2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Kirkland Buyers Guide

Nine trims, and the names are less confusing than they look

A full-size truck lineup can read like alphabet soup, so here's the short version. WT, Custom and LT are the straight-line climb: work truck, then a dressed-up work truck, then the one with the big touchscreen and a nicer cabin. RST is the street-styled branch off that tree, with body-color trim and a few sporty special editions to choose from. LTZ and High Country sit at the comfort end, with leather-appointed seating and, on High Country, available Super Cruise hands-free driving. Then there are three trucks built for dirt: Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss, which put a 2-inch factory lift and Z71 Off-Road equipment under the Custom and LT cabins, and the ZR2, which goes further with Multimatic dampers and front and rear locking differentials.

Because the two Trail Boss trucks are trims in their own right and not an option box you tick, they have separate guides here, along with every other trim. Pick the cabin you want first and the hardware second, and the list shrinks fast.

Four engines, and which trims get which

The 2.7L TurboMax is the standard engine on WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST and LT Trail Boss. Chevrolet quotes 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque with an 8-speed automatic, and it calls that torque figure best in class for a standard engine. The 5.3L V8 (355 horsepower, 383 lb-ft, 10-speed automatic) is standard on LTZ and High Country and available on most of the trims below them. The 6.2L V8 makes 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft, shows up as an option on RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, ZR2 and High Country, and runs on premium gasoline according to EPA listings. The 3.0L Duramax diesel (305 horsepower, 495 lb-ft) is the unusual one: Chevrolet calls it the only diesel in its class, rates it up to 28 mpg on the highway, and lists it as standard on ZR2 and available on Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ and High Country. Availability also depends on cab, bed and drive, so the window sticker on the actual truck is what settles it.

What the Eastside asks of a big truck

Kirkland is a good place to find out whether you really need a full-size pickup. Parking at the Kirkland waterfront and in downtown Bellevue is tight, the I-405 toll lanes and SR 520 add their own math to a commute, and a crew cab is not a small thing to back into a garage built in 1975. But the other half of the week is the reason people buy one. Boat launches on Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish, a camper bound for the Olympic Peninsula, a bed full of mulch and lumber from a Saturday project, and the drive east on I-90 toward Snoqualmie Pass, where traction tires or chains are sometimes required in winter. Chevrolet's own towing range runs from a minimum of 8,700 lbs to a maximum of 13,300 lbs, and that top number belongs to a Double Cab with the standard bed, the Duramax diesel and 20-inch wheels, so ask what your exact configuration is rated for before you hook up anything heavy.

Pick your 2026 Silverado 1500

Every trim has its own guide covering what it adds, the engine choices and the questions buyers tend to ask.

What Silverado buyers say about the store

Lee Johnson Chevrolet holds a 4.6-star average across more than 2,200 Google reviews, and the Silverado shows up in them year after year. Cory M. wrote in May 2025: "This is the 3rd Chevy Silverado that we have purchased from Lee Johnson," and added that they "drive almost 3 hours to get to the dealership because of the service." Kai H. summed up a December 2025 visit in a single line: "Incredible staff, fast service and great truck." Jackie L., who needed help with a 2021 Silverado, called the team "very willing and creative problem solvers."

The Silverado service and repair guide covers upkeep, and the pricing and leasing guide walks through Washington's tax math for a Kirkland purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 still a current model?

Yes. Chevrolet still lists the 2026 Silverado 1500 with pricing from $37,200 MSRP. Chevrolet has also announced a next-generation 2027 Silverado 1500 that it says will be available to order later in 2026, and that truck is a redesign with its own engines, so this guide sticks to the 2026 model year and the dealership can tell you what's on the lot today versus what's on order.

How much does a new 2026 Silverado 1500 cost?

MSRPs start at $37,200 for the WT and reach $71,800 for the ZR2, before the $2,795 destination charge, Washington sales tax, licensing and any dealer fees. The pricing and leasing guide shows the Kirkland tax rate, and the dealership posts current offers on its new Chevy specials page.

What engines are available in the 2026 Silverado 1500?

There are four: the 2.7L TurboMax four-cylinder, the 5.3L V8, the 6.2L V8 and the 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel. Which ones you can order depends on the trim, cab and drive, and the trim guides spell out each combination.

Is the 2026 Silverado 1500 a good truck?

It's a capable full-size pickup with a wide range, from a plain work truck to a leather-lined cruiser to a factory off-roader. Whether it's the right one for you depends on what you tow, haul and drive every day, so test drive at least two trims back to back. The inventory is searchable on the dealership's new Silverado 1500 page.

How do I check a Silverado for recalls?

Chevrolet points owners and shoppers to NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, where you can enter a VIN, and the service department can also look up open recalls on a specific truck before you buy.

What is the difference between the Trail Boss and the ZR2?

Both have a 2-inch factory lift and off-road equipment. The ZR2 adds Multimatic DSSV dampers, front and rear electronic locking differentials, an off-road front bumper and larger aluminum skid plates, which is why it starts $11,800 above LT Trail Boss.

Where can I test drive a Silverado near Bellevue or Redmond?

Lee Johnson Chevrolet at 11845 NE 85th Street in Kirkland, about 15 minutes from Bellevue. Sales is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 to 7 on Saturday and 11 to 6 on Sunday, and you can call 425-296-7553.

All 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 guides

• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 buyers guide
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 RST
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500 service & repair in Kirkland
• 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pricing & leasing in Kirkland