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The Chevrolet Silverado EV has finally arrived in customer hands, and Munro team got its first real-world review thanks to a dedicated EV enthusiast who reserved his RST trim model within 10 minutes of GM opening pre-orders. After over 1,500 miles and multi-state trips, is this $105K electric truck delivering value? Let’s break down the Silverado EV’s real-world performance, engineering, and features.
First Impressions: From Bolt to Behemoth
Andrew, the Silverado’s proud owner, transitioned from a Chevy Bolt—GM’s compact EV hatchback. His main motivation? A desire for more range and capability. The Silverado EV RST did not disappoint, offering a staggering estimated 450 miles of range thanks to its massive battery—more than triple the size of the Bolt’s.
He’s already taken it across state lines and dreams of fitting it with a truck bed camper to head out west. Where the Bolt took four days to make the journey, Andrew anticipates the Silverado EV could cut that time in half. The massive battery capacity and high-speed charging capability give it long-haul credibility few EV trucks match.
Performance and Efficiency
The Silverado EV RST boasts dual motors—one front and one rear—each generating 375 horsepower for a combined output exceeding 750 hp. That’s serious power packed into a system utilizing just 37 kilograms of magnetic materials. With a motor efficiency benchmark of 10 hp per kilogram, the engineering is industry-leading.
What makes these motors truly exceptional is their unique 96-slot, 8-parallel path configuration—double what competitors typically offer. Developed under the guidance of Dr. Quagmire Ramone and Dr. Ed Kaiser, this motor architecture is now GM’s go-to for high-volume EVs, also powering the Hummer, Blazer, and Lyriq.
Despite its power, the Silverado’s efficiency is moderate. It’s about half as efficient as the Bolt, yet compensates with raw battery size. Andrew’s real-world test: a 400-mile round trip with 50 miles remaining. For a truck pushing 8,000 pounds, that’s impressive.
Ride and Handling: Rear Steering Revolution
One standout feature of the Silverado EV is rear-wheel steering—a game changer for maneuverability in tight spaces. While it doesn’t offer Hummer-style crab walk, the rear steer system enhances the turning radius and parking experience. Combined with visual guides for both front and rear wheels, it makes handling this full-size truck in suburban environments feasible.
Compared to rivals like the F-150 Lightning or Tesla Cybertruck, the Silverado feels composed. Munro’s reviewers noted the truck’s stability, tight turning radius, and real usability over bumpy roads. In comparison, the Lightning shares a similar ride quality, but lacks the Silverado’s rear-wheel assist.
Build Quality and Design Details
GM’s attention to build quality stands out. Even in black—often the hardest color to hide imperfections—the Silverado showed tight panel gaps and a rugged exterior. It also sports the multifunction tailgate for easier bed access and a clever mid-gate pass-through that extends bed length to 12 feet, accommodating full-size materials or gear.
The frunk, while not as large as the Ford Lightning’s, still offers usable space and a drain plug for added functionality. Inside, the interior avoids the “iPad-only” interface Tesla has embraced. Instead, it balances a central touchscreen with critical physical buttons for quick access to climate and defrost settings—a win for usability and safety.
Features and Comfort
The Silverado EV doesn’t skimp on creature comforts: heated and cooled seats, wireless phone charging, a customizable digital instrument cluster, and Super Cruise—GM’s hands-free driver assistance system.
Andrew reported Super Cruise works reliably on highways with occasional minor overcorrections. It even handles automatic lane changes and adaptive cruising. Munro’s team noted that while it may not yet rival Tesla’s Full Self Driving in ambition, Super Cruise is polished and ready now.
One surprising omission? No power button. Just get in with the key fob and go. It’s one less step in the driving process, and many will appreciate the simplicity.
Towing and Power Capabilities
While Andrew hasn’t yet tested the Silverado’s towing prowess, it’s rated for 10,000 pounds—thanks largely to its large battery and high-output dual-motor powertrain. He’s pulled bikes, but plans heavier loads in the future.
The truck supports bidirectional charging, meaning it can theoretically power your home or tools. However, Andrew’s state lacked infrastructure to enable full vehicle-to-home functionality, despite GM Energy including the charger. A separate installation box is required for backfeeding energy, highlighting infrastructure gaps in some regions.
As for onboard power, the Silverado includes a 240V outlet but no dedicated air compressor—something competitors like Rivian offer.
The Motor Legacy: GM’s “Small Block V8” for EVs
Behind the Silverado’s performance lies GM’s Ultium motor platform, likened by Munro’s engineers to the iconic small block V8. This scalable motor design has been tailored to fit multiple EVs with minor recalibrations and gearing adjustments.
GM’s ability to bring this motor to mass production on time and on budget—despite industry-wide delays—underscores the company’s readiness to compete with Tesla and Rivian on the EV stage.
The motor’s main limitation? High-voltage operation. At 400 volts, the system shines. But pushing it to 800 volts would require thicker insulation, which could compromise efficiency. Still, for now, this motor represents the pinnacle of scalable electric propulsion.
Verdict: A Real Truck for Real Work
So is the Silverado EV worth $105,000? For Andrew, the answer is yes—and Munro’s team agrees. With rugged styling, practical utility, top-tier range, and advanced engineering, it delivers where it matters most: as a real work truck that just happens to be electric.
While no EV truck is perfect, the Silverado RST checks more boxes than most. It’s built for utility, comfort, and performance without sacrificing the basics. And with the Ultium platform under the hood, GM is poised to scale this success across its fleet.
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