the passenger side of the dash that's great for holding a phone or wallet. The front seats are mighty comfy and offer both heat and ventilation.
Rear seat passengers are treated to enormous amounts of legroom and headroom and will enjoy lots of light thanks to the fixed glass overhead. The outboard seats get heat, and the back of the center console provides access to cupholders, a pair of USB-C chargers,and a 110-volt outlet. As mentioned, these seats can fold in a 60/40 split, providing flexibility when opening the midgate. For some fresh air, you can pop out the rear window and stow it in the midgate behind the seats, too.
Priced at $94,500, the Silverado EV RST First Edition is by no means an inexpensive vehicle. It's also one of the most impressive pickup trucks we've had the pleasure of driving. It's fast, powerful, smooth-riding, and versatile for hauling people and cargo. The configurable tailgate and fold-down midgate up the ante in terms of cargo-carrying flexibility, and the battery system provides new ways to power your life even when you're off the grid.
