What do LS, LT, and LTZ Stand For?

LS, LT, and LTZ all represent different trim levels on Chevy and GMC trucks. Trim levels reflect the engine, interior, electronic, and other exterior design features that a specific truck model has. Chevy is known for having an extensive line of trim levels that can vary from year to year and truck to truck.

For example, 2020 Silverado’s have 8 trim levels available: WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, and High Country. Most trim levels have various engine choices, however, some engine options are reserved for higher level trims. As an example, you can’t have the 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine in a WT or LT trim, as those two are the lowest trim levels.

Outside of differing standard features, different trim levels have different associated options or packages that are available on top of the trim level. Do you have to have leather seats in your truck? Sorry, you can’t buy the cheapest trim level and add leather seats to it. If you want leather seats you need to buy a higher level trim that either has leather seats as a standard option, or has it available for upgrade.

Chevy and GMC use trim levels to goat people into purchasing more expensive trucks. Is not having remote start a deal breaker for you? Good, you need to buy a more expensive trim to get it.

What do the LS, LT, and LTZ letters mean?

LS = Luxury Sport
LT = Luxury Touring
LTZ = Luxury Touring Z. The Z represents it is the highest trim level

Some of the other newer trim levels have meanings too.

WT = Work Truck
RST = Rally Sport Truck

And then things like Trail Boss and High Country just sound cool, and represent some of the features that make the trucks more suitable for offroad use and such.

LT vs. LTZ

The difference between LT and LTZ is simply the standard options that are included on the truck. Generally speaking, the LT model has cloth seats whereas the LTZ model comes standard with leather. Some additional features that the LTZ has that the LT doesn’t include:

• HD radio and backup cam
• Remote start
• Leather seats
• Trailering package
• Electric/power seats
• LED taillams and fog lamps

And a few other things. Additionally, the LTZ has the option for the 6.2L EcoTec3 V8, whereas the most powerful engine available on the LT model is the 5.3L EcoTec or 3.0L Duramax turbo diesel.

LTZ, LTZ-Z71 and LT-Z71

If there weren’t enough trim levels and other options available to make it complicated to understand, we’ll make that happen now. Z71 has been the top-of-the-line performance package for Chevy and GMC trucks for years now. With the introduction of the LTZ trim, differentiating all of the “Z” options has gotten a little bit more confusing.

While the LT and LTZ are trim levels, the Z71 is something different. The Z71 is a performance/offroad package that is sold as a separate package options for both the LT and LTZ trim levels. The Z71 package includes upgraded shocks, all terain tires, bigger wheels, and various other features built for offroad use.

Because the Z71 is a separate package, you can get it with both the LT and LTZ trim levels. Regardless of trim level, the Z71 package does not change. A LT-Z71 and LTZ-Z71 both have the same upgraded suspension, wheels, tires, etc. components. However, what is different is the base level trim features. So the LTZ might have the same performance and offroad components, but it still has the leather seats, remote start, and other features I mentioned above that the LT-Z71 doesn’t have.