2022 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss Review: Diesel Brawn Meets Google Brains

2022 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss Review: Diesel Brawn Meets Google Brains - CNET

X Why You Can Trust CNET Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Cars Trucks 2022 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss Review: Diesel Brawn Meets Google Brains This rough-and-ready pickup is home to Chevy's new Android-based, Google Assistant-powered dashboard tech. Antuan Goodwin Senior Writer, Electrified Cars Antuan started out in the automotive industry the old-fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. He now has nearly 20 years of expertise and experience behind the wheel of hundreds of cars, including electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen, and traditional combustion vehicles. For each car he tests, Antuan covers more than 200 miles behind the wheel and evaluates driving dynamics; acceleration and braking performance; range; and efficiency. Antuan's goal is to use his extensive car knowledge to educate CNET readers and help with their next car-related buying decision. Whether you're EV-curious, an EV-enthusiast or a combustion-car loyalist, Antuan will bring you the unbiased advice, reviews, best lists and news you need. You can reach Antuan at antuan.goodwin@cnet.com Expertise Nearly two decades of testing, driving, reporting on, writing about, reviewing, and editing content about electric and ICE cars. Category focus is on electrified cars, EVs, HEVs, PHEVs, ICE cars, EV infrastructure, EV chargers, EV adapters, EV news, auton Credentials North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror See full bio Antuan Goodwin Sept. 15, 2022 2:00 a.m. PT 7 min read Enlarge Image Chevrolet's full-size Trail Boss balances a rugged exterior with the smart dashboard tech powered by Google. Antuan Goodwin/CNETThe 2022 Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss is as brash a pickup as its name implies, what with its diesel engine, lifted suspension and meaty mud tires. However, this brawny brute is packed to the brim with brainy tech as well, including a massive infotainment overhaul powered by Google Assistant and Android. 8.6 2022 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss View Local Inventory Like Excellent Google-powered tech

Comfortable ride on and off`road

Multiple engine options, including a diesel Don't like No Super Cruise for Trail Bosses

Louder, rougher ride than competing models Google Assistant-powered cabin techLast year's 8-inch display and physical gauges have been replaced by the massive 13.4-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system and a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster. The entire dashboard has been reshaped around these larger screens, but the Silverado manages to keep nearly all of its physical controls for climate, volume and various other functions intact.Chevrolet Infotainment 3 is based on Android Automotive OS and integrates various Google services, such as the Google Play app store and Google Assistant voice commands. Android Automotive OS is different from the more common Android Auto. The latter runs on your phone and is projected to the dashboard's display; Android Automotive OS is baked into the hardware and uses the vehicle's onboard OnStar Services connection for data, so it works even if you leave your phone at home. Of course, wired and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity are still supported, which is great for multiple users who share a vehicle, prefer Apple's software, or just don't want to fuss with setting up various user accounts. Enlarge Image Chevrolet Infotainment 3 with Google Built-in puts Google's Maps and Assistant front and center in the dashboard. Antuan Goodwin/CNETSpeaking of user accounts, the system works best when you're logged into Google, which you can do directly on the touch display. The login process is similar to setting up an Android account for the first time and even supports two-factor authentication via SMS, authenticator app, a notification sent to an Android phone or, most surprisingly, even hardware security keys via the Silverado's USB ports. Once logged in, users can opt to give Google access to your location and data for destination suggestions, personalized reminders and other functions. You can also set a PIN to secure that private information from other drivers.Logging into the system also grants access to Google Maps, which is the primary onboard navigation app for the Silverado. This syncs recent and saved locations, contacts and more automatically. Map and traffic data are pulled from the cloud, but can be cached offline just like the familiar phone app. The system will automatically download and periodically update map data for areas that you frequently drive, like near your home or office, or you can manually download street data for off-the-grid areas where you plan on driving. Enlarge Image Of course, you can still run Android Auto (or Apple CarPlay) inside of this Android Automotive OS suite. Antuan Goodwin/CNETOne of the core benefits of baking Android into the dashboard is installing applications from the Play Store. This is a curated version of the Store showcasing vehicle-appropriate media apps, such as music, news and podcast players. Apps can be downloaded and stored onboard, appearing in the list of audio sources alongside satellite radio, terrestrial radio, Bluetooth and USB media for easy access.2022 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss View Local InventoryIn the same way that Google Maps serves as the primary navigation software, Google Assistant handles all of the Silverado's voice command functions. The software works with or without a data connection -- though it's able to handle much more complex, natural voice commands when connected to the cloud -- with either the tap of a steering wheel button, the Google Assistant icon that's persistent on the left edge of the touchscreen, or by speaking the "Hey, Google" command. Google Assistant can be used to initiate phone calls, send text messages, set destinations for navigation, access Google Home smart devices and control many of the Silverado's creature comforts. Just say, "Hey, Google, set the temperature to 69 degrees" or "listen to 88.5 FM." The Google Assistant integration is so cleverly thought out that, if the cabin fans are blowing at full speed, saying "Hey, Google" will temporarily quiet them so the microphones can more clearly understand your command, resuming the previous speed when you're finished talking. Neat. 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 Trail Boss: Offroad and Online +57 More See all photos Creature comforts and driver-assistance techIn the Silverado's cabin, you'll find a standard wireless phone charger on the center console and both USB Type-C and Type-A ports on the dashboard. In the bed, there's a 120-volt AC inverter that can power tools and small appliances. Remote start allows drivers to precondition the cabin on especially hot or cold mornings.Upgrading to the Trail Boss Premium package ($4,000) adds leather trim, spray-on bed liner, perimeter lighting, a power lift and release tailgate and more. However, my example has the $445 Multiflex tailgate, which requires the removal of the power option. Heated seats are standard and my example should have featured a heated steering wheel, but supply chain shortages meant that it shipped without it. Chevy includes a $25 credit for the trouble with a provision for a retrofit once parts stock returns to normal levels.The Chevy Safety Assist driver-aid suite is also standard for 2022. That gets you automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams and a following distance indicator. However, opting for the aforementioned Premium package steps the game up with a surround-view camera system, rear cross-traffic alert with auto braking and pedestrian alert, and helpful trailering features, including a hitch-view camera, hookups for a dedicated trailer camera and extended blind-spot monitoring that covers the length of a trailer.Buyers can also spec adaptive cruise control as a $500 a la carte option. It works remarkably well with the lane-keeping system, which is surprising on a vehicle this large with a lifted suspension. Adaptive cruise works in stop-and-go traffic and does an excellent job maintaining a consistent distance at low and moderate speeds. It can even smoothly handle drivers cutting in without jerky braking. Sadly, the Trail Boss is not available with General Motors' new Super Cruise hands-free highway assist system; that top-spec tech can only be had on the High Country trim. Enlarge Image You can still get the Silverado Trail Boss with a torquey, turbocharged diesel engine. Antuan Goodwin/CNETDuramax 3.0-liter turbodieselThe Trail Boss comes standard with four-wheel drive but can be optioned with any engine available for the 2022 Silverado -- that includes the 5.3-liter or 6.2-liter V8s, and even the 2.7-liter turbo four-cylinder. My example has the 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel I6 under the hood mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This inline six-cylinder makes 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. That's the lowest horsepower of the available engines, but it ties with the 6.2L V8 for the most torque. That said, the turbodiesel delivers torque much more linearly, peaking at just 1,500 rpm versus the gasoline engine's 4,100 rpm.The increased curb weight of the beefier block technically lowers the maximum trailer rating by 100 pounds versus the big V8, but it's still a respect