2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 RST: Specs, Features & Pricing

The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 RST combines body-colour styling with a choice of four engines and a practical pickup cabin. Its standard TurboMax engine produces 430 lb-ft of torque, while available V8 and Duramax diesel powertrains expand the range. The RST also includes a 13.4-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, making it a useful place to start when comparing Silverado equipment.

This guide covers the 2026 Silverado 1500 RST and separates standard equipment from optional upgrades. Prices are in CAD, and the example configuration is a Crew Cab with the short bed and four-wheel drive.

Watch the Silverado 1500 RST walkaround

Available models and where the RST fits

The Silverado 1500 lineup includes WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country and ZR2. The RST sits above the LT and emphasizes a body-colour front and rear bumper, black bowtie badging and LED exterior lighting. It is a light-duty Silverado 1500; the Silverado HD and Silverado EV have separate specifications.

An RST badge does not automatically mean the truck has an off-road suspension package. Chevrolet lists the Z71 Off-Road Package separately. The LT Trail Boss and ZR2 are also distinct trims, so their suspension, tires and equipment should not be assumed to come with an RST.

Engines and transmissions

The standard 2.7-litre TurboMax turbocharged four-cylinder produces 310 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque and uses an eight-speed automatic transmission. Three optional engines use a ten-speed automatic: the 5.3-litre EcoTec3 V8 makes 355 hp and 383 lb-ft, the 3.0-litre Duramax turbo-diesel inline-six makes 305 hp and 495 lb-ft, and the 6.2-litre EcoTec3 V8 makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft.

The 6.2-litre engine is available on RST Crew Cab 4×4 models. Engine availability depends on cab and drivetrain, so a powertrain offered somewhere in the Silverado range is not necessarily available with every RST configuration. The standard four-wheel-drive RST example has a single-speed Autotrac transfer case and an automatic locking rear differential. The optional Z71 package adds a two-speed transfer case, Hill Descent Control and additional off-road equipment.

Towing and payload

Chevrolet’s builder lists a 9,000-lb maximum trailering figure for the selected RST Crew Cab short-bed 4WD with the TurboMax engine. That is a configuration reference, not a promise for every RST. The Silverado lineup’s advertised maximum of 13,300 lb applies to a specifically equipped diesel Double Cab standard-bed truck; it should not be attached to an RST simply because both are Silverado 1500 models.

The researched RST includes a Trailering Package with a hitch platform, a 2-inch receiver, trailer wiring and Hitch Guidance. Its standard-equipment list also includes an integrated trailer brake controller. The optional Convenience Package II adds Hitch View and the in-vehicle Trailering App, while a Max Trailering Package is available subject to powertrain and equipment requirements.

For a truck you intend to buy, check the VIN-specific trailering information and the door-jamb payload label. Passengers, accessories, cargo and trailer tongue weight all use payload capacity. A headline tow rating alone does not tell you how much weight a particular truck can carry.

Fuel economy

Natural Resources Canada lists the 2026 Silverado 4WD with the 2.7-litre engine at 13.7 L/100 km in the city, 11.8 on the highway and 12.8 combined. The regular 4WD diesel entry is 10.7 city, 9.3 highway and 10.1 combined. The 5.3-litre 4WD entry is 15.3 city, 12.6 highway and 14.1 combined, while the 6.2-litre 4WD entry is 15.7 city, 11.9 highway and 14.0 combined.

These are certification entries for their respective engine and drivetrain combinations. Separate ratings exist for mud-terrain tires and other configurations, so use the EnerGuide label for the truck’s exact equipment. The guide lists regular gasoline for the 2.7- and 5.3-litre entries, diesel for the Duramax and premium gasoline for the 6.2-litre entry. Towing, temperature and load change actual consumption.

Interior, seating and storage

The RST can seat six with the standard 40/20/40 split front bench and the rear bench. Optional front bucket seats and a centre console reduce capacity to five. Chevrolet’s builder offers both bench and bucket configurations with certain engines; the 6.2-litre Crew Cab configuration is listed with front buckets.

The standard cabin has cloth upholstery, a ten-way power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment, heated front outboard seats, a heated steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control. A split-folding rear bench, rear air vents, remote start and keyless entry are also included. Leather trim and additional storage equipment are available through optional packages.

The Crew Cab short bed measures 1,776 mm long in Chevrolet’s configuration tool. The standard bed measures 2,018 mm. The steel Durabed includes fixed cargo tie-downs, while the RST’s CornerStep rear bumper and assisted tailgate provide practical access. A spray-on bedliner and other bed accessories are additional equipment, rather than features to assume from the trim name.

Infotainment and connectivity

A 13.4-inch Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Premium touchscreen with Google built-in is standard, alongside a 12.3-inch digital Driver Information Centre. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support compatible phones. The standard audio system has six speakers, and the cabin and bed include 120-volt power outlets.

Convenience Package II offers a seven-speaker Bose system, a power sliding rear window, Universal Home Remote, Hitch View and the Trailering App. Those upgrades are optional. Connected apps, navigation services and Wi-Fi functionality may require compatible devices, coverage and an active service plan.

Standard safety and optional assistance

Chevy Safety Assist includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, Following Distance Indicator, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning and IntelliBeam automatic high beams. The RST also has an HD rear camera, six airbags, stability control with trailer sway control, tire-pressure monitoring, a rear-seat reminder and Teen Driver features.

The optional Safety Package adds HD Surround Vision, Trailer Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, Front and Rear Park Assist, Rear Pedestrian Alert, trailer camera provisions and a Safety Alert Seat. These features should not be described as standard on every RST. Camera functions involving an auxiliary trailer camera require the corresponding equipment.

CAD pricing and options

The Ontario builder listed the RST Crew Cab short-bed 4WD TurboMax at a standard vehicle price of $67,999. Adding $2,700 freight, $100 air-conditioning charge, $699 dealer fees, $22 OMVIC and $22.50 tire handling produced an MSRP total of $71,542.50 before HST.

The same configuration showed a conditional $10,000 non-stackable cash delivery allowance, bringing the displayed net price to $61,542.50. This is a dated incentive example, not a permanent starting price. The engine-selection page listed fee-inclusive totals of approximately $74,538 for the 5.3-litre bench-seat version, $75,733 for the diesel bench-seat version and $79,063 for the 6.2-litre bucket-seat version, before additional options and taxes.

Listed package prices included $1,170 for Z71 Off-Road, $1,255 for the Leather Package, $1,275 for the Safety Package and $1,380 for Convenience Package II. Package dependencies and configuration changes can raise the total beyond an individual package’s advertised price.

Competition and choosing a configuration

The Silverado 1500 RST belongs on a comparison list with the GMC Sierra 1500 Elevation, Ford F-150 XLT, Ram 1500 Sport and Toyota Tundra SR5 or Limited. Compare equivalent cab sizes, seat layouts, engines and option packages. A lower advertised price may describe a truck with fewer seats, a different powertrain or less assistance technology.

The RST’s broad engine choice and standard large-screen cabin make configuration the central buying decision. Start with the seat layout, required bed length and VIN-specific towing needs, then decide which safety, audio and trim upgrades justify their extra cost.

Explore our other truck reviews to compare equipment and specifications.

Frequently asked questions

Can the 2026 Silverado RST seat six?

Yes, with the standard front bench and rear bench. Optional front buckets reduce capacity to five. The 6.2-litre Crew Cab configuration is listed with buckets, so confirm seating together with the engine choice.

Does every Silverado RST have a ten-speed transmission?

No. The standard 310-hp TurboMax engine uses an eight-speed automatic. The optional 5.3-litre V8, 3.0-litre diesel and 6.2-litre V8 use a ten-speed automatic. Availability depends on cab and drivetrain.

Is Bose audio standard on the Silverado RST?

The standard system has six speakers. The optional Convenience Package II adds a seven-speaker Bose system and other upgrades, including Hitch View and the in-vehicle Trailering App.