Full-size pickup trucks are the most popular vehicles in America, but does it mean they’re good as daily drivers? Well, it depends on the truck, the configuration, and the trim. Some trucks are better at being daily drivers than others. So with Ford and Chevy constantly competing to cover everything from luxury and off-road use to daily driving, it makes sense that some shoppers might wonder if the newest 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500 still competes for the everyday user.
Let’s go through which trims are best for commuting and which configurations are best for family travel. Daily drivers aren’t just about performance and fuel efficiency; they’re also about passenger volume and comfort levels, so it’s important to review the features the 2024 Silverado 1500 has that make it well worth the return.
Great Gas Mileage for Its Class
The number one focus on a lot of commuters’ minds is fuel economy. The 2024 Silverado 1500 carries over its fuel economy ratings from the 2023 model year, which was quite impressive for a full-size truck with its gross vehicle weight rating and its capabilities. Of course, if you’re looking for a daily driver, you’re looking for the most fuel-efficient variant of a model to get the most bang for your buck at the gas pump.
For the 2024 Silverado 1500, the two most fuel-efficient variants aren’t necessarily trim-specific but rather the ones that can be configured with specific powertrains. By that, I mean you’re going to want either the 2.7L TurboMax four-cylinder or the 3.0L Duramax Turbo-Diesel. Why these two? Well, they’re the two engines designed to get the best fuel economy ratings out of the Silverado 1500.
If you’re regularly making long treks—whether it be commuting to work, picking up or dropping off the kids at school, or running errands around town—the TurboMax and Duramax offer the best fuel economy ratings for the 2024 Silverado 1500.
With the TurboMax, you’re looking at 19 MPG in the city and up to 22 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive. If you don’t plan on regularly going off-road, then you won’t need the four-wheel drive configuration of the truck, but if you do need the 2024 Silverado 1500 in four-wheel drive, then you can still expect to gain 18 MPG in the city and up to 21 MPG on the highway. You get the best fuel economy out of the Silverado Duramax Turbo-Diesel, however, as this nets you up to 24 MPG in the city and up to 29 MPG on the highway in rear-wheel drive; in four-wheel drive, you can expect to average 22 MPG in the city and up to 27 MPG on the highway.
Basically, if you’re looking for a full-size Chevy pickup that offers you the best available fuel economy, those two options for the Silverado will net you the best numbers. So fuel economy being a big part of your daily commute means you’re likely going to want to opt for a TurboMax if you don’t want to deal with a diesel engine. Alternatively, a Duramax is your best option if you don’t mind a dirtier drink at the pump.
Affordable Scales of Comfort
Having a vehicle you use daily means being able to get in and get out without any issues, as well as keeping your comfort levels manageable for both short and long trips. There are many options for the 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500; if you’re looking for a comfort-driven daily driver, the LT, LT Trail Boss, and RST all fit the bill without pushing the budget too far.
What about the WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LTZ, ZR2, and High Country? Well, those are the extreme sides of the content offerings. The WT, Custom, and Custom Trail Boss are very, very bare bones when it comes to comfort and convenience features, as they’re more geared for work-related tasks and work-related off-road tasks.
The LTZ, ZR2, and High Country are very high-end. So if you don’t mind spending only what you need and getting only the very basics, the WT and Custom are the way to go. But if you want more top-end luxury offerings, then the LTZ and High Country have everything you could possibly want (within reason) of a full-size pickup. But for more middle-of-the-road truck shoppers looking for something manageable, affordable, and still offering some rich comfort features, the LT, LT Trail Boss, and RST are good picks, especially the LT and LT Trail Boss, as they offer the most package options and versatility in the 2024 Silverado 1500’s lineup.
With the LT, RST, and LT Trail Boss, you have convenience features like keyless entry, automatic climate control, and the standard inclusion of features like power driver seats with heated front seats, multiple USB ports, remote vehicle start, and a telescopic steering column. This is in addition to the Chevrolet Infotainment System, which comes with all the standard touchscreen and smartphone integration features. So if having comfortable seating arrangements and climate control options are a big selling point for you, these trims come packed with those options.
It makes a big difference in travel convenience when everyone inside is comfortable and has room to move around. Features like the EZ Lift power tailgate also make it convenient for getting things into and out of the rear bed, especially for family-related errands such as school supplies, groceries, or sports equipment for your kids’ extracurricular activities.
Getting the Right Cab Format
The big battleground for finding and buying the right full-size pickup truck will always be “price” versus “features.” Do you opt for more convenience features at the risk of paying more? Or do you opt for something more basic at the risk of not feeling all too comfortable? There will always be a rough spot when breaking down what works for your budget versus what works for your daily driving habits. One thing that shouldn’t be too difficult to determine is the right cab-format for your daily travels, as that’s a much easier thing to determine.
If you’re looking for a truck to drive daily for work, school, or basic travel, and it’s just you or someone else, then you can easily opt to save money by configuring the Silverado 1500 as a regular or double cab. If you don’t think you’ll be carpooling and will just be doing basic commuting, then you don’t need a massive truck; just enough to get done what you need to, and the space and features that best make the ride comfortable.
For instance, if you drive solo and need to do a lot of hauling on a regular basis—and hauling large or long cargo—a long bed in a regular cab makes for a good daily driver, as you can save upfront costs; and if you opt for a Duramax or TurboMax, you can get the most out of the Silverado’s fuel economy with a much lower cost of entry.
However, if you need a daily driver for the family, then you’re definitely better off going with a double cab or a crew cab configuration, as they can seat up to six people. So for a small or starter family, the Silverado 1500 still makes for a good daily driver and all-arounder regarding capacity and space. The rear bed gives you plenty of storage for whatever cargo you have, and a crew cab cabin gives you lots of sitting room for passengers.
You can opt for an LT, double or crew cab format, short bed, and with a TurboMax, get all of the mileage out of a 2024 Silverado 1500 that you could possibly ask for as a daily driver. Your needs from a full-size truck will determine which trim or configuration to go with, but you can confidently outfit the 2024 Silverado 1500 as a daily driver if that’s what you’re looking for.
