2017 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Review

We recently spent time in the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD in Moline, Illinois, where we drove the truck on the surrounding highways and also witnessed the truck’s towing abilities. Moline, a city on the border with Iowa and overlooking the Mississippi River, is also home to John Deere’s world headquarters, and their construction tractors served as the equipment to test the Silverado 3500HD hauling capabilities. These are six things we learned while driving Chevy’s most powerful Silverado ever.

For 2017, the Chevy Silverado 3500HD can be powered by a new version of the 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V-8 engine delivering 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers represent a 19 percent increase over the previous Duramax and make the Silverado HD the Chevy vehicle that produces the most torque. During our short drive time with the 3500HD, we noticed an instant delivery of power that got the pickup moving quickly on the highway.

Another new feature in the 2017 Silverado 3500HD is a hood scoop, which allows cool and dry air to flow into the engine. The filter in the new air intake system prevents water or snow from going into the engine, allowing only cool air to flow. Chevy says the new system also permits the Duramax to maintain more power and speed when trailering in hot climates.

Don’t Judge a Book by its CoverAlthough many see this vehicle as a work truck, Chevy equipped the 3500HD with plenty of nice and confortable touches. The High Country variant, which is the top trim grade, comes with full leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, a Bose premium audio system, dual-zone climate control, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Chevrolet MyLink, 4G LTE connectivity with a Wi-Fi hot spot, and wood finishes inside the cabin.

The Towing TestBecause I lack a commercial driver’s license, I had to sit in the front passenger’s seat while Eric Stanczak, chief engineer of the truck, towed 22,000 pounds. (Note that the max towing is 22,700 pounds for four-wheel-drive trucks.) I was riding in the LTZ trim with a dual rear wheel, four-wheel drive, and the 6.6-liter diesel engine. A 7,300-pound Big Tex gooseneck trailer was used to tow a 14,700-pound John Deere backhoe loader, and the Silverado did its job effortlessly.

Packages for Your NeedsDepending on what you’ll use the truck for, you’ll be glad to know there are a few packages for your needs. The Snow Plow Prep package, for instance, comes with a roof emergency light, a forward lamp wiring harness, a 22-amp alternator, underbody shields, and heavy-duty front springs so you won’t get stuck in the snow. If you need a little more than that, the Alaskan Edition adds all of the above plus 18-inch black wheels with all-terrain tires, roof marker lights, a spray-in bedliner, and cool graphics on the body.

Safety FirstFor $450, drivers can get safety technologies designed to prevent a collision, including lane departure warning, forward collision alert, and front and rear park assist. These features alert the driver through a vibration on the seat and sounds in the cabin, and they are standard on High Country models.

PriceThe 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD starts at $36,005 but can quickly escalate to higher numbers depending on the trim level and body configurations. A High Country variant equipped with the Duramax diesel engine, a gooseneck ball and chain tie-down kit, and a Hitch package can go for upward of $70,000—a clear sign of how expensive the truck market has become.

The 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD continues to be built in Flint, Michigan, and is available now in Chevy dealers.