The double-cab variant sits above the regular cab and hence gets additional features over it and does not feel so rudimentary and basic like the lower trims. That being said, the diesel powertrain is available with only two trims which include the lower LT trim and the sporty RST trim. While the LT trim gets only RWD, the RST is offered only with the 4WD drivetrain.

As standard, the diesel powertrain comes standard with the engine start & stop function for even better fuel efficiency. Most of the features that one would need on a daily basis are available on the LT trim which includes heated front seats and steering wheel, satellite radio, rear-view camera, and much more. The RST trim on the other hand is focused on the adventure junkies and gets a lot more exterior functions along with the larger wheels and leather steering wheel.

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Since the 4WD is available only with the RST trim with the diesel powertrain, if you wish to buy the diesel double cab as a workhorse, the base trim should suffice all your needs. The RST costs considerably more and does not offer enough value unless you intend on doing adventure activities. 

2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Diesel Double Cab Release Date

Initially, Chevy wanted to launch the reworked Silverado 1500 on 9th, September, but with production slowed down, expect the carryover model to be unveiled in the last quarter of 2021 with deliveries probably beginning only by the beginning of 2022. 

The 2022 Chevrolet Silverado diesel will be powered by a 3.0-liter Duramax turbocharged inline-six diesel engine that is mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission as standard. The engine is rated to produce 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque which is sent to the rear wheels as standard while RST trim gets a 4-wheel drive drivetrain as standard. 

While the performance of the Silverado diesel isn’t as entertaining or brisk as many of its other gasoline-powered drivetrains, the Duramax engine is capable of doing the 0-60 mph run in just 7.5 seconds. It also covers the quarter-mile in under 16 seconds with a flat throttle on a freeway. The top speed is limited at 108 mph and maximum payload and towing capacities are rated at 1,780 lbs and 9,500 lbs respectively. 

With the expectations set high by its peers in terms of refinement and ride quality, the Silverado 1500 does not do half bad. It manages to handle high-speed corners rather well and the lightweight steering makes it easier to maneuver it within city limits. Though all things aren’t good for the Chevy as broken roads tend to upset the ride and toss the occupants around while the steering too feels vague and needs correction at higher speeds. 

The diesel Silverado isn’t offered with the off-road focussed aptly named Trail Boss trim with the double cab and is offered with the crew cab. Instead, the double cab just gets the RST trim which only gets the sportier looks with the inclusion of an automatic locking rear differential. Therefore, do not expect great performance away from the track with the Duramax under the hood of the Silverado double cab.

The Silverado 1500 and the Sierra 1500 share their powertrain with each other and hence are the most powerful diesel trucks of the segment. That being said, the Ford F-150 with its Power Stroke diesel engine that generates much lesser engine output has a higher towing and payload prowess to offer. The RAM 1500 diesel too does better in this regard and is also priced much lower than both the GM trucks.

One buys a diesel truck majorly for its superior efficiency and the Duramax engine under the hood of the 2022 Silverado 1500 does not disappoint at all. It is rated to return a maximum of 33 mpg while cruising on the highways while the combined fuel economy is rated at 25 mpg. With a decent-sized 24-gallon fuel tank, the Silverado diesel is a mile muncher, offering a driving range in excess of 600 miles consistently which thereby reduces the gas station visits. 

The GMC Sierra 1500 is rated similarly to that of the Silverado and with the same sized tank, it too offers an identical driving range. The RAM 1500 diesel has a marginally lower fuel efficiency but also employs a smaller gas tank, both of which together affect its driving range. The Ford F-150 diesel has the lowest frugality here but also comes with the largest fuel tank capacity in the segment which aids it in bringing the driving range on par with the segment standards. 

Inside the cabin, the Silverado 1500 feels in need of that update that got delayed by a year. And although it isn’t a bad quality or poorly designed cabin, it feels basic and outdated when compared to the more premium cabins of its competitors. Though the material quality is pretty good for most parts, the cabin comes with quite a few cheap plastic elements that spoil the overall appeal of the truck. 

The steering column-mounted gear shifter is another sign that showcases the old-school design of the Silverado. The equipment level available with the Silverado varies quite a bit with the variant and although the double cab misses out on many premium features available only with the crew cab it does far better than the basic regular cab. There are heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, and optional leather upholstery. 

In terms of space, even the double cab of the Silverado 1500 offers plenty of space for both the front and rear seat occupants. There is abundant headroom and legroom for the front three passengers with the bench seat, which can be opted for two chairs and a large armrest if comfort is more important to you. At the back, there is enough space to seat most average-sized Americans rather well while the cargo bed is one of the largest on offer. 

Both the Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks are the most spacious ones of the segment with class-leading space at the front and a massive bed capacity to offer. The RAM 1500 offers great rear-seat space but compromises the space upfront while the Ford’s F-150 has tighter rear seating quarters but is more spacious than the RAM at the front. Both offer similar bed capacity which is much lesser than the GM trucks. Some of the interior features in the truck include:

• 40/20/40 split-bench front seat w/lockable under-seat storage
• 10-way power driver seat w/lumbar support
• Heated driver and front outboard passenger seats
• 60/40 folding bench fold-up rear seat
• Cloth Upholstery
• Tilt and telescoping leather-wrapped heated steering wheel
• Dual-zone automatic climate control w/rear HVAC vents
• 4.2-inch Driver Information Center

How intuitive is the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Diesel Double Cab’s infotainment unit?

The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 interface is one of the most easy-to-use systems with large easy to read icons and intuitive controls. The double cab luckily does not make do with the smaller seven-inch screen and instead features the larger eight-inch head unit, but sadly misses out on the functionality of the in-vehicle app. Bluetooth connectivity and voice commands are standard while the navigation system is missing from the list of features. 

The standard six-speaker audio system just does its job fine but a seven-speaker Bose premium sound system with a Richbass subwoofer is available as an option on the RST trim. The Wi-Fi hotspot is standard across the trim similar to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Most of the trims also get satellite radio as standard as well but surprisingly, HD Radio is optional on both the double cab diesel trims. Some of the infotainment features in the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Diesel Double Cab include:

• 8.0-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 touchscreen system
• 6-speaker audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• SiriusXM Radio w/All Access trial subscription
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Bluetooth audio streaming and phone connectivity
• Voice commands

Unlike the interiors that leave you feeling a lot to desire, following the complete redesign in 2019, the exteriors of the Silverado 1500 are rather striking in contrast to its cabin. The large front grille flanked by LED headlights and daytime running lights on either side look aggressive while the sides are pretty basic in visual appeal. There are plenty of cargo tie-downs, LED bed lights, and an EZ Lift tailgate for efficient loading and unloading cargo.

Other than all these, Chevy also offers a number of options for the exterior with the RST trim that gives a sporty and rugged appeal to the truck. As standard 18-inch wheels, silver-painted wheels are offered, but one can choose from a range of 20-inch and 22-inch wheels along with a powered tailgate, bed-view camera, bedside storage boxes, tonneau covers, and various other aesthetic features for the added price.

There is not much to differentiate between the exterior dimensions of all the trucks in this comparison as all are roughly more or less the same in dimensions. That being said, many prefer the more mellow exterior design of the RAM 1500 over the brash-looking Sierra and Silverado trucks. The F-150 has the highest ground clearance to offer while the other three ride a bit lower to the ground. Some of the exterior features in the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Diesel Double Cab include:

• LED reflector headlamps w/LED signature Daytime Running Lamps & LED fog lamps
• LED taillights and Cargo Area Lighting in the pickup bed
• Heated power-adjustable exterior mirrors
• EZ Lift Tailgate
• 12 Cargo tie downs
• CornerStep rear bumper
• 18-inch Bright Silver painted aluminum wheels

There are plenty of active and passive safety features on offer with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and most of them are standard across the lineup. Also, the NHTSA has rated the Silverado 1500 with a 4-star overall rating and while the IIHS hasn’t completely tested it, it does fare well in the aspects it was tested for the 2021 model year. 

That being said, only the basic safety features make their way to the diesel double cab with the majority of the modern-day safety functions being limited to the higher trims of the crew cab. There are no driver assistance features on offer and everything needs to be chosen add-ons manually or through the options packages. Some of the safety features include:

• StabiliTrak stability control system w/Proactive Roll Avoidance
• Traction control w/electronic trailer sway control and hill start assist
• Dual-stage frontal and seat-mounted side-impact airbags for driver and front outboard passenger
• Head-curtain airbags for front and rear outboard seating positions
• Passenger Sensing System
• Rear Vision Camera
• Teen Driver Modes
• OnStar and Chevrolet connected services
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Tire Fill Alert

2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Diesel Double Cab vs Ford F-150 SuperCab

When headed against the most valuable nametag and the highest-selling vehicle in the country, the Silverado 1500 diesel starts to lose its charm. To begin with, the Ford F-150 has a much higher payload and towing capacity with hardly any compromise on offer in terms of acceleration. The Duramax engine is more frugal than the Power Stroke and the Silverado has a more spacious cabin and bed to offer, but the F-150 has a more premium cabin with many creature comforts and technology.

2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Diesel Double Cab vs GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab

Both being the corporate cousins of one another, they both share almost every other thing of the vehicle with each other. Both have exactly the same acceleration and towing capabilities, equal fuel efficiency figures, spacious cabins, and large cargo beds. The GMC Sierra is positioned as the more premium of the two and hence gets the better material quality and a couple more creature comforts to justify the higher asking price.

2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Diesel Double Cab vs RAM 1500 Quad Cab

The RAM 1500 quad cab has multiple advantages over the Silverado 1500 which begins at the lower asking price for the diesel double cab. Add to that the superior payload & towing capacities with a comfortable and plush ride quality, the RAM takes the play away from the Chevy. Although the Chevy truck has a more spacious cabin, the RAM’s cabin is better built with premium materials and much more features.

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Diesel double cab is a perfect choice for those who want to reduce their fuel bills, increase productivity and yet not compromise on the solid dependability of Chevrolet. The cabin is spacious enough to seat the entire family when needed while the cargo bed is practical and spacious to fit maximum cargo to increase productivity. Unless you are bothered by the rough ride and kind of dated interior appearance, the 2022 Silverado 1500 diesel double cab should be just fine for your business.