The Silverado HD I drove was equipped with the 8.3L Duramax diesel engine. This engine is brand new for 2027 models, and it's General Motors' first HD diesel engine developed and manufactured in-house, GM states. The purpose behind the engine was to meet evolving HD customer demands, as it offers 555 hp and 1,230 lb.-ft. of torque. It's this engine that allows the Silverado HD to tow 2,000 lb. more than previous models—up to 38,000 lb. Engineers also worked to create a quieter turbo diesel and implemented a new air cooling system that supports heavier towing. 

Engine features include: a high-strength compacted graphite iron (CGI) cylinder block; a fully forged crankshaft, connecting rods, and pistons; a variable geometry turbocharger specifically engineered for heavy loads; dual-stage air cooling; an upgraded lubrication system that manages oil pressure in all engine conditions, offering a 7,500-mile oil change interval; and a gear-driven, high-pressure fuel system. 

The HD is also available with the new 6.6L gas engine, which offers 412 hp and 472 lb.-ft. of torque. 

How the 2027 Silverado HD ZR2 performed off-road

The ride and drive program took place in Tucson, Arizona. The off-road trail was about an hour's drive away from where we were staying in a suburb on the northwest end of Tucson. 

Media were able to experience how the trucks drove in the city on the way to the trail. While its stature is large, and with its 1.5-inch factory lift and 35-in. wheels, the truck had good maneuverability. 

Getting to the trailhead after we reached a dirt road also proved a small task for the truck, with the on-road settings capable of traversing the dirt roads with ease, negating the need to shift into four-wheel drive on our way to the trail. 

Once we got to the trail, Silverado 1500s and Silverado HDs were split into groups, with the HDs taking a trail that accommodated longer wheelbases. But the accommodation didn't mean the trail was easy. The HD trucks crossed over rocks in a relatively easy way, and thanks to larger Multimatic dynamic suspension spool valve (DSSV) dampers, the truck remained as stable as the rocky terrain would allow. 

Further, a new drive mode is available in both the 2027 Silverado 1500 and HD models. Available through the truck's electric power steering coupled with eBoost braking technology, Terrain Mode allows these trucks to crawl up and down rocky trails using only one pedal (think: one-pedal driving in an electric vehicle). As the owner of an electric vehicle, I'm accustomed to one-pedal driving, and on the HD trail, driving in Terrain Mode was a breeze. 

I will admit, however, when driving the Silverado 1500 on the more challenging trail, my instincts kicked in when I found one of my front tires between a rock and a hard place (literally). The more I pressed the gas, the more I was working against the Terrain Mode. After I was advised to let off the pedal and let the truck work through it on its own, it took all of two seconds for the wheel to get back to higher ground. 

Overall, the Silverado HD ZR2 scaled the rocks very well. I had confidence when driving up and down the hills—even in the rain. 

The day before we took the 2027 Silverado HDs on the off-road trail, we drove the trucks about an hour outside of Tucson to the Santa Catalina Mountains. The highest peak in this mountain range is Mt. Lemmon, at 9,157 ft. Our group convened at a campground about two-thirds up the mountain where we got into trucks hooked to RVs. We each took turns hauling these RVs on 20- and 30-minute loops up the mountain with members of the HD design team in the passenger seat.  

Scaling down the mountain is where the Silverado HD's eBoost braking really shone. New for the 2027 model year, eBoost braking essentially provides more power to the brakes to make for a smoother, "refined" braking experience, according to General Motors. This is accomplished via 14.6-in. front rotors and 4-piston calipers, redundant controls that ensure smooth operation if one module goes offline, and "instantaneous" braking, even with heavy-duty loads. 

Where I felt the eBoost most practically was in the quick braking power descending the mountain. A heavier load typically takes longer to stop, which often requires drivers to anticipate braking well before they would need to without a load towed behind them. While I carefully anticipated braking events, I found that the trailer slowed much quicker than I expected, even on the steep stretches of mountain road. 

When ascending the mountain, the truck pulled the RV with ease. 

How the 2027 Silverado HD hauls commercial-sized loads 

The final 2027 Silverado HD driving experience happened at the Tucson Dragway. Chevrolet loaded a flatbed trailer with a Caterpillar skid steer, four 200-plus gal. water tanks, and two pallets of additional construction supplies. The load totaled 38,000 lb., give or take a few hundred pounds.  

The regular cab Silverado 3500 was equipped with the new 8.3L engine and sat right on the starting line at the drag strip. While the stage light tree (or the Christmas Tree) wasn't operational that day, I put the pedal to the metal as if it were. 

One of the best parts of the ride was my passenger, an engineer who's worked on Chevrolet's HD line for decades. His passion for his work was displayed in his confidence in the truck's abilities and his encouragement to put the pedal to the metal.