Two 2022 Chevrolet Silverado pickups snapped by spy photographers last week show the freshened trucks will have smoother edges, especially on the grilles.
Close attention to aerodynamics helped bump the current Silverado to the head of the pack in the fuel economy race — the diesel model edges out Ford and Ram trucks in city, highway and combined mpg.
But when the truck debuted in 2018, many found the front end, especially with the “air curtains” on the lower outer section of the grille just ahead of the wheels, somewhat jarring to look at. The latest model apparently fixes that. The new air curtains, which direct air through the wheel wells and away from the tires, are smaller and more integrated.
Other changes show the trucks appear to have a slightly higher ride height, which should improve off-road maneuverability.
Chevrolet said last week it plans to add a high-performance ZR2 package to the Silverado this fall for 2022. The ZR2 trim was reintroduced on the Colorado midsize pickup in 2017, adding more capability in a variety of settings — both on- and off-road, but notably in mud.
The 2022 ZR2 will slot above the LT Trail Boss in the Silverado lineup.
Those looking for General Motors to follow Ram and Ford and offer a coil-spring rear suspension will be disappointed. Both trucks still ride on leaf springs. The ZR2 does, however, have what appears to be either an air suspension or a magnetic system.
No word yet on what upgrades the freshen will bring to the Silverado’s interior, the one area of the truck that has been universally criticized for not matching or beating the Ram and F-150 in style and material quality.