2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss Tested With New 402-HP 5.7-Liter V8

MotorTrend took the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss for a first drive up Mount Lemmon near Tucson, Arizona. As GM's bestselling and arguably most important vehicle line, the latest generation of the Silverado required meaningful improvements to remain competitive in the full-size pickup segment.

The cabin receives a comprehensive redesign anchored by GM's new Google-powered 16.3-inch infotainment display alongside a 12.2-inch digital driver cluster. The infotainment setup offers rapid response times, sharp graphics, logical menus, and smartphone mirroring through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while skipping gimmicks like dedicated passenger screens.

The 4WD Trail Boss model sits in the middle of the lineup with an MSRP of approximately $64,000. It distinguishes itself with focused off-road hardware, including a factory 2-inch lift, 18-inch wheels wrapped in aggressive all-terrain tires, and underbody armor. A notable technology update is the addition of hands-free trailer towing to the Super Cruise driver-assistance system, which functioned seamlessly during highway evaluation.

Under the hood, the test truck featured the new 5.7-liter V-8 small-block engine producing 402 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, replacing the previous 5.3-liter unit. A larger 6.6-liter V-8 with 481 hp and 501 lb-ft is also available across other trims, though the 5.7-liter proved exceptionally responsive in combination with GM's 10-speed automatic transmission and Powertrain Grade Braking.

On winding mountain switchbacks, standard electric power steering and improved chassis calibration kept the 5,000-pound truck composed, minimizing body motion and cabin noise despite the knobby tire tread. While the tall hoodline and power dome reduce forward road visibility, the truck showed refined road manners suitable for long-distance daily driving.

Specifications for the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss include a $63,995 base price, a 147.8-inch wheelbase, an estimated 0–60 mph acceleration time of 6.5 seconds, EPA fuel economy ratings of 15/18/16 mpg city/highway/combined, and an estimated range of 384 to 544 miles.