3 Best Used Chevy Silverado 1500 Model Years Under $25,000 in 2023
Shopping for a used car under $25,000 is easy, but finding a gently-used full-size pickup truck under that cap is often challenging. Chevrolet, a long-standing leader in the pickup truck segment, introduced the Silverado in 1999, and it’s been popular ever since. So, what are the three best model-year Chevy Silverados for under $25K?
Best used Chevrolet Silverado model years
U.S. News published 70 of the “Best Used Full-Size Trucks under $25K for 2023” that included 10 Chevy Silverado 1500 model years. The lowest-ranking Silverado, a 2013 model, landed in a 10-way tie for the 45th spot with other top-ranked truck brands. The top three Chevy Silverado model years, 2012, 2014, and 2016, tied for fourth place with three more trucks, the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500, the 2009 Ford F-150, and the 2009 Toyota Tundra.
2012 Chevy Silverado 1500
U.S. News ranked the 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 first in its “2012 Full-Size Pickup Trucks” list when it was new. While the original MSRP was between $22,195 and $42,440, used 2012 Silverado prices range from about $8,700 to $22,000 on average.
2012 Silverado configurations start with a two-wheel drive (2WD) regular cab Work Truck (WT) trim with a 119-inch wheelbase at the bottom end. The four-wheel drive (4WD) 143.5-inch wheelbase crew cab LTZ tops the Silverado’s assortment of various cab designs, truck bed lengths, and four total trim levels.
The base Silverado WT features a 262-hp 4.3-liter V6 that gets an estimated 15 city mpg and 20 highway mpg. In comparison, the LTZ has a 5.3-liter V8 with 323 horsepower and 15 city mpg/21 highway mpg estimated fuel economy.
2014 Chevy Silverado 1500
The 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 finished first in the U.S. News ranking for full-size pickup trucks when it was new. Used prices average around $14,400 to about $35,000, down from its MSRP range of $25,575 to $49,180.
The most affordable 2014 model is the 2WD regular cab 119-inch wheelbase Silverado WT. Topping the Silverado lineup is the 4WD crew cab High Country with a 153-inch wheelbase.
The same 262-hp 4.3-liter V6 powers the base 2014 Silverado WT, except now it gets an estimated 18 city mpg and 24 highway mpg. Likewise, the 5.3-liter V8 in the 2014 Silverado LTZ now makes 325 horsepower and gets 16 city mpg and 23 highway mpg.
2016 Chevy Silverado 1500
The 2016 Chevy Silverado earned the top spot among 2016 full-size pickup trucks thanks to its quiet ride, well-appointed interior, and high predicted reliability. New prices ranged from $27,195 to $53,415, but average used prices fall between $19,142 and $41,948, according to U.S. News.
The 2016 Silverado’s bottom trim level is the 119-inch wheelbase regular cab 2WD WT. The 2016 Silverado’s lineup includes LT, LS, Custom, LTZ, and the top-tier High Country models, each offering various cab configurations and truck bed length combinations. The 4WD crew cab High Country with a 153-inch wheelbase represents the top 2016 Silverado model.
The 2016 Silverado uses the same spec 4.3-liter V6 producing 262 horsepower and delivering 18 city mpg and 24 highway mpg fuel economy estimates. The 325-hp 5.3-liter V8 equipped 2WD LTZ gets 16 city mpg and 22 highway mpg.
Is a used Silverado worth buying?
A used Chevy Silverado 1500 provides enough power, towing, and payload capacity to make it great for anyone that needs a truck for work or play. While some reviews point out the flaws of the Silverado’s interior design, materials, and overall quality compared to some of its rivals, it’s not as bad as some reviews make it sound. The Silverado models on this list provide spacious, comfortable seats and almost any feature available in other comparable pickup trucks in a reliable and stylish package.
