2026 Chevy Silverado: New Features Douglaston Drivers Should Know

Your truck sits in traffic on the Long Island Expressway, squeezes into a driveway built for a sedan, and still has to pull the boat, the camper or the job-site trailer on Saturday. Our team is made up of your neighbors, and the question we hear most from truck shoppers is whether one pickup can do all of that without feeling oversized for the rest of the week. For most people, the 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500 can, as long as the engine and trim match the job.

What's New on the 2026 Chevy Silverado 1500

2026 is a fine-tuning year for the Silverado 1500. Chevrolet kept the nine-trim lineup and the four engines, and aimed the changes at specific buyers:

The most visible addition is the RST Select package. It's offered only on RST trucks with the TurboMax engine, and it adds 20-inch gloss-black wheels, all-terrain tires, black assist steps, a spray-on bedliner and all-weather floor liners. The ZR2 now comes standard with the Multi-Flex tailgate and the Technology Package, which includes a rear camera mirror and a 15-inch head-up display. On select trims, the 6.2L V8 can be ordered with a more aggressive exhaust tune that opens up in Sport mode. Two colors were added, White Sands and Polar White Tricoat, and the Realtree look became a dealer-installed appearance package for the Custom and Custom Trail Boss.
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One change is easy to overlook: the Multi-Flex tailgate can no longer be ordered on the Double Cab. It's still available on the Regular Cab and Crew Cab.

Everything else carries over: the engines, the screens, the safety suite and the Durabed. If you're curious about going electric, the Silverado EV is sold alongside the gas and diesel trucks, and this page focuses on those gas and diesel models. And if your garage or your trailer has you looking at the heavy-duty 2500 instead, our page on Silverado dimensions and specs covers the 2500's measurements.

Four Engines, Four Kinds of Work

Choosing the engine matters more than choosing the trim, because the engine decides what the truck can tow and what it costs you at the pump. Here is what each of the four is good at.

TurboMax 2.7L Turbo-Four

The TurboMax makes 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic. With proper equipment, it can tow up to 9,500 lbs, and it gives the lineup its highest payload, 2,260 lbs. That makes it a sensible engine for a contractor who fills the bed with tile, lumber or tools far more often than they tow. It's the standard engine on the WT and Custom and the only engine on the RST Select.

5.3L and 6.2L V8s

The 5.3L V8 makes 355 hp and 383 lb-ft, with up to 11,300 lbs of towing. It suits buyers who want the familiar sound and feel of a V8 and tow a mid-size camper or a pair of jet skis. The 6.2L V8 is the strongest gas engine, with 420 hp, 460 lb-ft and up to 13,200 lbs of towing. It's also the engine that gets the new Sport-mode exhaust tune.

Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel

The Duramax is an inline-six with 305 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, paired with a ten-speed automatic. In its best configuration, the EPA estimates it at 28 mpg highway. That matters if your week includes regular runs out the Long Island Expressway to the East End or long weekend trips upstate. It also has the highest tow rating in the lineup.

In short: if you mostly commute and carry loads in the bed, start with the TurboMax. If you tow often or drive long highway distances, look at the Duramax. If you tow heavy and want gas, look at the 6.2L. The 5.3L sits comfortably between them.

Towing and Trailering Capability

Your truck's real limit depends on its cab, bed length, axle ratio and packages, so the trailering label on the actual truck is the number to trust.

Some of the most useful towing features have nothing to do with pulling power. With up to 14 available camera views, you can line up the hitch alone and keep an eye on the trailer from the driver's seat. That helps when you're backing a boat trailer down a busy North Shore ramp with people waiting behind you. Chevrolet's trailering app keeps your trailer details in one place, which helps if you switch between a utility trailer during the week and a camper in summer.

A trailer is only as safe as the truck towing it. If your load is heavier than any half-ton should pull, see how much the Silverado can tow in 2500 form.

Screens, Safety and the Bed

Starting at the LT, the dashboard has a 13.4-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital driver display. The touchscreen runs Google built-in, so Google Maps and voice commands work without plugging in a phone, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included. The WT and Custom have a smaller screen, which is worth knowing if the big display is the main reason you want a new truck. Upper trims add options such as a 15-inch head-up display, Bose audio and Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance on compatible roads.

Chevy Safety Assist is standard on every 2026 Silverado 1500, from the WT to the High Country. It includes automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, a following distance indicator and IntelliBeam automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic braking and HD Surround Vision are available on higher trims. HD Surround Vision is especially useful for Queens drivers, because parallel parking a full-size pickup on a narrow street is much easier with a top-down view of the bumpers.

In the back, the Durabed is standard and gives you a deep, wide steel bed. On Regular Cab and Crew Cab trucks, the available Multi-Flex tailgate folds into a step, a load stop and a work surface. You'll appreciate it the first time you need to reach a cooler at the front of the bed without climbing in.

2026 Silverado Trim Levels, From Work Truck to High Country

Nine trims sounds like a lot, but they fall into four groups, and most buyers already know which group they belong in.

Work-focused: The WT and Custom are built for job sites and fleets, with simple cabins and the TurboMax as standard. The Custom adds more style without much extra cost or complexity.

Everyday and family: The LT is where the big screens, Google built-in and more comfort features arrive, which is why it's the trim most commuters end up comparing. The Silverado RST adds a sportier, body-color look, and the RST Select pairs that look with the TurboMax and an off-road-style wheel and tire package.

Off-road: The Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss have a factory two-inch lift, skid plates and all-terrain tires. The Silverado ZR2 goes further with Multimatic DSSV dampers and front and rear locking differentials, and for 2026 it comes standard with the Multi-Flex tailgate and Technology Package.

Top-tier comfort: The LTZ adds leather and heated and ventilated front seats. The Silverado High Country is the most luxurious Silverado 1500 and offers the most driver-assistance technology in the lineup.

A configurator can show you every combination, but it can't show you which ones are actually on the lot. The Silverados in Douglaston change all the time, and sitting in an LT and then an LTZ back to back answers the comfort question faster than any spec sheet. If you're still deciding on the brand itself, our look at the Silverado compared against other trucks is a good next read. Pricing depends on the truck, so our sales team will confirm it for the specific Silverado you're looking at.

What Registering a New Silverado Costs in New York

Registration fees are part of the out-the-door price, and they don't change based on which dealership you buy from. These are the New York DMV's passenger-vehicle figures, current. The state revises its fees from time to time, so the finance office will confirm the numbers that apply when you buy.

• According to the New York State DMV's registration fee schedule, the title certificate fee is $50.00.
• Per the New York State DMV's registration fee schedule, the vehicle plates fee is $25.00.
• The New York State DMV's registration fee schedule sets the minimum two-year registration fee for passenger vehicles with six or more cylinders, which covers the V8 and Duramax trucks, at $32.50.
• New York City residents must pay a vehicle use tax of $30 for two years when registering a passenger vehicle, per the New York State DMV.
• The New York State DMV requires supplemental MCTD fees of $50 over two years for New York City residents.

Douglaston is part of Queens, so a buyer who lives here pays both New York City charges. Long Island buyers should ask which charges apply where they live. The finance office can put together the full number for your situation, including your trade-in, before you commit.

Financing Your Silverado With Your Douglaston Neighbors

The East Hills Chevrolet family has been in business since 1984 and opened the Douglaston store in 2007. Many of the people who sell and service your truck are the same people you'll see around the neighborhood. East Hills Chevrolet of Douglaston is a CARFAX Top-Rated Dealer five years in a row and has more than 2,700 Google reviews. In those reviews, more than one customer singles out the person they worked with on the sales floor. Patricia, in a 5-star review, put it as “I truly wish I could give East Hills Chevy in Douglaston a rating higher than 10, they deserve it”.

A good Silverado purchase is usually remembered for the people as much as the truck. Martin said in a 5-star review that he "couldn't be more happy with the 2025 Chevy Silverado 1500 from East Hills in Douglaston" and recommended both the dealership and his salesperson. When the conversation turns to price, what shoppers want most is straight talk. David's 5-star review describes the sales manager who handled his deal as "Extremely fair and honest."

The lender decides on approval, rate and terms based on your credit and qualifying conditions. We'll walk you through those clearly once a lender has reviewed your application. If you're looking for a lease, the same applies: the lease terms depend on your credit approval and the offer you qualify for. If a new truck doesn't fit your budget, ask about CarBravo certified pre-owned Silverados.

You'll find us at 240-02 Northern Blvd, Douglaston, NY 11362. The Cross Island Parkway and the Long Island Expressway are both close by, so your test drive can include real highway miles. That's the only fair way to judge the Duramax or how quiet the cabin is at speed. The showroom is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 8pm, Friday from 9am to 7pm, Saturday from 9am to 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Chevy Silverado

Is Chevy discontinuing the Silverado?

No, Chevrolet continues building the Silverado 1500 for the 2026 model year in nine trims across multiple powertrains, so you can still order one through your local dealer. Buying one means you keep full access to GM Genuine Parts and factory-trained service for as long as you own it. Equipment does shift from one model year to the next, so if a changeover lands while you're shopping, ask the sales team to show you an outgoing truck and an incoming one side by side before you choose.

Is a Chevy Silverado a good truck to buy?

Yes, if you will actually use a full-size bed, a full-size tow rating or a back seat that fits adults. If your loads are light and most of your driving ends in a tight Queens parking spot, test-drive a Chevy Colorado on the same visit, because the smaller pickup still tows up to 7,700 lbs and may be all the truck you need. Plenty of buyers who arrive set on a Silverado leave with one anyway. The difference is that they made the choice after driving both trucks on the same roads, not after looking at a chart.

What is the most common problem with Chevy Silverado?

Owners of recent Silverados most often complain about infotainment software glitches and, in some earlier model years, a shudder from the eight-speed automatic transmission. Before you buy a used one, ask for its service records and have open recalls checked against the VIN. Software problems are usually fixed with updates applied at a service visit, and the transmission shudder has generally been handled through dealer service procedures. A routine maintenance appointment is usually where either problem gets caught early, before it turns into a bigger repair.

Call (888) 439-0425 to check availability with East Hills Chevrolet of Douglaston.

Tax, tag, title, registration and dealer fees are extra. Financing and lease offers are subject to credit approval by the lender and to qualifying conditions; not all buyers will qualify. Towing, payload and fuel economy figures are manufacturer and government estimates for properly equipped vehicles, and actual results vary with configuration, load and driving conditions. New York State and New York City fees are set by those governments and may change.