2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 review

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2025 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2

At one point in the not-too-distant past, V8s were all the rage thanks to local manufacturing from Holden and Ford.

Those days might be gone, but local manufacturing is still thriving thanks to the booming conversion business that sees US-spec cars imported and then converted to right-hand drive for local consumption.

And, in the case of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the petrol V8 lives on.

From a small niche of low-volume imports, the plus-sized pick-up market has grown, with Ford, Ram, and Toyota joining Chevrolet all throwing their hat in the ring with locally-produced conversions. With Ram moving to turbo-six power, only one offers a V8, giving the Silverado 1500 bragging rights in 2025.

How much is a Chevrolet Silverado?

Just like Hungry Jack's has its Whopper, General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) also has its gargantuan product in the form of the Chevrolet Silverado to stand it apart from its competitors.

Buyers can have an LTZ Premium grade for $130,500 before on-road costs, but the off-road-focused ZR2 – like I have here – steps it up to $138,000.

This places the Silverado ZR2 right among the Ford F-150 Lariat (SWB for $139,950, LWB for $140,945) and runout Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab ($137,950), as well as Toyota LandCruiser Sahara ($138,191).

However, standing the Silverado ZR2 apart from those aforementioned rivals is more power, with the 6.2-litre petrol V8 delivering 313kW/624Nm to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission.

You also get a generous list of equipment for your spend, with standard fare including a black-leather interior, a head-up display, front and rear locking differentials, keyless entry, push-button start, a wireless smartphone charger, power-adjustable front seats, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, heated front and rear seats, cooled front seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The ZR2 also stands apart in the Silverado range because of unique off-road features such as lifted suspension, beefed-up underbody protection, 18-inch wheels with mud-terrain tyres, and a unique exterior look thanks to a cut front bumper, exposed recovery hooks, and bulging bonnet with variant-specific decals.

As with full-sized pick-ups like the Silverado ZR2, the six-digit price isn't justified by the equipment list but is gauged by its capabilities as a workhorse, and the quality of its right-hand-drive conversion.

How big is a Chevrolet Silverado?

Space is where the Silverado reigns supreme, as its 5931mm length, 2074mm width, 1991mm height, and 3760mm wheelbase afford it a level of interior room comparable to some studio apartments.

Inside, front passengers have plenty of adjustability in the seats to get comfortable, and storage options such as large door pockets, cupholders, and a glovebox.

But it's the centre console where all the storage action is, thanks to three varying-size trays positioned around the shifter to empty your pockets, as well as a two-tiered underarm storage cubby that hides the wireless smartphone charger.

It's a serious amount of stowage for everything you might carry around, and if used as a family car like I did in my week with the Silverado ZR2, it’s plenty of room for kids’ snacks, nappy bags, bottles and more.

However, there is room for improvement in terms of the right-hand-drive remanufacturing done in partnership with Walkinshaw.

In my test vehicle, the steering column cowl was slightly misaligned, sitting just a touch to the left.

This meant that the black plastic between the steering wheel and the digital instrument cluster sat askew and was especially noticeable as you are constantly glancing at the digital readout.

While not a deal-breaker, it is odd to note given the rest of the dashboard conversion process is top-notch and high quality.

In the rear seats, space is also plentiful thanks to the generous leg, shoulder, and head room afforded by the wide and tall cabin.

Amenities are also bountiful thanks to air vents, two centre cupholders, a fold-down centre armrest with more cupholders, large door pockets, rear-seat heating, and backrest stowage cubbies, as well as ISOFIX points on the two outboard seats.

Speaking of which, car seats fit in without a problem, and in my time there were two installed.

However, unlike most other pick-ups, the Silverado ZR2 doesn't have a fold-down backrest in the second row, with the top-tether anchorage point always exposed, making installation of car seats a breeze.

But while the interior passes the family test, the side steps featured on the ZR2 are positioned quite low, making ingress and egress a little easier for young kids, but just be mindful of your shins when helping children clamber in and out.

The tall ride height made it easy for me to load and unload the hellions, as I didn't need to bend down much to get them in and out – preserving my ever-deteriorating lower back.

But the biggest reason to pick up a pick-up like this is the versatile tray in the back.

With a 1776mm long floor and 1286mm width between the wheel arches, the tray is substantial and able to fit a full-sized pallet. In fact, that's exactly what I did at Bunnings when I needed some soil for landscaping, with more than enough room to spare.

If your work or play activities require room, the Silverado ZR2 will accommodate you easily.

Does the Chevrolet Silverado have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

With a 13.4-inch infotainment touchscreen fitted between the front passengers, the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 has functionality for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

And good thing too, because the stock standard infotainment software feels barren and bare bones.

Without pairing the system to your phone, there is no in-built satellite navigation, which can present a major problem if you are in the back of beyond with a spotty phone signal.

I understand that most drivers just pair their phones and use the familiar phone-powered software, but some kind of backup if your battery dies or you're close to hitting your data cap is handy.

At least the system also has a wireless charger, so the former shouldn't be too big of an issue.

Still, without the smartphone mirroring interface, the stock infotainment system feels clunky and hamfisted.

Maybe it's the oversized menu tiles or unintuitive layout, but moving around the infotainment system felt more like handling a tablet for kids rather than software on a near-$150,000 car.

Is the Chevrolet Silverado a safe car?

The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 has not been crash-tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP and therefore does not have an official crash-test rating.

However, it has been assessed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US, where it was awarded an overall rating of five stars.

Keep in mind, though, that the American safety authority's testing criteria differ wildly from ANCAP and Euro NCAP, so its safety score will not translate directly to full marks if the Silverado were to be assessed locally.

What safety technology does the Chevrolet Silverado have?

Despite no official safety rating, the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 still comes fitted with a host of passive and active systems to keep occupants protected.

For starters, there are six airbags littered throughout the cabin, while a surround-view monitor, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, and rear parking sensors also feature.

In my time with the car, the surround-view monitor was easily the handiest feature, as it gives a clear view of all your surroundings while manoeuvring into a parking space.

And for the adventurous types, hill descent control, LED exterior lighting, tyre pressure monitoring, and automatic high beams are also on the spec list.

All active safety features worked as expected, although the lane-keep assist would give warnings in narrow streets due to the sheer girth of the Silverado.

How much does the Chevrolet Silverado cost to run?

Like all GMSV vehicles, the Chevrolet Silverado comes with a three-year/100,000km warranty, which falls short of the industry standard.

Models like the Ford F-150 and upcoming Toyota Tundra are equipped with an industry-standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre assurance period.

However, the Ram 1500 also comes with the same warranty period as the Silverado.

Scheduled service intervals in the Silverado ZR2 are every 12 months or 12,000km, whichever occurs first – falling short of the expected 15,000km mileage in most other utes.

Also unlike other brands, there is no capped-price servicing or service calculator available with the Silverado, meaning owners need to contact their nearest dealership to ascertain maintenance costs.

To insure, the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 will cost $3271 per annum, based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Is the Chevrolet Silverado fuel-efficient?

Officially, the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 consumes 12.2 litres per 100 kilometres, though in my week with the car I averaged 16.8L/100km.

This was mainly due to using the Silverado in inner-city environments to ferry the kids to and from childcare and commute into work.

Owners who travel long distances on freeways will see much better fuel consumption figures, though with a 6.2-litre petrol V8 moving a 2587kg weight, don't expect to return numbers in the single digits.

What is the Chevrolet Silverado like to drive?

The first thing to contend with when driving the Silverado ZR2 is the sheer size of the pick-up.

It looks massive and hulking, and it feels it behind the wheel, which can make it intimidating to pilot for those not used to large SUVs or dual-cab utes.

For starters, visibility is awful.

This makes positioning and parking in tight inner-city streets perilous at best, so don't even think about multi-level carparks or cramped garages like the Melbourne Drive office unless you truly have nerves of steel.

Most egregious of all is the ZR2's bulging bonnet that obscures so much forward visibility, it can make it extremely difficult to gauge exactly where the front of the car stops.

Luckily, there is a surround-view monitor to help things here, but the camera feed and what you are seeing with your eyes can be at odds with one another.

On more than one occasion I thought for sure I was going to bump into the garage wall, when in fact the camera was telling me there were miles of clear air.

And while the length of the Silverado was never a big issue – as long as you are aware and plan for parking spots with a generous amount of room – it's the 2074mm width where things start to become cumbersome.

On most occasions, this isn't much of an issue, but there is the odd time you will be in a four-lane street thinking 'Am I in the lanes here?'.

However, take the Silverado ZR2 out of the inner-city and onto more open roads, and things start to make much more sense.

With more space to breathe – and less traffic and hazards to worry about – the Silverado ZR2 comes into its own as a comfortable and spacious long-distance transport.

Few other models, including large SUVs, can afford this much cabin space for families like mine, or even five full-sized adults, to be this comfortable.

With plush seats, a commanding driving position, and room for the free-breathing 6.2-litre petrol V8 to stretch its legs, the Silverado ZR2 comes into its own in the country.

However, it's not all gravy.

If you are expecting that meaty 313kW/624Nm 6.2-litre V8 to match the Silverado ZR2's brawny looks, prepare to be disappointed. Tuned more for smoothness and comfort than outright pace, the V8 engine moves things along well, but not with any urgency or pace.

The 10-speed automatic transmission does a good job of getting out of the way, though, and never feels like it’s hunting for gears or caught out when cog swapping.

But there is a noticeable dead zone in the throttle pedal, or the auto-hold system needs a recalibration.

The 'go' pedal requires a serious poke to get moving, especially evident when reversing, so you end up with a lot of jerkiness as you lurch and brake repeatedly to creep the Silverado into a parking space.

However, move away from the blacktop into some light off-roading scenarios and the Silverado ZR2 just eats up dirt paths, inclines, and rugged terrain like a champion.

The suspension does most of the heavy lifting here, and soaks up uneven surfaces well to keep occupants inside relatively comfortable.

This also translates to great on-road driving manners, especially over potholes and speed bumps.

How much weight can a Chevrolet Silverado tow?

As a full-sized ute, the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 can tow a braked maximum capacity of 4200kg, down on the 4500kg maximum of the Silverado 1500 LTZ and rivals like the Ram 1500 and Ford F-150.

That should be plenty for work or play, with everything from off-road caravans to compact earth-moving equipment that tip over the 3500kg limit of most utes covered here.

The payload capacity however, is 713kg, which will be enough for four adults and even tools in the tray. Smaller dual-cab utes, like the Ranger and HiLux offer circa 800-900kg payload, although this varies depending on the specification.

Drivers need to also keep in mind the 6851kg gross combination mass (GCM), which is the total weight the Silverado ZR2 can handle.

Should I buy a Chevrolet Silverado?

Overall, the Silverado ZR2 is a big, dumb pick-up truck that does all that's expected of such a model.

But that's no bad thing.

I'd like to see a more eager tune of the V8 engine to match the Silverado's beefcake looks and a more polished, tech-laden interior, but if all you want in a vehicle is ample space for passengers and gear, this Chevrolet has you covered.

How do I buy a Chevrolet Silverado? The next steps.

As a left-hand-drive model converted to local conditions, there aren’t a heap of Silverados readily available, but the remanufacturing process still works through about 2000 units per year.

GMSV doesn’t list what Silverado models are in stock or where, but instead directs customers to contact their nearest dealer.

To keep up to date with all Chevrolet Silverado news, you can click here.

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