Overview

What's New for 2012:
- Hard-drive-based navigation system
- New option package for 4-wheel-drive models, emphasizing off-road features
- Heated and ventilated front seats

Exterior Features
The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD/3500HD is the largest pickup truck in Chevrolet's lineup. The Silverado HD is a heavy-duty version of the standard full-size Chevrolet pickup truck. The 2500HD is offered in regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab body styles. The Silverado 3500HD comes with an 8-foot bed and, similar to the 2500HD, is offered in regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab body styles.

Interior Features
Trim levels on the Silverado 2500HD range from the basic Work Truck to the top-of-the-line LTZ. Regular cabs are coupled with a 98-inch bed, while extended and crew cabs come with the 98-inch long bed or a shorter 78-inch bed. Properly equipped, towing capacity for some models is up to 13,000 pounds. Payloads, depending on cab size and engine type, range from 2,500 pounds to 3,900 pounds.

Extended and crew cab 3500 HDs are offered with a choice of single or dual rear wheels, and are available in the LTZ trim. The 3500HD is also available with a 78-inch bed, but only with single rear wheels. Built for continuous heavy duty, the 3500HD has a top payload of 6,355 pounds and a towing capacity (when equipped with a fifth-wheel connection) of 21,700 pounds.

Optional Features
Luxury options available at various trim levels include a sunroof, power-sliding rear window, heated steering wheel, temperature-controlled front seats, mobile Wi-Fi, navigation system, and a rear-seat DVD-based entertainment system. Utilitarian options include a protective bedliner, sliding bed divider, EZ-lift tailgate, cargo rail, sliding or stationary tool box, power-adjustable pedals, and a rearview camera. Four-wheel-drive models are eligible for upgraded packages that are set up to address off-road, appearance, and snowplow preparation needs.

Under the Hood
The standard engine for the 2012 Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD is a 6.0-liter V-8 rated at 360 horsepower that delivers 380 lb.-ft. of torque, and is mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Optional is a 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V-8 engine rated at 397 horsepower that delivers 765 lb.-ft. of torque. Rear-wheel drive is standard, with 4-wheel drive optional.

Fuel Economy
Official fuel-economy figures for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD are not available (the EPA does not calculate fuel economy for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR, over 8,500 pounds). However, according to Chevrolet, HD trucks with the diesel engine and 36-gallon tank have a range of up to 19 mpg on the highway.

Safety
Standard safety features include anti-lock disc brakes, stability control, hill-start assist, and trailer-sway control. Front-seat side air bags and side curtain air bags are optional, as is a rearview camera.

To date, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have tested the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD or 3500HD.