The Chevrolet Silverado EV went on sale a few months ago commercial work truck in WT trim, but now it’s ready to come home.
Deliveries of the top-of-the-line Silverado EV RST First Edition are officially underway.
The $96,395 model is a showcase for all of the features the full-size electric pickup has to offer and an impressive machine overall, but it’s not perfect.
Here are the big things that Chevy got right and wrong with its new flagship EV:
RIGHT: POWER
The Silverado EV RST has an all-wheel-drive system that’s rated at 754 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque, making it the brand’s most powerful truck ever. It can accelerate to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and tow up to 10,000 pounds without breaking a sweat.
WRONG: WEIGHT
The Silverado EV RST weighs around 8,800 pounds, thanks largely to its 205 kWh battery pack. It also has a payload capacity of 1,500 pounds, which puts its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 10,001 pounds and classifies it as a heavy duty truck.
RIGHT: RANGE
The upside of that battery pack is an estimated range of 440 miles per charge, by far the most of any full-size electric pickup.
WRONG: EFFICIENCY
Since the Silverado EV RST is a heavy duty truck it doesn’t have an official EPA efficiency rating, but the lighter, less powerful WT with the same battery pack is rated at 63 mpge (miles per gallon equivalent). The Ford F-150 Lighting delivers up to 70 mpge while independent tests suggest the Tesla Cybertruck, which also doesn’t have an EPA rating, gets more than 90 mpge.
RIGHT: STYLING
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think the Silverado EV looks sharp, though more like an updated Chevrolet Avalanche than any Silverado. The buttresses that connect the cabin to the bed do double duty as structural and aerodynamic enhancements.
WRONG: STYLING
While it has ardent fans and was undeniably cool in its own way, the Avalanche wasn’t exactly a best-seller and, unlike the Cybertruck, the Silverado EV is relatively ordinary. Also, the RST First Edition is only being offered in black or white, which don’t help it turn heads the way some of the future trim colors do.
RIGHT: GATEKEEPING
The Silverado EV’s resemblance to the Avalanche is more than skin-deep. It features an updated version of the Midgate, now called the Multi-Flex Midgate, which allows the 5-foot 11-inch bed to be expanded into the cabin by folding down the rear seats and removing the rear window, either together or separately, to create a 10-foot 10-inch load floor with the tailgate open. The Muli-Flex Tailgate can also be configured to create a load stop or step.
WRONG: LUXURY
The Silverado EV RST has a very roomy interior with attractivce styling, but if you asked someone how much it cost without telling them about the electric stuff, it’s unlikely that they’d guess close to $96,395. The trim and upholstery don’t quite live up to the price, but they are much nicer than the WT’s. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment system screens also look just like the ones in the $34,995 Chevrolet Equinox EV.
RIGHT: CRUISING
The Silverado EV RST has a fully independent suspension with computer-controlled air springs and rides more like a crossover SUV than a pickup, let alone a heavy duty truck, despite its enormous 24-inch wheels. It also comes standard with Chevy’s hands-free Super Cruise lane-centering adaptive cruise control, which works with a trailer attached.
WRONG: NOISE
The Silverado EV RST is very quiet as long as you’re on the move. Its low-speed pedestrian alert sound is very loud on the outside and seeps into the cabin too much, making being stuck in stop and go traffic that much more annoying.
RIGHT: MOBILE GENERATOR
As with a growing number of electric vehicles, the Silverado EV RST is equipped with power outlets and can double as 10.2 kW generator for working, camping or wherever you need some juice.
WRONG: HOME BACKUP GENERATOR
It can also be used as a home backup generator that can provide power for days or even weeks on a full battery, depending on how much you conserve. The issues with this are that the home integration system from GM Energy costs more than $7,000 not counting installation and, well, the truck needs to be home with a charge when the power goes out for it to be of any use. Plan to use it to store excess solar energy? Hopefully you work from home. It’s a nice bonus, but pricey. You might be better off just parking it next to the window closest to your refrigerator and getting out the extension cord when the power goes out.
RIGHT: TURNS
Pulling up close to the house shouldn’t be a problem with the Silverado EV RST’s four-wheel steering system, which provides a much smaller turning circle than a typical 19.4-foot truck’s. Its 360-degree parking camera also helps the driver maneuver.
The automaker provided travel to facilitate this report
