The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV is an impressive full-size electric pickup with exceptional range, strong towing capability, innovative cargo capacity and the latest tech. It’s available in a wide range of options to appeal to everyone from commercial users to luxury buyers and off-road enthusiasts. But while The Silverado EV succeeds in many areas, its sheer size and price will steer some buyers elsewhere.
Base Price: $86,600
As Tested: $92,910
Horsepower: 725
Mileage: 75 MPGe city/61 MPGe highway/68 MPGe combined
The Silverado EV was launched for the 2024 model year and Chevy made bold claims about range technology and utility. For 2026, the lineup is expanded with additional trims, battery options and the new off-road oriented Trail Boss trim.
The Silverado EV is built on GM’s Ultium platform and competes with the Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck, as well as its cousin, the GMC Sierra EV and the now discontinued Ford F-150 Lightning.
All trims have four-door crew cabs with room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
The 2026 Silverado EV comes in four main trims with several different battery options: Custom, LT, Trail Boss, and RST Stars and Steel. Starting prices range from $52,800 to $105,800.
Buyers can choose from Standard Range, Extended Range, and Max Range battery packs depending on trim. All models use dual electric motors with standard all-wheel drive. Power outputs vary from 510 to 760 horsepower, depending on battery size and trim.
One of the Silverado EV’s biggest strengths is its range. Depending on configuration, the range varies from about 283 miles to 478 miles, placing it near the top of the segment. A long range is important in a pickup because towing, payload, weather and terrain can all reduce battery efficiency, and starting with a larger range helps offset these factors, making the Silverado EV more practical than many rival EV trucks.
The range of my Trail Boss test vehicle with the Max Range Battery Pack is rated at 478 miles. I achieved even better range with estimates of 488 and even 500 miles during my week with this EV.
The new Trail Boss trim adds off-road capability without sacrificing much of the Silverado EV’s everyday comfort. Features such as Sidewinder Mode allow diagonal movement at low speeds, helping drivers navigate narrow trails and obstacles more easily.
Performance varies greatly based on the battery back. Entry-level versions produce around 510 horsepower, while top LT Max Range models generate up to 760 horsepower and 765 lb-ft of torque. My Trail Boss test vehicle with the Max Range battery pack cranks out a whopping 725 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque.
Acceleration is surprisingly quick for a full-size pickup. Even lower-output models deliver instant torque and sports-car-like responsiveness so the Silverado EV can merge, pass and accelerate effortlessly despite its ginormous size. Ride quality is very good. The Silverado Ev’s independent suspension and low-mounted battery pack create a stable, confident driving experience that feels more refined than many traditional full-size pickups. Brakes are responsive, which you want in a huge vehicle. You can set the Silverado EV to one-pedal driving mode which lets you decelerate just by taking your foot off the accelerator. The Silverado EV is also exceptionally quiet, with minimal wind and road noise. But there’s no getting around the fact that the Silverado EV is a behemoth, and you’ll notice its substantial size when maneuvering in urban settings, parking lots or narrow trails.
The cabin is one of the most modern among full-size pickups. It’s spacious, contemporary and technology-focused without being too complicated. The crew cab provides plenty of leg- and headroom for adults in both rows. Seats are comfortable and supportive, even on long drives. A six-speaker audio system is standard, and a Bose audio system is available on the higher trims.
Most trims have a digital gauge cluster and an infotainment system with a huge 17.7-inch horizontally-oriented touchscreen with Google Built-in connectivity. The system responds quickly to inputs, and there are physical controls for volume and climate settings. Unfortunately, there’s no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay compatibility which will definitely turn off some shoppers. The system can handle several functions, including texting, but it’s not the same as having those interfaces.
The Silverado EV has exceptional storage flexibility. The bed is 5-feet-11 inches and Chevy’s innovative Multi-Flex Midgate design lets you extend cargo space into the cabin when transporting longer items. The 10.7 cubic-foot frunk (front trunk) is a convenient place to stash the charging cable and other items, and has a handy power-opening hood. Together with the available Multi-Flex tailgate, these features make the Silverado EV very useful for hauling cargo.
When properly equipped, the Silverado EV can tow up to 12,500 pounds. The maximum payload varies from 1,500 to 2,350 pounds, depending on the model. But, of course, you’ll deplete the vehicle’s range more quickly when towing and hauling.
Chevrolet’s Super Cruise hands-free semi-automated driving system is available or standard on all models. This is one of the best systems currently available. It only works on roadways that have been mapped so it can’t be engaged on highways that don’t support it.
Here are the trims of the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV:
Custom – MSRP $58,200 for Standard Range, $66,200 for Extended Range, and $74,200 for Max Range. This is the work truck, designed primarily for commercial customers and fleets. The cabin quality isn’t the best with plenty of hard plastics. The range is 286 miles in Standard Range, 424 miles in Extended Range, and 493 miles with the Max Range battery.
- Up to 510 horsepower
- Crew cab configuration
- Remote start
- Keyless entry
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Synthetic leather upholstery
- Manually adjustable front seats
- 11-inch digital gauge cluster
- Infotainment system with 17.7-inch touchscreen
- Google Built-in software
- Voice recognition
- Six-speaker audio system
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi hot spot
- Cargo bed lighting
- Several household-style power outlets
- Level 1/Level 2 charging cord
- Integrated trailer brake controller
- 18-inch wheels
- Available Multi-Flex tailgate and power export features
LT – MSRP $60,900 for Standard Range, $69,100 for Extended Range, and $89,200 for Max Range. This trim is likely to be the best seller as it offers a good balance between value and features. The range is 283 miles for Standard Range, 410 miles for Extended Range, and 478 miles for Max Range.
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat
- Heated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated steering wheel
- Wireless device charging
- Ambient interior lighting
- Universal garage door opener
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
- Available Super Cruise hands-free driving technology
Trail Boss – MSRP $70,000 for Extended Range and $86,600 for Max Range. New for 2026, this trim brings impressive off-road capability to the Silverado EV lineup. It features a factory 2-inch lift, 35-inch all-terrain tires, unique suspension tuning, skid plates, and red tow hooks. It’s also equipped with Terrain Mode and Sidewinder Mode for improved maneuverability on challenging trails. Sidewinder Mode lets the pickup move diagonally at low speeds. Up to 725 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque is available with the Max Range battery pack.
- Up to 725 horsepower
- Two-inch suspension lift
- Enhanced ground clearance
- 35-inch all-terrain tires
- Off-road-specific driving modes
RST Stars and Steel Edition – MSRP $97,350 for Extended Range and $105,850 for Max Range. This is a commemorative truck celebrating America’s 250th birthday and builds on the features on the LT.
- Up to 760 horsepower
- Stars and Steel striping
- 12-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats
- Panoramic glass roof
- Adaptive air suspension with adjustable ride height
- Four-wheel steering
- Brembo six-piston front brake calipers
- Super Cruise hands-free driving technology
- Spray-on bedliner
- Rolling bed cover
- 24-inch wheels
Standard driver assistance technologies include
- Surround-view camera system
- Forward collision warning
- Forward and reverse automatic emergency braking
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Following distance indicator
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Intersection automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
- Side bicyclist alert
- Traffic-sign recognition
- Rear cross-traffic alert and braking
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Front and rear park assist
- Safety alert seat (the front seat vibrates to provide warnings)
- Rear-seat alert (reminds you to check the rear seats for children or pets before you leave the vehicle)
- Teen Driver (lets you set speed and audio limits for your teen drivers and provides an in-vehicle report card)
Available driver assistance technologies include
- Head-up display
- Digital rearview mirror
- Super Cruise (Chevrolet’s highway driving mode with partially automated steering, acceleration and braking)
- Lane-centering assist
- Driver-attention monitoring
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers
The good:
Excellent range
Impressive power
Refined handling and comfortable ride
Speedy acceleration
Innovative cargo features
User-friendly infotainment system with huge touchscreen
Super Cruise hands-free system works well
The not-so-good:
Higher trims can exceed $90,000
Large physical size
No Android Auto or Apple CarPlay
Pricing info:
My Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss Max Range test vehicle starts at $86,600. The dealer-installed hard folding truck bed cover by Real Truck Advantage is $1,950. The fixed panoramic glass roof is $1,500. The all-weather floor liners are $265. The destination charge is $2,595, bringing the grand total to $92,910.
Bottom line:
The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV is a well-rounded and capable all-electric pickup with its combination of class-leading range, strong performance, refined handling, excellent cargo features and advanced tech. Yes, its huge size, hefty price tag, and absence of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are negatives. But anyone shopping for a full-size EV pickup should definitely take the Silverado EV for a test drive.
