2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST Review: An Electric Conundrum

Chevrolet and Ford have been battling over consumer attention and market share for the better part of a century.

When one brand releases a new genre of vehicle, the other is usually quick to respond. So, with the Ford F-150 Lightning enjoying a relatively exclusive market, it was only a matter of time until Chevrolet dipped its toe into the segment as well. That challenge has arrived in the form of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV.

Unlike the Lightning though, the Silverado EV is not built on the same platform as regular, fuel-burning variants of the truck. The EV truck is based on the largest version of General Motors modular electric vehicle platform, shared with the Sierra EV and Hummer EV.

Even though it’s an entirely different vehicle, Chevrolet is calling the all-electric truck the Silverado for better name recognition. We think it should be called something different, but we’ll get to that later in the review. To start, two versions of the Silverado EV are available, the WT (Work Truck) as well as the RST. We got a chance to drive the latter.

What’s New for 2024: The Entire Truck

The truck is all new for 2024. Although some of the interior bits and technology are found in other Chevrolet vehicles, everything else is all-new in the EV. 

Exterior Style: Imposingly Stylish

At a length of 233.1 inches (5,920 mm), the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV is about a half inch longer than the Ford F-150 Lightning. It’s nearly four inches wider though, at 83.8-inches (2,129 mm). 

The RST trim is the top of the line and comes with features like a fixed glass roof and 24-inch wheels. Although those are massive wheels, the size and shape of the truck make them look perfectly suited for the vehicle. It helps complete a look that is full of road presence and quite pleasing to the eye. It’s like a sporty, futuristic Silverado when parked next to its gas-consuming sibling. 

The RST also includes a take on the Multi-Flex Tailgate that is found in a lot of GM's other pickup trucks. Unique to the Silverado EV though is the Multi-Flex Midgate. It allows larger items to be transported in the bed of the truck by folding down the rear seats and opening the back of the passenger compartment. 

There are two smaller doors on the bottom of the midgate that fold 60/40, allowing passengers and cargo to be transported at the same time. Above them, the rear window can be popped out and the support bar removed. The latter does require tools but leads to a nice big opening. 

If this all sounds familiar that’s because Chevrolet used a similar setup in the Avalanche pickup truck some 20 years ago. We think the Silverado EV should have been called the Avalanche EV to better differentiate the two vehicles, while still playing on Chevy’s truck heritage. 

Powertrain and Fuel Economy: Unleash the WOW

All versions of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV come with dual motors. In the WT they combine to make 510 horsepower (hp) and 615 pound-feet of torque (lb-ft). The RST trim packs up to 754 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque. We use the term up to as that maximum output is only achieved while using Wide Open Watts (WOW) which is the truck’s launch control system. 

By engaging WOW, the big pickup can go from 0 to 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds en route to a top speed of 113 mph. Launching without WOW slows things down considerably, and the 0 to 60 mph takes about an extra second and a half to complete. That’s because power output is much lower in the 2024 Silverado EV RST in all other driving scenarios. Chevrolet doesn’t provide the exact figure when WOW isn’t engaged, but we’d guess it’s closer to the entry-level WT’s power figures than those achieved when using WOW. 

In most driving situations the Silverado EV feels quick enough, but never outwardly fast like many other high-powered electric vehicles. Some of this can be attributed to the truck’s hefty curb weight. Although Chevrolet doesn’t provide specifics on this either, it’s been estimated to be in the 8,800 pounds (3,992 kg) neighborhood. 

With all that weight and power, the Silverado requires a large battery. Stuffed under the floorboard is a massive battery pack with over 200 kWh capacity. It allows the Silverado RST to travel up to 440 miles (708 km) on a single charge which is mega. Not many electric vehicles, especially pickup trucks, come close to that range. 

When the battery does run out, the truck is capable of recharging at speeds up to 350 kW which is important as the big battery pack takes a lot of juice to fill back up. For those with 50 kW plugs at home, the Silverado comes with a dual-level charging cable standard. 

Handling and Drivability: Surprisingly Nimble

A large heavy pickup truck with a long wheelbase isn’t going to set new standards in vehicular agility. That stated, the Silverado does maneuver better than something its size should. With an adjustable air suspension and four-wheel steering, the truck can negotiate tight parking lots and narrow streets better than some regular full-size trucks. 

Handling is adequate with the 275/50R24 tires doing their best to cling to the pavement. Since the Silverado EV is so heavy, the tires are inflated to 61 psi in the front and 68 in the rear. Standard on the Silverado EV is electronic four-wheel drive including a simulated low gear. 

For those looking to tow with their truck, the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado is rated to drag upwards of 10,000 pound (4,535 kg) when properly equipped. It also comes with a trailer brake controller inside the cabin. 

Ride Quality and Comfort: Space Aplenty

An advantage to a new platform with an adjustable air suspension is improved ride quality. Not only does the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST ride better than its gas-powered siblings, but there also aren’t many trucks on the market that can rival the ride quality. More than that, the truck is just easy to drive as it wafts down the freeway.

The driver and front seat passenger receive 8-way power-adjustable seats that are heated and ventilated. The outboard rear seats are also heated as is the steering wheel. Space up front measures at 43.9-inches (1,114 mm) of headroom and 44.8-inches (1,139 mm) of legroom. The driver’s seat feels as spacious as these numbers suggest, and the seats are comfortable for longer drives. 

Rear seat passengers still enjoy ample space with 38.7 inches (982 mm) of headroom and 44.3 inches (1,126 mm) of legroom. The pickup bed can hold 57.7 cubic feet (1,634 liters) of cargo while the front trunk is good for 10.7 cu ft (303 L) of gear.

Interior Style and Quality: We Have Some Problems

As useful as the power-operated front trunk is, it ended up being the Achilles heel of our Silverado EV tester. All week we used it without issue, but on one evening after lightly loading it for a family trip across town, an error occurred. The truck stated the front trunk was open even though it was firmly shut and latched. It would no longer power operate or open using the conventional controls. Only pulling on the emergency release wire located by the driver’s left knee unlatched the hood so we could manually open it. 

No amount of vehicle resets, or closing/opening procedures would cure the ailment. Although we knew the hood was firmly latched shut, the trunk did not believe so. Since it thought the trunk was open, speed was now hard limited at 25 mph, which meant our 20-mile trip to return the truck to the dealership would be long and slow. After doing a bit of research, this does not seem to be a reported issue from other Silverado EV owners, but we did find a few Hummer EV owners who did experience a similar situation.

The truck’s interior is nicely styled with Chevrolet’s dual-screen setup stretching along the dashboard. The black leather seats feature red contrast stitching which extends to the doors and dashboard. The vents also include a nice contrasting red stripe through the middle. Less appealing are the rear door panels which are mostly hard plastic and easily flex with minimal effort. It’s something that reminds us of compact cars of yesteryear and doesn’t belong in a truck at this price point. 

Tech and Safety: Great…Except for One Thing

The previously mentioned dual-screen setup consists of a 17.7-inch infotainment screen and an 11-inch somewhat customizable driver information screen. Rounding out the displays is a 14-inch color head-up display. Other standout features include hitch guidance with hitch view, a Bose audio system, power tilt steering, and a wireless phone charger. 

On a safety front, standard technology includes automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and braking, lane keep assist, forward collision alert, blind spot monitoring, and much more. Also included in our tester is one of our favorite features, GM’s Super Cruise hands-free autonomous driving system.

There is one thing missing on the truck though, Apple CarPlay. Chevrolet is using built-in Google exclusively on some of the brand’s new products. It’s a decision that underestimates a consumer’s smartphone brand loyalty and overestimates their willingness to sign up for a Google account, and potentially pay for an in-car data plan. In today’s smartphone-crazy society, we feel a lot of potential customers will skip over a vehicle lacking integration for their chosen device. We predict this is a decision that will be reversed in the near future, much like when Honda eliminated the volume knob. 

Final Thoughts: A Good Truck, A Good EV—But Not Without Faults

The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV is a conundrum. The truck is stylish, easy to drive, rides smoothly, is surprisingly nimble, and has incredible range. However, it’s heavy, has some low points in terms of quality, lacks Apple CarPlay, and wasn’t without issues during our time behind the wheel. 

For potential consumers, we recommend looking at the pluses and minuses highlighted throughout this review, and weighing each one in terms of their importance. If the pros are more important than the cons, then this could be the right all-electric pickup truck choice. 

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