This week, we have driven the 2012 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew 4WD with the Duramax Diesel and Allison 6-speed automatic transmission all over Hill Country. The Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew is the General Motors “brother” to the GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Denali Edition with the same power train that we drove last week. Overall, they are the same truck, but with some minor cosmetic differences.
We find the 2012 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew 4WD with Duramax Diesel/Allison 1000 power train to be one serious work truck that doubles nicely as a family truck, but always is a solid performing work truck first. Where we feel the Sierra 2500HD Denali is more of a “gentleman’s work truck” due to its bit more upscale trim treatments, we see the Silverado 2500HD LTZ as a work truck with premium features added.
Though essentially unchanged for several years, the Silverado did receive several engineering improvements in 2010 and 2011 along with some exterior tweaks to the hood, grille and front fascia and some adds to technology features. Fundamentally, the Silverado has continued to be one very solid work truck in its current iteration.
For 2012 the Silverado 2500HD offers heated and cooled seats for LTZ trim models, four new exterior colors and two new interior color combinations to make 10 models available in the 2500HD line that include a new navigation radio with enhanced display and a hard drive for map data. A new Z71 appearance package is also available for LT and LTZ models that include a body colored grille surround with chrome mesh grille, body colored bumpers and lower fascia, distinct Z71 logo and other features.
The 2012 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew 4WD we tested price starts at $45,190 that includes the Vortec 6.0L V8 gas engine with 6 speed automatic transmission, custom leather appointed seating, Bose™ seven speaker sound system, USB port, dual zone automatic climate controls and a remote vehicle starter system.
Added items in the test truck included, off road suspension including skid plates ($295); LTZ package including locking tailgate, EZ lift tailgate, universal home remote, rear wheel house liner, adjustable pedals and rear park assist ($725); touch screen navigation system with CD/DVD player and satellite radio ($1,250); 20’ forged polished aluminum wheels and tires ($850), 6” tubular chromed assist steps ($689); heated and cooled seats front $650); rear vision camera ($450); head curtain air bags front and rear with seat mounted side impact air bags for driver and front passenger ($395); camper mirrors with power adjust ($55) and camper/fifth wheel wiring provision ($35).
What makes this truck majorly serious is replacing the Vortec gas engine with the Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel generating 397 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 765 lb.-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm ($7,195) with the Allison 6-speed automatic transmission ($1,200). This combination delivers exceptional performance and a tow capability of 13,000 pounds.
Delivered price for this truck as tested was $60,974.
As with the 2012 Sierra 2500HD Denali, the 2012 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4WD LTZ Crew is substantial in size and appearance. With the regular cargo box, it is a bit longer than a standard parking slot at the mall or grocery store. But, as with the Denali, the Silverado drives more solidly and crisply than its size would suggest. Acceleration is powerfully solid with the turbo charged Duramax. It easily comes to speed from a stop light or getting onto or passing cars on a freeway.
We took this Chevy Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew out on our favorite road course that includes the serious up and down, twisting two lane highway from Marble Falls Texas to Cedar Park (FM1431). The Silverado galloped easily and smoothly at 70 mph along the North shore of Lake Travis.
To test how well the Silverado maneuvers in tighter twisting roads, we ran down into the Lake Travis canyon at Volente and back to RR620 along 2679. The Silverado 2500HD braked, cornered and accelerated while executing tight and banked turns flawlessly at speeds up to 40 mph (as posted).
The cabin is nicely appointed with good materials, fit and finish. The crew cab seats five comfortably. The seat, head and leg room is very generous in the cockpit as you would expect. The back seat is a bit tighter for adult leg room if front bucket seats are pushed back full. The bench seat has a pull down console with cup holders, but no other convenience features are included standard. A rear seat entertainment system and power operated sliding rear window can be added.
Pickup truck owners tend to be very committed to their brand. Here in Texas, where one in five pickup trucks is sold, that commitment is even stronger. For those solidly committed Chevy Silverado owners, there is no other truck for them. Not even the GMC.
As automotive journalists, we talk to pickup truck owners in Texas and around the country almost every day. We hear from them constantly that their “brand” is the best pickup truck in the market and it would be a very cold day in South Texas before they would even consider switching brands.
The 2012 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4WD LTZ Crew with Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 and Allison transmission will not disappoint Chevy Silverado fans.
Jim Nelson is a member of the Texas Auto Writers Association
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