4 Different Types of Chevy Trucks (Based on Series)

Chevrolet, shortened as Chevy, is a notable automobile brand owned by the American automaker General Motors (GM). General Motors manufactures a series of trucks, SUVs, and sedans under the Chevy brand, and these vehicles are super classy – plus, they come equipped with cutting-edge features.

Among all vehicle types made by Chevrolet, the most popular one is their truck series. Chevy trucks are among the most sort-after models in the US – competing with Dodge’s RAM models and Ford’s F-series.

There are different types of Chevy trucks sold in the US. Well, some of these trucks have been discontinued for a long time now, but you may still see them in some dealerships.

Chevy Trucks Overview

The first-ever Chevrolet truck was produced in 1934 – it was named Chevrolet Master, a medium-duty truck with an 84.5hp engine.

Chevrolet stopped the production of the Master truck in 1942 to pave the way for the Chevy AK series trucks, which was suspended in 1947 – just five years later – for the Chevrolet Advanced Design and Chevrolet Task Force series trucks.

These old Chevy trucks were really powerful at the time when they were produced; however, they’re almost irrelevant at the moment as they cannot match the performance of newer trucks in the market. So far, Chevy has made over 300 unique truck models – its most famous series is the Silverado.

Types of Chevy Trucks (Based on Series)

It is important to note that this article lists and explains the different types – or better still, series – of Chevy-branded trucks manufactured by General Motors. The popular Chevy Silverado series boosts many truck models – this article doesn’t focus on models but the series particularly.

1. Chevrolet C/K

The C/K series of trucks were manufactured between 1960 and 2002 by General Motors and marketed under the Chevrolet (some models were branded GMC too).

GM’s C/K series featured pretty many truck models, ranging from pickup trucks to chassis-cab and medium-duty trucks. Aside from trucks, there were a few full-size SUV models produced as part of the GM C/K series.

GM’s C/K truck series was built to compete with the Ford F-Series and Dodge D series, of which a few models from the series outperformed their competitive counterparts from Ford and Dodge. The “C” models came with two-wheel drive powertrains, while the “K” models were four-wheel drives.

Across the four generations of Chevrolet C/K trucks, the model line was popular in the US for its high-performance trucks. The second-gen models were branded “Action Line” and the third-gen “Rounded Line.” In the fourth generation, GM switched the series to GMC branding and created the GMC Sierra nameplate.

Engine Information

The Chevy C/K trucks were built with diesel and gasoline engines. The diesel engine options were a 5.7L Oldsmobile V8, Perkins 5.6L I6, and a 6.2L V8, while the gasoline options were a 250 cubic-inch I6, 2.5L I4, and a 4.8L I6 becoming offered in gasoline and ethanol-fuel versions (C-10 and A-10); the sole diesel was now a 5.8 L Perkins inline-six.

Generations and Models

2. Chevrolet Silverado

Silverado is the most popular, and also the most powerful, Chevy truck series. It is the brand’s flagship series and features some of the most notable extremely-powerful pickup trucks sold in American markets.

The Chevrolet Silverado series competes directly with the Ford F-Series and Dodge Ram – just like its predecessor, C/K.

The Chevrolet Silverado series was introduced in 1998 (when the C/K series saw its end) for the 1999 model year. Its name, “Silverado,” was curled from the highest trim level of its predecessor series, the Chevrolet C/K.

Currently in its fourth generation since the 2019 model year, Chevy Silverados comprise chassis cab trucks, full-size pickup trucks, and medium- and -heavy-duty trucks.

Silverados have many similarities with their sister models – the GMC Sierra. Aside from directly competing with Ford and Dodge trucks in the US, Silverado trucks compete with Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan truck series in different markets.

The Chevy Silverado is among the best-selling trucks in the US, with over 12 million units sold since its full appearance in 1999.

Engine Information

The first generation models came with up to five engine options: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6, 4.8L Vortec 4800 V8, 5.3L Vortec 5300 V8, and 6.0L Vortec 6000 V8, and 8.1L Vortec 8100. These engines were paired with a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission.

Well, the current generation (fourth generation) comes with much more advanced engine options: 2.7L turbocharged I4, 4.3L EcoTec3 V6, 5.3L EcoTec3 V8, 6.2L EcoTec3 V8, and 3.0L Duramax I6 diesel engines. The transmission options are 6-speed automatic, 8-speed automatic, and 10-speed automatic – no manual options this time.

The most powerful Chevy Silverado engine, 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 gasoline, produces 355 horsepower, while the turbo diesel Duramax I6 engine gives you 277 horsepower.

Generation and Models

3. Chevrolet Avalanche

The Chevrolet Avalanche series didn’t last for a long time – it wasn’t in the mainstream. However, Chevy Avalanche models were pretty good in many aspects and came with high-performance engines.

Avalanche was a series of four-door, five- or six-passenger pickup trucks built on the same long-wheelbase chassis as the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade EXT.

Throughout the production, there was never a Chevy Avalanche produced for the GMC brand, which was quite unusual of General Motors.

The Avalanche pickup truck models were produced with rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive powertrains; there were suitable for any trucking need, including driving through the toughest off-road terrains.

Sadly, Chevrolet Avalanche lasted only two generations before the series was discontinued, and GM focused more on the Silverados. Trim levels were the LS, LX, and LTZ – there was a Black Diamond Edition introduced for the 2013 model year.

But while the Avalanche series didn’t last, its models won a couple of awards within the few years. The awards include MotorTrend’s Truck of the Year in 2002, Best New Pickup by the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada in 2007, and two times JD Power Highest initial quality large light-duty pickup in 2010 and 2013.

Engine Information

The Avalanche trucks packed very powerful engines: a 320hp/335lb-ft of torque 5.3L Vortec V8 and 367hp 6.0L VortecMAX V8 with VVT and Active Fuel Management.

Interestingly, the 5.3L V8 could run gasoline and E85 fuel – you will get more horsepower with E85 fuel. There was equally a 6.0L V8 (gasoline) engine. These engines are paired with a 4-speed or 6-speed automatic transmission.

Generation and Models

4. Chevrolet Colorado

The Chevrolet Colorado series is another impressive truck line from General Motors. It is built on the same platform and chassis as the GMC Canyon – featuring mainly mid-sized pickup trucks.

Chevy Colorado trucks were introduced in 2004 as the predecessor to the S-10 and GMC S-15/Sonoma compact pickups. The name Colorado was curled from the US State of Colorado.

Currently in its third generation, the Chevrolet Colorado truck models are impressive performance-wise and equipped with pretty advanced technologies. This series is not positioned to challenge Ford’s F-series and Dodge’s Ram series, but it boasts of highly-powered trucks suitable for various operations.

Chevy Colorado trucks are sold in five trims: the base DX and LX, mid-level LT, and high-end LTZ and Z71 trims. These midsize pickup trucks from General Motors under its Chevy brand are priced competitively, come with cutting-edge driver-assist techs, and feature a multi-function infotainment console.

Engine Information

There are many diesel and gasoline engine options for the Chevy Colorado trucks, but the most common ones include the following: a 2.4L I4 paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, 2.8L Duramax I4 (181–197hp; 347–369lb-ft) paired with a 6-speed 6L50 automatic transmission, a 3.6L V6 (308 hp; 275 lb-ft), and a 2.5L Duramax I4 Turbo (180 hp; 324 lb-ft).

Newer models of Colorado trucks come with a 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, or 8-speed automatic transmission.

Generation and Models

Sadly, there are no individual models for the Colorados – the difference is in the trim levels. All through the three generations so far, there are only Chevy Colorado, no specific models. However, you’d find variations based on trim levels, so you get Colorado Z71, Colorado LT, and the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Chevrolet Make Heavy-Duty Trucks?

Yes. General Motors produces a variety of heavy and medium-duty trucks under the Chevy brand. An example of a Chevy heavy-duty truck is the Silverado HD model, which could pull over 35,000-pound weights. You can choose between the 4500HD and 5500HD for higher performance.

What is the Most Powerful Chevy truck?

The special edition Chevrolet Performance ZZ632/1000 is the brand’s most powerful truck at the moment. This truck produces up to 1,004hp @6600rpm with 876 lb-ft of torque @5600rpm. Chevy Silverado 5500s are also super-powerful for heavy-duty applications.

Are Chevy Trucks the Same as GMC Trucks?

Chevrolet (Chevy) and GMC are both automobile brands owned by General Motors. Often, when General Motors makes a truck model for its Chevy brand, it also makes a twin model for the GMC brand. So, basically, most Chevy and GMC trucks are the same with different names, and maybe, a few differences in the interior – talking of infotainment and audio system.

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