Chevrolet Silverado vs RAM 2500

What's the difference?

The Chevrolet Silverado enjoys enduring popularity in Australia’s unique new vehicle market for locally remanufactured right-hand drive versions of full-size US pick-up trucks.

Armed with unique V8 power, the range offered by General Motors Speciality Vehicles (GMSV) comprises the entry-level 1500 LTZ Premium and top-shelf 1500 ZR2, while the colossal 2500 HD offers the ultimate in heavy towing capabilities.

Their combined sales represent a leading market share of more than 40 per cent, in a specialised segment where purchase prices extend well into six figures.

The latest MY26 Silverado range is backed by a new five-year/unlimited km warranty paired with five years of roadside assist, which provides greater peace-of-mind for buyers than the previous three-year/100,000km and three years' roadside assist. The ZR2 also gets upgraded driver assistance plus additional exterior colours.

We recently spent a week aboard one of the latest 1500s to find out why the Silverado is such a popular choice for Aussie buyers and if it’s well suited to tradie duties.

Before the 1980s, when air travel was expensive, the humble Australian family car had to be able to tow a big boat or caravan in order to take the brood on holidays across our vast, sunburnt land.

Many turned to oversized American barges, like the Dodge Phoenix and the Pontiac Parisienne. People loved their massive dimensions, huge interiors, endless torque and look-at-me status.

And guess what? They still do. And even the same carmakers remain today, thanks to Chrysler’s Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty (HD) – which grew out of Dodge – and General Motors’ Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD.

Now, the Ram HDs, which were also the first of the modern American remanufactured trucks in Australia back in 2015, have come in for an overhaul.

How do the latest 2500/3500 stack up? Keep reading.