2024 Chevy Silverado EV WT First Drive Review: Good Work Doesn't Come Cheap

The 2024 Chevy Silverado EV is the first mass-market counterpunch to the Ford F-150 Lightning. Rivian already sells the adventure-ready R1T, though the battery-powered Bowtie has a totally different everyday ethos. Then there's Ram, which is working on the 1500 REV, but that won't come out until late next year. As such, there's a ton (or several) riding on the Silverado EV to be a big hit for General Motors.

The first model to launch will be the utilitarian WT trim aimed at fleet services, contractors, and small businesses; it'll be available to the general public a little while later. As such, that’s the truck I had the chance to test in Michigan last week. I'll come straight out and say that the future of electric pickups is seriously bright—and also seriously expensive, but you probably knew that already.

You can't deny that the Silverado EV WT is impressive. Unless you have some unwavering brand allegiance to the Blue Oval, there's no reason to. Still, the modestly optioned 4WT models I tried cost $79,800, and not every handyman can afford to drive one while still making money. That doesn't undercut its capability, but it undoubtedly makes it a tougher sell for its commercial audience.

2024 Chevy Silverado EV WT Specs

• Base price WT (4WT as tested): $TBA ($79,800)

• Powertrain: dual-motor | 1-speed automatic | all-wheel drive

• Horsepower: 510

• Torque: 615 lb-ft

• Seating capacity: 5

• Curb weight: N/A

• Max towing capacity: 10,000 pounds

• Max payload capacity: 1,440 pounds

• Front trunk cargo volume: 10.7 cubic feet

• Range: 450 miles

• Quick take: A deeply impressive, well-rounded work truck that’s far more capable and comfortable than it needs to be. But about that cost...

• Score: 8/10

The Basics

Whereas Ford expedited its electric pickup by stuffing batteries into the F-150’s ladder frame, GM has taken a slower, more thorough approach. The result is a Silverado EV that isn’t related in any fundamental way to the gas-powered truck. It's built on GM’s dedicated Ultium platform, similar to the GMC Hummer EV, just with a bigger focus on work than Crab Walking its way through off-road trails.

It’s immediately evident that the Silverado EV isn’t your average Chevy pickup, mostly because it looks completely different from its fossil-fueled sibling. It’s smoother, sleeker, and sportier. Those C-pillar bed sails give it a futuristic Chevy Avalanche look, and they’re also functional. According to the automaker, they clean up the turbulent air behind the cab, helping to improve its aero. In fact, with a drag coefficient of .331, the Silverado EV is the slipperiest pickup you can buy. The result of that, and a whopping battery pack, is an astounding 450 miles of EPA-estimated range.

Being a work truck, the Silverado EV WT’s interior is pretty plain. There’s a ton of hard-touch plastics and a one-note color scheme. That's OK because the WT’s interior is meant to take a daily beating from boots, tools, and filthy workers. Chevy wanted it to be easy to wash down with a hose and blow out with a leaf blower, so don’t get the WT for its creature comforts unless you're coming from a Squarebody or something. That said, it feels well-built, its touchscreen infotainment system is clear and works well, the seats are comfy, and it was even surprisingly quiet on the road, given that there’s barely any sound insulation in the cab. It’s easily the most comfortable work truck I’ve been in and, while riding as a passenger, I actually forgot it was a work truck for a bit.

Powering the WT is a dual-motor setup giving it all-wheel drive, 510 hp, and 615 lb-ft of torque. That level of power may not snap your neck like the upcoming Silverado EV RST’s 754 hp and 785 lb-ft, but it’s way more than enough for a rig that's meant for towing and hauling.

Driving the Chevy Silverado EV WT

Since the Silverado EVs we drove were genuine workhorses, work is what we made them do. The test took place on a mix of pavement and dirt roads with a designated tow loop to see how they’d handle all the scenarios you’d use a traditional gas truck in. Chevy also showed off what the Silverado EV can do better than an internal-combustion pickup, like its ability to double as a mobile generator with up to 10 outlets and 10.2 kilowatts of power.

I had the chance to drive through highway traffic and on some twisty roads without a trailer. I can confidently say that there’s a lot to like as the ride is solid and comfortable, with only a bit of choppiness over the rough Michigan pavement. Like other electric trucks on sale today, the Silverado EV rides on four-wheel independent suspension, which definitely helps the ride. Its steering is also nicely weighted with a heft that reminds you of what you’re driving, and the front end is accurate. It feels more like driving a sporty SUV than it does a pickup.

Visibility is surprisingly good for a pickup this size, especially forward where the Silverado EV’s low cowl provides an expansive view over the hood. Without an engine in the way, Chevy was able to lower the cowl and even push it forward for more cabin space. Ergonomically, it’s quite good, too, with no major complaints. Having the left stalk control turn signals, lights, and wipers is a bit confusing at first but it’s easy to get used to. Aside from that, it's a well-laid-out truck inside and the 4WT lacked the typical button blanks you find on less optioned models.

While the on-road and dirt portions of the test were pretty straightforward, I was a little anxious about towing. I've only ever owned small sport sedans, and while I'm comfortable on a race track or some twisting backroads, towing a 9,000-pound setup with a John Deere tractor was a mostly new experience. My nerves may have been misguided, though, as the Silverado EV WT worked like a charm. With the trailer brake adjusted and the truck in its tow/haul mode, the dual-motor setup made easy work of pulling the tractor around. As you'd expect from a rig with this much juice, it never once struggled to keep up with traffic or pull a hill.

Even more impressive was its regenerative braking, which has huge potential in work applications. Think of it as a strong exhaust brake that just so happens to feed power back into your battery. There are three regen options—Off, On, and High—and I kept it in the middle setting. It was able to slow the loaded Silverado EV to a stop without me ever hitting the brake pedal. More than that, it didn't feel any different than it did without the trailer. So not only is its regen braking strong, Chevy's calibration is immensely impressive.