First Look Review: Chevy Silverado EV RST is a ‘typical’ alternative to the Cybertruck

Scheduled to arrive at U.S. dealerships by June, the Chevrolet Silverado EV RST will be one of the most exciting electric pickup launches in 2024. Recently, I saw a black-colored unit on display and explored its design and features in detail to find out if it is the ultimate street truck from the Bowtie brand.

Design

The Chevrolet Silverado EV is clearly designed from scratch and isn’t a battery-electric ‘conversion’ of the gas truck. Like me, buyers seeing it for the first time in real life will be drawn to its signature big truck sensibilities, now with modern, bold twists. The front stands out to me; it’s shaped to guide air smoothly along the sides, minimizing drag. The front lights catch my eye – they’re split up, with Daytime Running Lights positioned at the hood’s tip and the main beams placed lower.

The RST trim exudes sportiness at every angle. My favorite part at the front is the illuminated logo and the LED grille light bar, which should allow it a distinct entrance. The 24-inch wheels, specifically designed to be aerodynamic, are another standout feature, presumably helping with range.

Since battery technology is evolving, manufacturers have to make aero efficiency a top priority, as the truck’s range will drop significantly when towing and hauling. I also spotted the RST badge on the closed front grille and tailgate, which I felt could have been a tad smaller. I am not a fan of the large grille and prefer the simple horizontal slats of the Work Truck trim. The gloss black touches, like on the pillars, mirrors, and roof, neatly tie everything together.

When I touched the various surfaces of the Silverado EV RST, I felt the paint quality, panel gaps, and overall build were impressive for a truck. GM designers even carved a nice little Chevrolet logo in the market lights to show their level of attention to detail.

GM offers the Silverado EV exclusively in a Short Bed Crew Cab version with a 5-foot-11-inch bed. On the RST trim, an available Multi-Flex Midgate allows customers to carry longer objects. With the Midgate open, objects as long as over 9 feet can be kept between the cab and the tailgate. Also available on the RST trim for extended storage length is Multi-Flex Tailgate, which increases that figure to 10 feet, 10 inches. Being a tech-savvy person, I liked how the Silverado EV RST greeted me with a lighting animation when I approached it carrying its key fob.

Another personal favorite is the ‘eTrunk,’ a lockable and weatherproof storage compartment under the hood, commonly known as frunk. I was easily able to fit my backpack in here, and the remaining space was enough to keep a hardside suitcase.

Interior

Stepping into the Chevrolet Silverado EV, I notice an upscale interior filled with soft-touch materials and a sleek, modern dashboard designed from scratch, bearing no relation to the gas-powered Silverado. My eyes were immediately drawn to the compact, car-like steering wheel and the streamlined climate control panel and central AC vents. I can’t help but think that the 11-inch virtual instrument cluster and the large 17-inch touchscreen infotainment system could have been integrated more smoothly.

 In pictures, I felt the volume knob was too deep to access the mute button in the upper-left corner of the infotainment system, so I gave it a go, and I felt it wouldn’t be a problem once I got used to it. The location of the climate control panel from the driver’s seat was ideally set, and when I touched the buttons and rotated the knobs in that panel, I felt the sensation wasn’t premium, with average feedback.

The fixed-glass roof brightens the cabin with natural light and surprisingly adds to the headroom. When I checked out the modular console, I was left impressed with its over 7 gallons of storage space, which could easily fit a lunch cooler.

As for the color coding, if you ask me, the combination of light gray and black suits looks perfect. Performance is second nature to EVs, and accordingly, this scheme communicates that trait without exaggeration. I touched the perforated seat covers of the front seats and felt soft and well upholstered.

Moving on to comfort and packaging, in my experience as a six-foot-tall person, entering and exiting the Silverado EV RS is a breeze with the deployable side step. Hopping into the driver’s seat, I found the legroom to be comfortable, and the headroom was expansive. GM claims that the truck’s shorter front overhang improves forward-down vision, and if you ask me, I felt in my experience that it might not be all that different.

The rear seat offers a better level of legroom and comfortable headroom. I could see that three six-footers can comfortably sit together, and the almost flat floor and good back support are a bonus. While the shoulder room in the second row is also comfortable, the under-thigh support could have been better, with wider cushions.

Specifications

The Chevrolet Silverado EV RST sports a dual-motor powertrain that generates up to 754 horsepower and more than 785 lb.-ft. of torque in an available boost mode, officially called WOW (Wide Open Watts). I’m yet to drive this EV, but GM claims it’ll do 0-60 mph in under 4.5 seconds. In my opinion, that is an impressive performance for this type of vehicle. Also worth noting is a payload capacity of up to 1,300 lbs. and a towing capacity of up to 10,000 lbs.

GM hasn’t announced yet, but I think it will offer a 208 kWh battery pack in the Silverado EV RST. The company is targeting an EPA-estimated range of 400 miles and estimating that just 10 minutes of charging will add approximately 100 miles of range. The Silverado EV RST will be able to take advantage of 350 kW rapid chargers and, if equipped, allow customers to offload power at 10.2 kW power tools, portable appliances, homes, and more.

Price

The Chevrolet Silverado EV RST will retail at USD 105,000 + DFC in a First Edition. Its regular pricing isn’t out yet, but it’s clear that it will be quite an expensive truck.

TopElectricSUV says

The Chevrolet Silverado EV RST is honed for superb street performance just as much as regular trucking duties. Its bold styling, impressive range, clever storage solutions, and superb performance make it a great pick for anyone in the market for a new electric pickup. We only wish it was affordable, as the six-digit launch edition’s price suggests it won’t be that accessible.

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