2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The Chevy Silverado 3500HD has long been a popular purchase for both work-related and personal uses due to its strong towing and hauling capabilities. Even though the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is now bigger than ever before, it shed some weight this model year and is more aerodynamic and agile. With multiple configurations to choose from, there is bound to be a trim level that fits each driver's unique needs. But with this year's deletion of Regular Cab configurations and the Dual Cab Standard Box 4WD model, there are fewer options to choose from.

What's New for 2019?

A few changes have been made to the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD line-up, including the elimination of the Dual Cab Standard Box 4WD and the Regular Cab configurations. There is a new Mosaic Black Metallic exterior color and a Buildout Edition (also known as the Tribute Edition). This is exclusive to the LTZ trim and comes with a spray-on bedliner, parking assist for the rear and front of the vehicle, and its own decals. Other than that, you can expect most of the mechanics to remain the same as what was available on the 2018 model year's line-up.

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD – The Pros

1. Strong Hauling Capabilities

One of the biggest reasons that individuals and employers alike keep investing in Chevy Silverados is that they have impressive hauling capabilities. The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is no exception to this rule, as it is perfectly able to haul up to 6,137 pounds. This puts it in direct competition with other best-selling trucks in its class. Hauling bulky furniture in the bed of the 3500HD is simple, and you will be the person who your friends call on when they need help moving.

2. The Towing Capacity

Need to tow a fifth wheel? No problem! The Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD has a towing capacity of 13,000 to 14,100 pounds with a maximum of 23,300 when properly equipped. While this towing capacity does not quite touch the capabilities of some competitors, the 3500HD is still quite efficient at towing. The sturdy transmission, cruise control, and exhaust braking are all helpful at improving the vehicle's performance while towing a heavy load. Also, the optional 6.6-L turbodiesel engine provides plenty of power to get the Silverado accelerating while towing a fifth wheel.

3. The Optional Diesel Engine

While the standard engine works just fine, the optional 6.6-L turbodiesel engine is worth the upgrade. This engine is able to get 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque and is linked with a powerful Allison 1000 6-speed transmission. The engine itself can run on either gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG) if you decide to add the bi-fueling option. Not only is this the optimal engine for maximizing towing efforts, but it gives the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD impressive acceleration abilities. Take the 3500HD out on the highway, and you can get this truck from 0 to 60 mph in just about 7.7 seconds - a great speed for this segment.

4. Secure Handling

Handling on the Chevy Silverado 3500HD is surprisingly agile. In fact, it does not feel like you are driving a big, bulky truck. Instead, the 3500HD takes on more of an SUV-like feel with its nimble cornering capabilities. There is virtually no body roll to speak of, and it even handles well enough for a truck its size on slow urban streets and in tight parking spaces.

5. Climate Control is Easy to Use

Using climate control in the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is simple. Just push the buttons and turn the knob until you get the temperature you desire. You don't have to mess around with a bunch of confusing high-tech gadgetry. The air conditioning is quick to cool the entire cabin, and the heat reaches everyone just as quickly. The front seats have a split-heating feature that allows you to heat either the back or bottom of the seat at once as opposed to the entire thing.

6. A Spacious Cabin

As you might expect from a truck of this size, the cabin is big. This ultra-spacious cabin can seat six and do so comfortably. Up front and in the rear, the well-cushioned seats provide plenty of hip space. With the way that the cabin is designed, even taller adults have plenty of leg, shoulder, and head room.

7. Plenty of Cargo Space

Another positive feature that you can find on most trucks this size is abundant cargo space, and the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD certainly has it. The standard bed offers up 56.1 cubic feet of cargo space while the long bed has 76.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Either way, you cannot go wrong with these sizes. If you need storage space inside of the cabin, the rear seat can easily be folded up.

8. Child Safety Seats Are Easy to Install

Got a child safety seat (or three) that you need to install? Getting the seats secured via the latch anchors is easy, and there is certainly plenty of space in the back for getting the child safety seats in and out. Rear-facing seats, which can be difficult to install and use in smaller vehicles, are a cinch to get infants and young children in and out of in the Silverado 3500HD.

9. Plenty of Small Item Storage Spaces

Small item storage areas abound in the cabin of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD. You get not one but two glove boxes, and there are plenty of bins and pockets of respectable sizes in which you can store purses, cell phones, and tablets. Even the center console has pockets where you can store smaller sized items. The 3500HD is truly a leader when it comes to offering storage solutions in the cabin.

10. The Revised Smart Step

This year, Chevy saw fit to re-design the smart step. Found on the corner bumps of the rear fender, the smart step is now large enough for chunky work boots of all sizes to fit into its crevasse. The blind-zone sensors for the sides are also now located here instead of in the taillights, which is where some of the competitors put them. This move allows the taillights to be shaped with more latitude in mind and lowers the cost of the vehicle. This is certainly a smart move by Chevy!

Reasons Not to Buy a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD – The Cons

1. A Firm Ride Quality

The one glaring downside to owning the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is that the ride quality is just too firm for comfort. The suspension has a very stiff tuning, so when you drive around with the truck unladen, you will feel every bump in the road. When you load the truck up with a heavy payload, however, the ride quality smooths out.

2. Seats That Are Too Firm

To go along with the firm ride quality, the rear seats might feel too firm for some people. The front seats are well-padded and provide plenty of support, but the flatness of the rear seats might be too much for some passengers, especially if they must sit there during long commutes. Over time, the seats will get broken in, but at first, they are simply too firm for comfort.

3. Poor Visibility

It is hard to expect flawless visibility from a truck the size of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, but this vehicle has some particularly massive blind spots. The roof pillars are thick and obstruct some visibility. Trying to figure out where exactly the corners are on the 3500HD can be difficult despite the large side mirrors.

4. Voice Control is Finicky

Voice control is a feature that has yet to be perfected on the Silverado 3500HD. They only seem to work correctly about half of the time, so drivers will likely find themselves relying more predominantly on the touchscreen controls and physical knobs to engage different features. Google Voice and Siri are both good alternatives if you have integrated your smartphone via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD vs. 2019 Ford F-350 Super Duty

As is the case with every model year, the new 2019 Ford F-350 Super Duty is a strong competitor against the 2019 Silverado 3500HD. The F-350 can get expensive with the more options you add on, but it can also be worth it. The towing and payload capacities rival, if not exceed, those found on the Silverado. Also, the F-350's diesel V8 engine offers plenty of power, and steering and handling are remarkably spunky for such a large vehicle.

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD vs. 2019 Ram 3500

Another top contender this model year is, of course, the 2019 Ram 3500. The new Ram 3500 offers a tremendous amount of torque from the powertrain. Unlike the Silverado, the Ram's ride quality is well-mannered and even comfortable, which is hard to find in a large truck. However, the diesel engine is a 6-cylinder and therefore is not as powerful as what you can find on most competitors, and it sends out less power if you equip the manual transmission.

Conclusion

There is little doubt to be had that the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD is bound to be a popular seller, just like it has been in previous model years. While its ride quality and comfort, visibility, and voice control functionality are all downsides, they do not seem to deter people from wanting a Silverado. Whether it is for work or play, the 3500HD probably offers whatever it is that you are looking for with its lengthy list of configurations and optional features.