2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Trim Levels, Configurations & Comparisons.

The Chevrolet Silverado is one of the best-selling trucks in North America. This is a full-sized pickup truck with three main configurations. It comes in 1500, 2500HD and 3500HD variations. This signifies a half-ton, three-quarter ton or one-ton truck with the HD standing for heavy duty. True to the HD designation, the 2500HD was designed for towing and hauling heavy loads.

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD has plenty of power and torque from either a gasoline or diesel engine. It can tackle rough terrain too with some serious off-road capabilities. This makes it a great truck for any type of worksite or even for some outdoor adventures. One can even purchase a Silverado 2500HD that's loaded with comfort and convenience features.

The Silverado 2500HD is really a great all-purpose truck. It's not just all about work, but can provide comfortable and reliable daily transportation too. It comes in five different trim levels. Here is an overview of each of the trim levels, how they compare and what the major differences are.

Compare the WT vs LT Trims. What is the difference?

The base trim level of the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is called the WT. This stands for work truck, signifying its bare-bones design. The next level up is called the LT. The WT and LT are offered with either 2-wheel drive (2WD) or 4-wheel drive (4WD). Both trims are available in Regular, Double and Crew-Cab variations.

The Regular Cab has two doors and is only available with a long cargo bed. The other two variations get the choice of a long bed or a standard bed. The Double Cab has extra room for passengers in the rear. The Crew Cab adds four full-sized doors and expands the backseat area even further.

No matter which of the trim levels is selected, the Silverado 2500HD comes stock with a gasoline-powered V8 engine. This powerful 6.6-liter engine can produce 401 horsepower (hp) with 464 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. A truck equipped with the gas V8 has a maximum towing capacity of 14,500 pounds (lbs) and a payload capacity of 3,817 lbs. Trucks must be properly equipped to reach the maximum numbers, and these can fluctuate a bit depending on the body style and drivetrain that's selected.

Every trim with the gas V8 gets a heavy-duty 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is electronically controlled and provides smooth, accurate shifting. Chevy also offers a Duramax Turbo-Diesel V8 for every single trim level. This engine choice means 445 hp and a massive 910 lb-ft of torque. With the diesel engine and the right setup, a Silverado 2500HD can tow 36,000 lbs and haul a payload of 7,442 lbs.

Both trim levels get anti-lock disc brakes for all four wheels. They both have an automatic-locking rear differential. The LT trim adds on an electronic-shift 2-speed transfer case. The WT has 17-inch steel wheels while the LT gets 17-inch machined-aluminum wheels. Both are outfitted with the same all-season blackwall tires.

The WT has a lot of black parts on the exterior, such as the door handles, mirrors and some trim. The LT has body-colored handles and mirrors. It also gets chrome bumpers in the front and in the back. Both trims offer halogen reflector headlamps, Incandescent tail lamps and daytime-running lamps. The WT has a standard locking tailgate, while the LT gets a tailgate with a power lock, a power release and EZ Lift Assist.

On the inside, both trim levels of the Silverado 2500HD have manually adjustable seats up front. These seats have four positions and cloth upholstery. The WT gets a 3.5-inch monochrome driver-information display. The LT upgrades this to a 4.2-inch color display. Both get the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System with a 7-inch display for the WT and an 8-inch touchscreen for the LT.

The infotainment system is easy to use and offers Bluetooth Technology to stream one's favorite tunes. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto apps work with this infotainment system as long as the owner of the truck has a compatible smartphone. These two models of the Silverado 2500HD get a basic stereo with an AM/FM radio and six speakers. The LT gets Chevrolet Connected Access and OnStar compatibilities as well.

The LT trim level adds carpeted floors to the interior. Chevrolet also throws in a free 3-month trial to SiriusXM Satellite radio for anyone that upgrades to the LT trim. The LT offers a WiFi Hotspot to keep everyone connected, too. Every trim level gets power windows and power locks. The WT and LT have Single-Zone Climate Control with both AC and heat.

When it comes to safety, all trim levels get six airbags. There are dual-stage front airbags for the driver and front passenger. Seat-mounted side-impact bags add even more protection for those up front. Head-curtain airbags add a level of protection for everyone. A set of sensors detect whether or not there's a front passenger and engage or disable those front airbags as needed.

Every model of the Silverado 2500HD also gets a rear-view camera, a tire-pressure monitor and Chevy's StabiliTrak system with traction control. StabiliTrack is an electronic system that stabilizes the vehicle and also provides superior traction. Chevrolet also has a Teen Driver system that allows the owner to customize vehicle settings and attach them to a key fob.

The Teen Driver tech also provides a report on the driving habits of whoever uses the special key fob. This allows owners to monitor their teen driver's actions so they can provide some feedback and coaching. This is a handy feature for anyone who has a younger driver at home who will be taking the tuck out from time to time. GM now includes this technology with almost every vehicle they produce across all brands.

The LT trim level gets cruise control and a variety of options that are unavailable to the WT trim. Many of these have to do with paint colors and interior cosmetic features. There are, however, some handy convenience features available such as Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control, Keyless Open and Start, Front Park Assist and Rear Park Assist.

Compare the LT vs Custom Trim Level. What Is the Difference?

The next trim level after the LT is called the Custom. This model comes in Double Cab and Crew Cab configurations and removes the Regular Cab as an option. It comes in 2WD and 4WD variations and has the same engine and optional diesel engine as the previous two trim levels. It also has the same transmission, suspension and brakes as the LT model.

The remaining mechanical features are the same when comparing these two trim levels. The Custom has a larger, 20-inch set of machined-aluminum wheels. These have a 10-spoke design and have painted accents in a color that Chevy calls Grazen Metallic. These wheels get a set of all-terrain tires that are suitable for off-road excursions as well as for paved streets.

The Custom truck goes back to black door handles, exterior mirrors and bumpers. It has the EZ Liftgate but removes the power lock and release features. Anything that's removed as a feature is still optional for the Custom trim level. True to its name, this is the entire point of this trim. It's a solid base to add whatever one wants to customize a Silverado 2500HD for their specific needs and tastes.

On the inside, the Custom model reverts back to the interior features found on the WT, for the most part. All of these features can be upgraded to match what the LT offers, for a reasonable price increase. The Custom models also get access to the Custom Convenience Package, which is unavailable to the previous two models. This comes with a 10-way power driver seat with lumbar support, a trailer-brake controller, remote start, cargo-bed lining and a rear-window defogger.

Most of the safety features remain unchanged when moving up to the Custom trim level. This model once again gets some extra options, though. Forward-Collision Alert and Automatic Braking are both available for the Custom.

Compare the Custom vs LTZ Trim. What is the difference?

The LTZ trim level again gets the two engine choices and the same standard transmission system. This trim level is available as a Double Cab or as a Crew Cab. It offers both the long and standard cargo beds. It gets a some new options that are unavailable to the previous trims, such as HD Surround Vision, a truck-bed camera and the Technology Package.

The Chevrolet Technology Package has a multi-color 15-inch heads-up display and 8-inch digital driver-information display. Mechanically, the LTZ is almost identical to the Custom trim level. It adds on an Autotrac 2-speed transfer case that has push-button controls. It also gets a Digital Variable Steering Assist feature that adjusts steering dynamics automatically based on the vehicle speed and road conditions.

The LTZ gets a new set of 18-inch machined-aluminum wheels with a unique 6-spoke design. The wheels have silver-painted accents. They're paired with a set of all-terrain tires just like the Custom trim. Chevrolet offers numerous wheel options for this trim level, including 20-inch wheels in a variety of designs and colors. The exterior of the LTZ gets chrome bumpers and plenty of chrome trim.

This trim level upgrades all of the exterior lights with LED lights. This includes the headlights, taillights, fog lamps and daytime-running lamps. The available LTZ Premium Package adds heated and ventilated bucket seats, a universal home remote and extra USB ports. It also includes safety features such as Forward-Collision Alert, Lane-Change Alert with Side Blind-Zone Alert and a Lane-Departure Warning.

This trim level also gets an upgraded infotainment system with a larger touchscreen. There's even the option to add on a navigation system. A driver-memory feature allows a variety of settings to be saved. The Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control makes sure everyone stays comfortable and happy while riding in the 2022 Silverado 2500HD LTZ.

Compare the LTZ vs High Country. What Is the Difference?

The High Country model of the Silverado 2500HD not only provides the power and capabilities, but is also downright luxurious. This model has everything that Chevrolet has to offer for this pickup truck. This includes both standard features and new options that are unavailable to every other trim level. Once again, the engine choices are the same as before here.

The High Country is only available as a 4WD vehicle. It only comes in the Crew Cab variation, though it does still offer both long and standard bed lengths. Most of the mechanical features are identical when comparing these top two trim levels. For the exterior, the High Country gets a polished exhaust tip and 6-inch chrome assist steps.

The High Country has a set of 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels with a 16-spoke design. It once again gets all-terrain tires. There's some handy LED lighting in the cargo bed. The bed now has a spray-on bed-liner to protect it. The rear bumper has a corner step to make it easy to get up into the cargo area for loading and unloading.

For the exterior, the High Country gets a larger driver-information display. It also has a bed-view camera so the driver can keep an eye on whatever they're hauling. A Bose Premium Sound System provides amazing audio output for one's favorite music. This system also includes seven premium speakers and a Richbass woofer.

The High Country gets a full integrated navigation system added to the infotainment system. The seats get an upgrade and Front Park Assist as well as Rear Park Assist are now stock features. This trim level also gets Side Blind-Zone Alert, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and wireless charging for smartphones and other devices.

Final Thoughts

This isn't an easy question to answer and will depend on what the owner wants to do with their pickup truck. Every trim level of the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is a fantastic vehicle. This is a versatile truck that is suitable for a variety of work-related duties, as well as for comfortable daily transportation.

For most buyers, the LT trim level will be the best choice. Even if this will primarily be a work truck, the extra convenience features and driver-assist technology will make it a more pleasant place to spend time in. This trim level strikes a good balance between features, capabilities and overall cost. It will be the best bargain as a do-everything heavy-duty pickup truck.