Automotive Advisor | Chevrolet & 27 Other Brands
Automotive Advisor | Chevrolet & 27 Other Brands
Gas or diesel. Single rear wheel or dually. Which one fits how you tow, and what GM is changing for 2027.
What Changed
The 2026 HD carries over almost everything from 2025. Here is what did move.
The Lineup
The 3500HD comes as WT, LT, LTZ and High Country. Custom and ZR2 are 2500HD only.
The foundation. Gas V8 standard, Duramax optional, 7-inch screen. Integrated PTO is available on 4WD for hydraulic gear and salt spreaders. One of two trims you can still get in 2WD.
WT plus 20-inch aluminum wheels, all-terrain tires, body-color bumpers and heated power trailering mirrors. About 84 percent of crew cab Customs are ordered with gas. 2500HD only.
The big 13.4-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch driver display start here, with Google built in. 4WD only. Leather is optional. Most LTs are ordered with gas.
Leather standard, heated front seats and steering wheel, and the in-vehicle trailering app. 4WD only. This is where buyers start choosing the diesel: about two thirds of LTZ crew cabs get the Duramax.
Off-road hardware, leather bucket seats, HD surround vision, a bed view camera and a rear camera mirror. The Bison edition sits at the top. 2500HD only.
Leather bucket seats, Bose audio, 20-inch polished wheels, a surround camera and adaptive cruise. The top trim on both the 2500HD and the 3500HD.
2500HD or 3500HD
The 2500HD tows up to about 18,500 pounds on a regular hitch with the diesel. On a gooseneck or fifth wheel, it reaches about 22,000. Payload runs roughly 3,700 to 4,000 pounds at the top end.
The 3500HD adds payload. A dually carries over 7,000 pounds and tows up to 36,000. A single-rear-wheel 3500HD tows about like a 2500HD and carries more.
If your trailer is under 18,000 pounds, you probably don't need a 3500HD. A dually is also wider and harder to park. The top numbers need the Duramax, the Max Trailering package, and the gooseneck prep package. Ratings change with cab, bed and axle, so the door-jamb sticker on the exact truck is what counts.
Availability
The 2026 is the current model. The 2027 HD is already in dealer order guides.
Gas or Diesel
Gas is standard on every trim. It costs less and does the job for most work and most trailers. Chevy rates gas trucks up to roughly 17,000 pounds on a gooseneck setup. Buyers agree. WT, Custom and LT lean gas. LTZ and above lean diesel.
The Duramax is worth it if you tow heavy, and tow often. 975 lb-ft pulls a loaded trailer up a grade without drama. It is also the only way to the top tow ratings. If you tow a few times a year, skip it.
Buffalo Winters
LT and LTZ come with 4WD only. WT and Custom are the only trims still offered in 2WD. An empty HD pickup is light in the back. In a Buffalo January, that is the wrong place to save money.
If you run a salt spreader or other hydraulic equipment, integrated PTO is available on WT, Custom and LT. It is a 4WD-only option. LTZ adds heated seats and a heated steering wheel for the cold mornings.
What's Coming
GM previewed the 2027 Silverado HD on September 24. The 2026 is built on the same truck, but the 2027 gets a new diesel, new steering and new brakes. The updated 6.6L gas V8 is assembled at GM's Tonawanda plant, right here in Western New York. The 2027 price has not been announced.
Pricing
The 2026 HD starts at $48,695. That is a 2500HD WT regular cab, long bed, 2WD, with the gas V8. It includes the $2,795 destination charge. The HD range tops out around $77,695 before options. The 3500HD starts slightly higher.
The Duramax is an extra-cost option, so the number depends on the truck. Cab, bed, wheels and packages all move it. Tell me what you tow and I will price the right truck, not the cheapest one.
My Honest Take
Three common situations. Yours may be a blend.
Get a 2500HD. Gas if you tow a few times a year. Duramax if it's most weekends. Skip the 3500HD.
3500HD with the Duramax. Consider the dually if the trailer is heavy. Check the numbers on the exact truck first. The door-jamb sticker decides what you can carry.
A 2026 is a known truck with published pricing. If you want a diesel and can wait a few months, the 2027 is a different engine. Don't buy a 2026 diesel only to avoid waiting.
Next Step
No gatekeepers, no call centers. Whether you're ordering next week or just starting to look, I'll give you straight answers.
Specs and pricing come from GM Authority, Work Truck Online and published trailering data. Accurate as of October 2, 2026. Prices are starting MSRPs including destination, before options. Towing and payload vary by cab, bed, axle and equipment. Your truck's door-jamb sticker and Trailering Information Label are the authority. 2027 details come from GM's September 24 preview and from production schedules reported by GM Authority. 2027 pricing is not announced, and dates can change. Not an offer or a quote.