The Chevrolet Silverado light-duty models – including the 1500 and discontinued 2500 – are full-sized pickup trucks that entered production for the 1999 model year. They are mechanically identical to the GMC Sierra light-duty pickup truck.
It’s worth clarifying the first-generation Chevy Silverado offered a 1500HD, which was part of the heavy-duty lineup and entirely different from the light-duty 1500 variant. Additionally, a non-HD 2500 variant was also offered until the 2004 model year.
| Model Years | 1999 – Present |
| Layout | Front-Engined, Longitudinal |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel or Four-Wheel Drive |
| Availability | U.S.A., Canada, Middle East |
| Predecessor | C/K Series Pickup |
| Successor | – |
First-Generation Silverado Light-Duty (1500, 2500)
| Model Years | 1999 – 2007 |
| Assembly Location | Fort Wayne, Indiana; Flint, Michigan, USA; Oshawa, Ontario, Canada; Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico |
| Platform | T900 |
| Body Style(s) | Cabs: Regular, Extended, Crew; Beds: Short, Standard, Long |
| Engine(s) | Vortec Series: 4.3L V6, 4.8L V8, 5.3L V8, 6.0L V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 4L60-E 4-Speed Auto, 4L65-E 4-Speed Auto, 4L80-E 4-Speed Auto, NV3500 5-Speed Manual |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel or Four-Wheel Drive |
| Availability | U.S.A., Canada |
The Chevy Silverado 1500 nameplate made its debut for the 1999 model year. The then-new truck utilized the GMT800 platform, replacing the C and K-Series trucks that rode upon the GMT400 platform. Although the Silverado 1500 is the Sierra 1500’s corporate twin, it’s worth highlighting the fact that the Sierra nameplate existed one generation prior to the Silverado, meaning the first-gen Silverado matches up with the second-gen Sierra.
The Silverado 1500 was positioned as a larger, more refined successor to the C/K pickup truck. For instance, it’s said to be the first in the industry to offer a tow/haul mode. It was available in regular, extended – which is similar to the modern-day double cab – and crew cab body configurations with short, standard, or long bed sizes.
The first-gen Silverado was the only generation to offer both 1500 and 2500 light-duty models, as well as the only generation to offer a 1500HD model. Notably, the 2500LD and 1500HD were nearly mechanically identical, with the main difference being body configuration: the 2500 was available with a regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab, while the 1500HD was offered exclusively in a crew cab configuration. The light-duty Silverado 2500 model would only be produced until the 2004 model year.
See complete details on first-generation Chevrolet Silverado Light-Duty pickup trucks. (Coming Soon)
Second-Generation Silverado 1500
| Model Years | 2007-2014 |
| Assembly Location | Fort Wayne, Indiana; Flint, Michigan, USA; Oshawa, Ontario, Canada; Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico |
| Platform | T910 |
| Body Style(s) | Cabs: Regular, Extended, Crew; Beds: Short, Standard, Long |
| Engine(s) | Vortec Series: 4.3L V6, 4.8L V8, 5.3L V8, 6.0L V8, 6.2L V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 4L60-E 4-Speed Auto, 2ML70 4-Speed Auto, 6L80 6-Speed Auto, 6-Speed Manual |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel or Four-Wheel Drive |
| Availability | U.S.A., Canada |
The second-generation Chevrolet Silverado light-duty pickup arrived for the 2007 model year, utilizing the GMT900 platform and offering more modern safety features over the GMT800 trucks. From this point forward, the only Silverado light-duty model to be produced and sold was the Silverado 1500, with the first-gen, light-duty Silverado 2500 being discontinued for the 2004 model year.
One major difference compared to the first-gen Silverado 1500 is the use of rack-and-pinion steering versus the use of a steering gear box. The rack-and-pinion design offered greater response and precision compared to the gear box, which helped make the second-gen Silverado 1500 feel a lot more modern than its predecessor.
See complete details on second-generation Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup trucks. (Coming Soon)
Third-Generation Silverado 1500
| Model Years | 2014-2019 |
| Assembly Location | Fort Wayne, Indiana; Flint, Michigan, USA; Oshawa, Ontario, Canada; Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Platform | K2 |
| Body Style(s) | Cabs: Regular, Double, Crew; Beds: Short, Standard, Long |
| Engine(s) | Vortec Series: 4.3L V6, 4.8L V8, 5.3L V8, 6.0L V8, 6.2 V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 6L80 6-Speed Auto, 8L90 8-Speed Auto |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel or Four-Wheel Drive |
| Availability | U.S.A., Canada |
When the 2014 Chevy Silverado debuted alongside the 2014 GMC Sierra, it was completely redesigned from hood to hitch and was based on the then-new K2XX architecture. A notable configuration change includes the replacement of extended cabs with double cabs.
Aside from the interior design, exterior design, and platform, one of the biggest changes to the third-gen Silverado was under the hood with the arrival of a new EcoTec3 engine family. For starters, the base 4.3-liter V6 engine saw power jump from 195 to 285 horsepower. Every gasoline engine option featured direct-injection as well as cylinder-deactivation, which enabled the trucks to be a bit more fuel efficient than their respective predecessors.
Other changes included a roll-formed bed rather than a bed comprised of stamped steel, which reduced weight and improved the overall performance of the truck as well as fuel efficiency. The third-generation all saw the introduction of the Silverado High Country model, which provided the pickup with luxury-oriented appointments.
See complete details on third-generation Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup trucks. (Coming Soon)
Fourth-Generation Silverado 1500
| Model Years | 2019 – Present |
| Assembly Location | Fort Wayne, Indiana; Flint, Michigan, USA; Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Platform | T1 |
| Body Style(s) | Cabs: Regular, Double, Crew; Beds: Short, Standard, Long |
| Engine(s) | Vortec Series: 4.3L V6, 4.8L V8, 5.3L V8, 6.0L V8, 6.2 V8 |
| Transmission(s) | 6L80 6-Speed Auto, 8L90 8-Speed Auto, 10L80 10-Speed Auto |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel or Four-Wheel Drive |
| Availability | U.S.A., Canada |
The fourth- and current-generation Silverado 1500 entered the market for the 2019 model year, and is the most capable light-duty Silverado model ever produced. It is up to 450 pounds lighter than the third-gen model, which is the result of mixed materials and advanced manufacturing processes. The T1 frame itself is 88 pounds lighter than the K2’s, while also offering a 10 percent increase in torsional rigidity.
The fourth-gen Silverado 1500 is also the first light-duty Silvy to offer a diesel engine option. With the 3.0-liter LM2 inline-six turbo diesel Duramax engine under its hood, the Silverado 1500 has a towing capacity of well over 9,000 pounds and an EPA-estimated 33 mpg highway and 23 city in rear-wheel-drive models.
Notably, the third-gen K2 Silverado 1500 remained in production alongside the fourth-gen, and was sold exclusively. asa Double Cab configuration under the ‘Silverado Limited’ moniker. The move was similar to the first-gen Silverado, which was sold alongside the C/K series pickup truck in crew cab form for several years before it was officially discontinued.
See complete details on fourth-generation Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup trucks. (Coming Soon)
Sales
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