At the end of the day, the primary purpose of a heavy duty pickup like the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD is clear: to deliver high levels of capability in terms of towing, payload, or just about anything else a pickup is used for. That said, there’s more to the formula these days, with customers desiring more from their trucks, with exterior design having become an ever more important factor for the rigs. When it comes to the all-new 2020 Silverado HD, the design was born from a desire to differentiate the HD models from the Silverado 1500. Here’s why.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
When penning the 2020 Silverado HD, Chevrolet understood that heavy duty truck buyers didn’t just want a bigger Silverado 1500, GM Authority recently learned from those involved in developing the new truck. Instead, buyers wanted something different, something that looked like a truck, but wasn’t just a bigger version of the light-duty (half ton) Silverado.
The news may come as a surprise to some, particularly those who are under the impression that trucks like the Silverado, in any form, are just tools to get work done. However, the truth is that today, the vehicles are also frequently used outside of the work setting, which means they are moving family members and friends from A to B, towing boats, cars, RVs, or some other recreational activity. With that role comes a whole host of expectations, including the need for comfort, modern technology, safety, and the latest convenience features. Styling goes hand-in-hand with all of that, and form doesn’t necessarily derive straight from function.
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Then there’s the fact that trucks, especially in higher-end trims, often serve as status symbols. In the case of heavy duty rigs, when one spends considerably more on an HD truck over a light duty model, that should be rather clear for everyone else. Put all that together, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Silverado HD design is substantially different from that of the Silverado 1500.
All that certainly explains the styling differences between the Silverado HD and LD models. Setting the Silverado HD apart from the Silverado 1500 are a host of styling differences, including an entirely different front fascia, including the grille, headlamps and hood. In fact, almost every piece of the sheetmetal is different for the HD model, with the sole exceptions being the roof of the cab. The DNA between the two trucks is clear, but so are the differences. Interestingly, the Silverado’s corporate cousin – the GMC Sierra – did not follow that line of thinking, since the Sierra HD more closely resembles the Sierra LD, while still having significant sheetmetal differences.
Meanwhile, the design of the all-new 2020 Silverado HD has been the topic of much controversy and criticism, despite performing well in focus groups. How all that will translate from a sales standpoint is a different topic altogether. The 2020 Silverado HD, available in 2500HD and 3500HD guises, is arriving at dealers now, and we’ll keep on eye on how it performs and report back.
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Comments
I like the look of both light and HD Silverado’s ! They are Trucks !
Having finally seen these HD’s in person, I can say, in my humble opinion, they are OK looking.
The headlight stack with that big body color piece of “flesh” between it and the grille is hard to look at and is odd looking at best. The grille, turn signals, front bumper look great! But the headlight stack looks, well just bad. Looks like that piece of gum that comes down too far between some folk’s teeth!
My biggest complaint though is the profile of these trucks is just plain. A High Country looks as plain as a Custom and that shouldn’t be the case.
GM should offer as an option or in one of the wonderful packages they are so fond of some body side molding or something to break up the bleak sides and that’s about all these trucks need!
Unusual considering the 1500 needs a lot of work and GM styling seems to perpetually stink these days.
Now that the your seeing these on the road, a lot of the comments on the looks has fallen away. I am not saying that they couldn’t have done better, they certain could have and should have. That said, they are ok looking (as subjective as that is). I wish GM would consider offering two tone paint. I think it would help and is long over due.
There are MAJOR differences in the styling of the H-D truck, depending upon the trim level that you get. The truck goes from looking like a reborn AZTEC TWIN (hideous) to downright mean and angry. Mean and angry looks great. It’s a truck after all. It gives it a really tough looking stance. That other look though, makes you question “WHAT WERE THEY THINKING???” It’s a confusing look that just doesn’t look very good. The truck’s real problem resides in the interior. It’s fine for a work truck. But even in the upper trim levels, it still looks like a work truck. These days however, such a vehicle may very well find it’s way conducting family duties. And families don’t want their primary vehicle to look like they’re on the way to go logging, or a construction site. ESPECIALLY FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY. The interior, even in it’s best guise, looks downright CHEAP. The gauges are dull, boring instruments that seriously need to be upgraded. How is it that FORD and RAM thoroughly understand this yet GM continues to miss the mark? They’re NOT EVEN CLOSE. GM needs to get a hold of a fully loaded RAM and thoroughly study it. That truck oozes luxury like that of many expensive luxury cars do. That’s the interior that the family wants, not that provided by GM. The days of just fulfilling the needs of a work truck are over. They’ve been over. My 1995 Chevrolet Sierra extended cab pickup with the aftermarket COWBOY Conversion package added was far nicer than GN’s top of the line truck is today. Sure, the 2020 is a far BETTER truck, but my 1995 was a far NICER truck. GM needs to pay much more attention to the interiors of their trucks. They’re full of plastic, fake metal, and fake wood. Materials should be exactly what those fake parts are trying to simulate. For $50,000 and up, I don’t expect to get a vehicle with nothing but cheap plastics throughout. That’s simply far too expensive for such cheapness. If and when I renter the truck market, my money will be going on the RAM Limited. It’s the best of the best, and simply offers the most bang for the buck.
I want one so I do not have to further deal with Chevrolets AFM disaster. That is the most worthless design ever built. The dealer cannot fix it and told me that I will never be happy with it so just trade it off. Nothing like spending big money on a 1500 that cannot be fixed.
Wow the 3500’s are butt ugly. Why would they mess up a good looking truck with this 2020 model. I will wait to buy one when they change the body again. The interior is fine to me it’s a truck if you want luxury buy a cadillic. I will only buy chevy trucks. Dodge/ or ram are the biggest pos on the market.
I saw one in person the other day an it wasn’t that bad but I have seen only the gmc hd so far on the road I think next time they need to do more research Instead of just relying on focus groups one thing iam waiting for is the updated interior
My only issue with the truck comes on the LTZ trim and those six-spoke wheels that look like large chrome versions of the hubcaps on a base model Dodge Journey from 2010 or so. Otherwise, the design is growing on me, though the Sierra is definitely easier on my eyes.
The only thang I can not understand , Is why a 3600 HD with front straight axle is not offered ! Gm offered a regular 3500 and 3500 HD with straight front axle 2 WD and 4 WD in late 80s.
Tiny LED headlights might be good for something like the new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer CUV; but it sort of misses the mark on a full size truck as GMC and Chevy designers need to look backwards in earlier Silverado models for inspiration.
This new design is ugly as sin. What ever happened to having your own look? It used to be you knew a truck by just looking at them, today they all look alike. So glad I bought a 19 model. Something that still has some class!
In my humble opinion the Base Model HD’s look completely awful and the Top Level trim looks pretty decent with the LED headlights.
GM should fix the Base versions. Those Headlights are simply awful looking in my opinion. They look like GM found a huge hidden Shipment from the ’90’s and was like cool, we can utilize these and save money LOL
I am not stating the Base version needs to be LED but just that they cannot and should not be what GM released.
The grill on the HD looks upside down……..Plain hideous!!!!!!! Don’t these jerks ever rely on focus groups????? after this fiasco, they better!!!!!!!!! I’ll keep my 2018 LTZ……love it!!!!!!!
The new HD looks awesome and angry,just how I like my truck.Stop whining and complaining about the look.Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean others won’t.The truck is flat out a bad ass in capability. I would buy one but I just bought a new Silverado Trail Boss Z71 Custom so I can’t.This is my 11th Chevy truck and I will NEVER buy a Fraud or RAM POS!As for the guy with the AFM comments,you need an oil catch can to avoid any problems,this is true of all GDI engines.The factories of all GDI engines know that the oil blow bye corrodes the intake manifold and combustion chamber but do nothing about it.The oil catch can solves the issues,I know first hand,my GDI engines have them and no issues at all.Don’t be an ostrich with your head in the sand,pay attention.Car manufacturers will try to get away with as much as possible to up the profits,all of them.Hot rodders found this issue,they are always ahead of the game.Thank God.
As for the interior I like it the way it is.I like the functionality and simplicity.It is a truck for crying out loud!Trucks have gotten too expensive due to city slickers thinking that a workhorse needs to be a Cadillac but it isn’t.If you want a Cadillac,go buy a Cadillac!The RAM interior design would absolutely drive me crazy.A shifter knob/switch?Wow!You might as well admit that you aren’t a man at that point.
Sure the interior is functional. It certainly works. And your comment that it’s a truck is completely valid. Here’s where we differ…”Trucks have gotten too expensive…” You’re absolutely right. But GM’s truck with that plastic interior ISN’T ANY CHEAPER than the RAM with it’s far SUPERIOR interior, that’s way ahead of GM in both the quality of the materials and it’s far, FAR more modern design. Stepping into GM’s truck after the RAM is like going back to the 1990’s. If GM’s truck was way cheaper than the RAM’s, then the interior wouldn’t be such a big deal. But its NOT CHEAPER. It’s just subpar. BTW, if having a shifter knob instead of a switch to place a vehicle in gear is what makes you a man, than you’ve got some serious issues that go far beyond the interior design of a truck. I just don’t expect to be given such a cheap looking interior when I’m paying serious money for ANY Vehicle.
Regardless, between the RAM and GM, I’d pick…
The brand new LAND ROVER.