In 2024, 1.3 million EVs were sold in the USA; globally, that number jumped to 17.1 million. It’s safe to say that EVs are no longer a novelty. I’d long said that when pickup trucks — often the bestselling vehicle type in the country — started being sold as fully electric, we’d know they had caught on.
Ford, GMC, Rivian, Tesla, and Chevrolet all now sell BEV (battery-electric vehicle) pickups. Chevrolet even raced the Mint 400 in one.
I got to drive the Chevrolet Silverado EV LT at the Mint 400 — attempting to keep up with Chevrolet racer Chad Hall in the company’s Silverado EV ZR2 Concept race truck to find out how these electric pickups fare as chase vehicles once in the dirt.
In short: The Silverado EV was new for 2024, but the model line gets expanded for 2025 to include the LT trim. Built on a narrower version of the GMC Hummer EV platform, the Silverado EV LT Extended Range levels up from the lower Work Truck range and adds an array of niceties, such as power-heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a bigger touchscreen, and a Bose stereo.
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Big, comfortable interior -
Loads of tech and power -
Versatile, ample DC power located in the bed
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Ample wind noise at highway speeds -
22-inch wheels/tires not great for dirt use
2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV LT Review
Massive Inside
First off, the Silverado EV LT interior is spacious and comfortable. If you’re familiar with the current line of Chevrolet trucks, the Silverado EV LT will look similar, complete with a large 17.7-inch diagonal color LCD screen, an excellent Bose sound system, and lots of storage.
This model also had an expansive fixed glass roof. Oddly, there’s no built-in sunshade. Apparently, there is an optional removable shade available. Chevy installed a Rugged Radios race radio for us so I could listen to the different teams’ interactions.
There’s a fair bit of wind noise at speed, but being totally electric, you’re prone to hear such things far more than in a noisier gas truck.
It was a bit chilly (and very windy) at the 2025 Mint 400, so the heated seats and steering wheel were appreciated. The back seat was quite comfy, even for adults. This was a good place to spend time. The Bose stereo was great, all the gauges were brilliant, and the cabin had an airy feel to it.
Massive Power & Gigantic Wheels
Even if you’re not attempting to chase down an off-road race team, know this: Silverado EVs are quick. The trucks have two electric motors with a claimed 645 horsepower on LT models. All that gusto is put to all four wheels.
Zero to 60 times are in the low 5-second range, which should help keep up with any race teams you’re chasing. The RST model is even faster, with 0-60 times in the low 4-second range.
Give it the beans and the Silverado EV LT scoots. It wasn’t quite as speedy as the massive Hummer EV SUV I drove last year, which had three motors. And, unlike the Hummer, this LT-spec Silverado EV model wore optional 275/50R22 Bridgestone Alenza all-season tires. Not ideal for dirt and gravel.
The Silverado EV has a fully independent suspension to soak up bumps. The big 22-inch wheels and 50-series tires aren’t exactly ideal for desert duty, especially when aired up to street pressures. The LT rides well on the highway, by the way, but if you’re going to play off-pavement, airing down the tires a bit will help with the ride quality.
Chevy’s upcoming Silverado EV Trail Boss will be the real off-road spec electric pickup, and that’s coming in 2026. With more sidewall and off-road tuning, that’ll be the one for you if you’re trying to chase desert trucks.
Big Brakes, Big Clearance
The Silverado EV LT Extended Range is equipped with 14.5-inch front and 13.6-inch rear brakes to stop the behemoth, which weighs around 8,800 pounds. Yes, over 4 tons.
Even with the heft, it’ll cover up to 390 miles before needing a recharge. We didn’t need to charge during our desert escapades, however. The truck is capable of fast charging up to 300 kW for its sizable 170kWh battery pack.
The Silverado EV LT has 8.9 inches of ground clearance, which isn’t a ton for an off-roader (the Hummer EV has up to 15.9). However, the Silverado EV LT isn’t really designed to be a boulder-crawling off-roader like the Hummer. For all intents and purposes, the ground clearance is just fine.
Make no mistake — this is a big vehicle. Not quite as large as its GMC Hummer EV cousin, but still plenty large and in charge. Thankfully, the excellent front and rear cameras help with parking in tight garages (and yes, I had to do that).
But It’s Not for Big Off-Roaders
While at the Mint 400, we were limited to dirt roads, with the occasional dips, bumps, and bad pavement associated with the desert. The truck handled all this easily, although we were aware of the modest ground clearance, massive wheels, and low-profile all-season tires.
These features are the truck’s weak link once you trek off the tarmac. Both could likely be tweaked via the aftermarket to allow for better off-road performance, or just wait for the Trail Boss — or even the likey ZR2.
For those looking to tow, this rig has a 12,500-pound pulling capacity. Towing reduces the range, but it’ll still pull hard. Just mind where your next charge may be.
Bed Time: It’s Electric — And Versatile
In the Silverado EV LT’s 5-foot 11-inch bed are two 120V circuits with two outlets each. There’s also a single 240V 30A circuit with one outlet. Total offboarding power is 10.2 kW, which Chevrolet says will power a house’s basic needs for 21 days.
This will also allow plenty of power to support a race team, by the way. You could have a variety of power tools, lights, and pretty much anything else you might need to plug in. This could be a fantastic asset for a race team in the pits.
I wasn’t hauling much in the Silverado’s bed, just a 12V fridge that was securely tied down. But it was great to have the power back there, which could run continuously even when the truck was off. Plus, the fridge was easily accessible using Chevrolet’s Multi-Flex tailgate, which can be fully folded down or just partially folded to access cargo or, in my case, lunches.
More Expensive Than an ICE Silverado, Less Than a Trophy Truck
Being an EV, there’s a premium to this Silverado. The Chevrolet Silverado EV LT Extended Range starts at $73,100 plus $2,095 destination. Our tester stickered at $84,590 with the destination. This included the $9,800 LT Premium Package, $1,500 glass roof, $800 soft roll-up tonneau, and $295 for a dual-level charge cord.
You can easily option up trucks to this level quite easily these days, so this price shouldn’t be too shocking for some truck buyers (that was an EV pun, by the way). This is probably $915,410 cheaper than a trophy truck, however (estimated).
For reference, a similarly-specced Silverado 5.3 LT is around $64,000 but missing the glass roof, midgate, and in-bed outlets.
2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV LT Review: Conclusion
All kidding aside, the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV LT has a lot going for it. Comfort, power, and technology in one rather gargantuan package. As for its off-road prowess and chase-truck ability? Stick to established dirt roads with this one, and you’ll be fine.
Those wanting more off-road capability will want the 2026 Trail Boss. And if you’re the kind of person who loves the Mint 400, you may find that the ’26 Trail Boss is worth the wait.
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