Silverado High Country Premium Trim Needs To Happen: Opinion
16
Sponsored Links
There’s no doubt that pickup trucks are becoming more and more luxurious – just look to the new 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate as evidence of that. That said, the current Chevy Silverado 1500 doesn’t offer a range-topping equivalent to the new Sierra Denali Ultimate, leaving us to ask – what about a Silverado High Country Premium trim level?
For those who may be unaware, the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate bundles together a wide variety of content and features to produce the most-luxurious Sierra 1500 ever offered, while also throwing in a selection of unique styling and aesthetic bits to underline the pickup’s range-topping status. We think an equivalent a Silverado High Country Premium trim level needs to happen.
As for what this hypothetical Silverado High Country Premium trim level would offer, it would obviously bundle together the content currently available with the High Country Premium Package, the High Country Premium II Package, and the Technology Package. As a refresher, the High Country Premium Package is priced at $2,625, and includes the following content (relevant RPO codes listed in parentheses):
- Power sunroof (CF5)
- 22-inch painted aluminum wheels with Chrome inserts (RPT)
- 275/50R22SL all-season, blackwall tires (XCE)
- Floor liner (RIA)
Meanwhile, the High Country Premium II Package includes:
- High Country Premium Package (PDM) ($2,625)
- Technology Package (CWM) ($1,770)
- Super Cruise (UKL) (normally a $2,300 option)
- Power-retractable assist steps (BRS) ($1,195)
Finally, the Technology Package for the Silverado High Country includes:
- Rear Camera Mirror (DRZ)
- 15-inch Diagonal Head-Up Display (UV6)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (KSG)
- Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking (before June 13th production) (UGN)
- Automatic Emergency Braking (June 13th production onward) (UHY)
With all this content, a Chevy Silverado High Country Premium trim level would certainly do well to justify its range-topping positioning. However, this hypothetical trim level would also need a few unique aesthetic touches, including unique interior materials (suede, high-grade wood and metal), and unique exterior detailing (dark chrome accents). These extra bits would make others on the road instantly recognize each Silverado High Country trim level as “special,” something that stands out from the rest of the lineup.
Critically, this same high-end trim level strategy could then be applied elsewhere in the Chevy lineup. The Chevy Suburban and Chevy Tahoe would be the next obvious applications, followed by the Chevy Silverado HD and Chevy Traverse. This, again, is a similar strategy employed by GMC and the Denali Ultimate trim.
And why not? After all, GM CEO Mary Barra recently said that The General is selling all the trucks it can build. So doesn’t Chevy deserve the same high-end treatment as GMC?
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Silverado news, Chevy news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a Corvette Z06 and 2024 Silverado. Details here.
Sponsored Links
No.
The last thing they need is a pricier model. Is GMA really that out of touch that they think that the priority should be an 80-90K truck?
Last I saw GM combined was mopping the floor with ford. That’s largly due to the fact that a similarly equipped Silverado is 5-7K less than the ford. If anything with these prices, Chevy needs a custom and LT value package. Hopefully they bring back the all star edition in 23
I agree with Steven and BDE: NO!!
When will the nonsense stop? First, isn’t GMC supposed to be the top trim already? If not, then there is zero need to keep GMC around and waste the effort and investments. Second, all they seem to do is bring out yet another “higher end” trim and then de-content the other one. No, no, no. Chevy shouldn’t even have the High Country IMO. Let Chevy be the working truck with less features and GMC be the high end truck with more luxury and emphasis on personal use vs. work use.
Going way back when I first got into auto sales, it was at a dealership in 1988 with Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Honda. Buick and Honda had a good lineup and with Honda you got the DX, LX and EX. Then they came out with the EX-L. Then you could get the top line EX-L V6. It was simple and kept the production process easier. Buick was quite the same but with only two trims back then: Custom and Limited. However, you could order from a very long list of stand alone options which was nice but made the ordering and production much more complicated. GM needs to go to more basics and just concentrate on selling the highest quality products at reasonable prices.
Dan B…It Will Never Happen…The Name Of The Game Is Money…The Chip Shortage Fiasco Was Just Another Way Of Making Money…OMG…No Incentives…No Supplier Discount…No Inventory…Next Will Be No Dealerships…Just Online Ordering Or Tesla Like Satellites At Malls To Look And Order.
Real quick, they aren’t making as much money. When they posted record profits these last couple years you got to understand overall Revenue was down by almost HALF. Sure net profits were up a little, but revenue was down. That’s because they sold all the vehicles on the lots and didn’t spend the money to replace them due to supply issues and they curtailed assembly worker hours.
Now in the retail world selling your inventory without restocking is what you call a close out sale….. just before you go out of business. GM inst in a good position financially. They have to dump massive investments into their suppliers to rebuild stock, the unions are absolutely ticked about the lack of production, and will not tolerate many more stalled factories. They need affordable models to crank out that will turn a good profit while keeping the lights on.
When is it enough seems never ridiculous like the farmer who buys the most expensive truck he can buy and trash it the first day and takes it off on taxes
This will not happen. It will be chip shorten.
Just like everything else. You can order it. Never see it.
I’ve had an order at dealer for almost 3 months. NOT!
If it’s not electric, funded by government backing. You will be lucking to see one.
I just want them to return to making a nice equipped, good looking regular cab truck not the ugly work truck or custom!
Much better idea: an affordable bench seat standard cab shortbox C/10 or Cheyenne with a restyled front end to mimic the many generations of Chevy trucks that were handsome and coveted (hint: not inspired by Transformers action figures). Add simple, decent looking rims and a manual trans option and they’d probably start a whole new fad. Something novel. The rebirth of the long lost traditional American pickup truck.
Idiot Boy. You are totally correct. I don’t mind them offering high end trucks if people will belly up to the bar and buy them. But not everyone wants them. The problem for those of us who don’t want a ultra-loaded $80,000 truck is finding a reasonable priced basic truck that doesn’t look like they forgot to paint the entire front.
You got it, Dan. I don’t know why anyone would downvote your totally reasonable take here. It isn’t all about the “high end”. A much needed return to reality is long overdue. Hope all’s well
I own a 2017 Duramax 2500HD Silverado High Country. It has everything on it with the exception of marker lights and a sunroof. I also work with a guy who has a gas 1500 Silverado High Country edition. I believe it’s a 2015, so it was offered in past. I absolutely use mine like a truck but it’s nice to take a 5k round trip hauling a trailer in comfort.
How about the over engineered Bulletproof Powertrain Edition!
Can’t agree more, we need a better looking manual truck for people who want a TRUCK.
But why in the heck are you talking about a new trim for High Country?
Whole article seems phoned in, or trolling, or even worse if they really think adding new trims is more important than
1. having a realistic better cheaper non 50k-80k ev truck or 80k-100k ultimate Higher Package
2. trying to copy ultimate Denali package
3. or at least have a performance package with a 6.2 supercharged
then GMC/Chevy really is lost
and god help us
Why price a truck for luxury over the price of a corvette?
You are going to run out of idiots who want a luxury commuter vehicle that looks like a truck.
Personally, luxury and electronics are two different things. Luxury is great! Electronics not so much! It’s all about tracking every move we make and selling subscriptions. Wood veneers, high end leather, sound insulation, plush carpet, plush seats, a custom palette of colors. etc. That’s luxury! WTH ever happened to plush seats. I’m sick of hard seats. Give me something I’ll be happy with for 5 plus hours and with a bottom cushion that will actually support more of my thigh and no pressure cushioning. Tall people buy vehicles too. Luxury, I’m all for it!!! Electronics? Enough is enough in my opinion.