This 2027 Silverado Z71 Almost Made Me Cancel Our Custom Trail Boss Order

Cory Fourniquet   |  

Nov 14, 2026

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For months, I wanted to own the very first 2027 Chevy Silverado. Well, that dream has since passed. New trucks are slowly reaching Texas dealers, and Chevrolet of Wills Point has four of them on its lot. They are the new 2027 Silverado Z71, and one of those made me seriously rethink our order.

After all, we’re still waiting on the Custom Trail Boss we ordered for a year of testing. Yet this Z71 lands within $1,000 of our sticker, with the same V8 and a nicer cabin. So, did I cancel? Here’s the full walkaround, starting with the window sticker.

Silverado Z71 Window Sticker, Line by Line

First, some good news for Z71 fans. As we noted in our 2027 Silverado pricing breakdown, the 2027 Silverado Z71 is back as its own trim. Better yet, its $54,200 base price sits $200 under the Custom Trail Boss.

Specifically, this crew cab 4WD truck in Summit White adds $5,980 in options. Here’s how the sticker breaks down.

In the end, that’s just $960 more than our Custom Trail Boss at $62,015 with destination. In other words, it’s close enough to make me think twice.

The Same 5.7-Liter V8 We Ordered

Under the hood of the 2027 Silverado Z71 sits the new 5.7-liter V8, a 350-cubic-inch small-block Chevy. Altogether, it makes 402 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 428 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 RPM. From there, power runs through a 10-speed automatic to a 4WD system with an Autotrac two-speed transfer case.

Unfortunately, fuel economy is where this V8 gets thirsty. The Z71 is EPA rated at 15 MPG city, 18 MPG highway, and 16 MPG combined. Meanwhile, as our 2027 Silverado EPA ratings story explains, our Custom Trail Boss on mud-terrain tires drops to 14/16/14. On the bright side, the Z71 has a capless fuel filler, a modern touch on a truck that will visit the pump often.

Sadly, this truck had only two miles on it, so I only drove it across the lot. Even so, the V8 sounded great through the black quad exhaust tips. Plus, the break-in rules remind you to stay under 4,000 RPM early on.

Wheels, Tires, and Lift Are Where Our Truck Wins

However, wheels and tires are perhaps the biggest reason I’d keep my order. This Z71 wears the $800 20-inch High Gloss Black machine-faced wheels. Personally, I like the design, and I prefer it to the gloss black wheels on other Z71s at the dealership.

In turn, those wheels carry 275/60R20 Bridgestone Dueler all-terrain tires. Granted, they’re fine for daily driving, but they’re not as aggressive as the 18-inch wheel and tire combo on our Custom Trail Boss. Plus, the Z71 skips our truck’s 2-inch lift, and its front recovery hooks are black instead of red.

Interestingly, a black Z71 on the same lot has the 18-inch wheels and Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires that come on our truck. I like that look a whole lot better. However, as I browsed the Chevrolet build and price tool on Chevrolet.com, I noticed that this truck should not exist. The configurator does not allow the 18-inch wheels and the 5.7L V8 on a Z71 trim. Knowing this, I am even more tempted to call the dealership back and have them bring this one home to me. Then again, that truck costs a bit more too, partly because it adds heated, power-folding mirrors.

Under the Silverado Z71: Leaf Springs, Shocks, and Skid Plates

Underneath, Chevy still hasn’t given up on leaf springs. That stands out, since Ram and Toyota use rear coil springs on their half-ton trucks. Still, the Z71 package adds twin-tube passive shocks, hill descent control, an automatic locking rear differential, and skid plates.

For those asking, there are no Rancho shocks on this Z71. On the other hand, skid plates cover the engine and transfer case. However, there’s no plate for the fuel tank. So, a fuel tank skid plate just landed on the upgrade list for Cheyenne, our Custom Trail Boss.

Also, many of you have asked about the frame. To clarify, the 2027 Silverado still uses a wax-coated frame rather than an e-coated one. In fact, it was a little tacky to the touch on a cool day.

Exterior Details and Keyless Entry on Every Door

First, up front, the Z71 gets a painted dark gray grille accent, black bowties, and a Z71 badge in the grille. In addition, LED fog lights come standard. Also, Summit White costs nothing extra, unlike the $395 Trillium Green Metallic we ordered.

Additionally, black accents run the length of the truck. You’ll find a black 5.7L badge on the hood, black mirror caps, black bed rail caps, black wheel arch trim, and a gloss black tailgate applique. Meanwhile, the door handles are painted to match the body.

Here’s the feature that almost swayed me: keyless entry buttons on all four doors. Chevy traditionally saves that for pricier trims. As a result, I could lock or unlock the truck from the back door while buckling our son into his seat.

Moving out back, there are LED taillights, a corner step, and those black quad exhaust tips. The Z71 uses a traditional tailgate instead of the MultiFlex, but it has an electronic latch and is light enough to lift one-handed. In the bed, a plastic tailgate liner and body-color paint replace the ChevyTech spray-in bedliner we ordered, and a power outlet is ready for tailgating.

Inside the Z71, EvoTex Fools Almost Everyone

Leather is gone across the 2027 Silverado lineup, Z71 included. Instead, this truck has the $985 EvoTex Package, an engineered leather alternative. In this case, it comes in a two-tone black and brown look with blue stitching. At the State Fair of Texas, plenty of fairgoers I interviewed thought it was real leather. Plus, it should wear better and need less care.

Up front, the bucket seats include a power driver’s seat with two-way lumbar. Even so, heated front seats and a heated, wrapped steering wheel come standard. However, there are no memory seats, and only the driver’s window has auto up and down.

Meanwhile, ahead of the driver, the 12.2-inch digital gauge cluster shows only what you need. Next to it, the 16.3-inch infotainment screen handles CarPlay, vehicle status, and ambient lighting. For now, there’s no head-up display here, though it’s available. Below the screens, hard plastic replaces the EvoTex dash found on higher trims.

Tech, Audio, and 4WD Controls

According to the window sticker, dual-zone automatic climate control comes standard, a step up from our Custom Trail Boss. Additionally, the $1,305 Comfort and Convenience Package adds an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system, a magnetic wireless charger, USB-C ports, and a 120-volt household outlet. By comparison, our truck makes do with six speakers.

For off-road duty, push-button controls for the transfer case cover 2Hi, 4Hi, 4Lo, and 4WD Auto. Drive modes include Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road, and Terrain, which I can’t wait to test. Likewise, there’s a built-in trailer brake controller.

Finally, the big center console has enough space to swallow a laptop. Since the shifter moved to the column, the console lid folds out into a padded workspace. Better still, you can option a refrigerated section or a safe. Behind the passengers, the power sliding rear window now keeps its defroster, something older sliding windows gave up.

Back Seat Space for Family Duty

In the back seat of the 2027 Silverado Z71, the same EvoTex trim and blue stitching carry over. Next, the 60/40 split bench flips up easily, revealing storage underneath. Plus, the headrests fold down for a better view out the back window.

As for car seats, the two outboard seats have top tether straps with metal anchors. Similarly, a B-pillar grab handle helps anyone climb in. Meanwhile, rear passengers get air vents and USB-C ports on the back of the center console.

Overall, headroom is plentiful, even in the middle seat. However, a hump rises about half an inch in the center, so the floor isn’t completely flat. For some families, that could be a dealbreaker.

Silverado Z71 vs. Our Custom Trail Boss: Am I Canceling?

Now, here’s how the 2027 Silverado Z71 from Wills Point stacks up against the truck we ordered.

So, am I canceling? No, I’m keeping my order. Granted, the Z71 offers a nicer cabin, better audio, and keyless entry on every door. Still, our Custom Trail Boss brings the lift, the 18-inch wheels, the mud-terrain tires, and a front bench that lets our family truck carry six. Therefore, for a truck we plan to take off road, that’s the right trade.

That said, if you want a comfortable, well-equipped V8 Silverado for around $63k, the Z71 is a strong pick. You can explore the full lineup on Chevrolet’s Silverado 1500 page. Also, a huge thank you to Chevrolet of Wills Point for letting us film.

In the meantime, want to wait along with us? Subscribe to GT: Garage Talk on YouTube and follow our long-term Silverado playlist. Then, sign up for our weekly newsletter using the form at the bottom of this page.

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