IT’S A BEST BUY BECAUSE:
Silverado offers a full range of models that combine class-leading capability and surprising refinement with good fuel economy.
BUT…
Ride comfort and interior ergonomics, while good, can’t match those of the Ram 1500.
WORTH NOTING:
Full-time 4WD is available on all but the base WT (Work Truck) models, which offer part-time 4WD, and the optional 6.2-liter V8 is the most powerful engine offered in the class.
WHAT IS IT?
Chevy’s full-size pickup is the second-best-selling vehicle in the country behind the Ford F-150. It’s available in regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab body styles with a range of V6 and V8 engines and a choice of rear-wheel drive, part-time 4WD (only on base WT models), and full-time 4WD.
WHAT’S NEW?
After its redesign for 2014, Silverado gets a few updates this year. The most significant is an 8-speed automatic transmission for the 6.2-liter V8. Also new are available trailering mirrors with back-up lighting, available spray-on bedliner, updated Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system with Text Messaging Alerts and Siri Eyes Free, and available 4G LTE Internet connectivity with a built-in WiFi hotspot.
FUEL ECONOMY
In a 2WD crew cab with the 5.3-liter V8, we averaged 18.6 mpg in a mix of city/highway driving; the EPA rating is 16 city/23 highway. The standard 4.3-liter V6 is rated at 18/24, while the 6.2-liter V8 is rated at 15/21. All can be run on regular-grade fuel, though Chevy recommends premium for the 6.2 for best performance.
VALUE IN CLASS
Chevrolet’s Silverado benefits from refined powertrains, lots of in-cab storage areas, and comfortable, quiet, interiors. It also rides well and doesn’t feel as lumbering as some of its competitors, though it’s not quite up to the level of the Ram 1500 in this regard.
| BASE PRICE RANGE | $26,105 – $51,150 |
| BODY STYLES | REGULAR, EXTENDED, AND CREW CAB |
| AVAILABLE ENGINES | 285-HP, 4.3-LITER V6; 355-HP 5.3-LITER V8; 420-HP 6.2-LITER V8 |
| DRIVE WHEELS | Rear or 4-Wheel Drive |
| BUILT IN | USA |
| EPA FUEL-ECONOMY RANGE | 15-24 MPG |
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