Cargazing
By Derek Price
The Chevy Silverado has always been a tough truck, but the current generation brings even more to the table.
Sure, it can do big jobs with a 12,000-pound trailer rating and 420 horsepower, but it’s also surprisingly quiet. In fact, that’s the biggest thing that struck me in my week driving this truck. The cabin is so silent and the ride is so smooth that it actually makes for a decent highway cruiser.
The Silverado was all new in 2014, so the changes for 2015 are relatively minor. There are some new colors and small upgrades to the trim, but there are also things like an eight-speed automatic transmission available on 6.2-liter models and better technology, including a 4G WiFi hot spot.
The overall effect just amplifies this truck’s strength: its refinement.
A new eight-speed automatic transmission is available on the Chevrolet Silverado with its biggest engine, a 6.2-liter V8.
To my ears, the Silverado remains the quietest truck on the market, although the competition is awfully close these days. The body may not have looked revolutionary after its 2014 design, but lots of meaningful aerodynamic changes — like door tops that wrap around the roof edge and side mirrors that are carefully sculpted to route the wind — help this big truck slip gracefully through the air even at highway speeds.
Of course, graceful isn’t exactly what truck buyers are looking for when they walk into the showroom. They want power and strength to do a tough job, and the Silverado delivers in excess.
I loved the big, brawny, 6.2-liter engine in my test truck. It’s rated for 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, enough to pull a 12,000-pound trailer when properly equipped. And the new eight-speed transmission handles all that power beautifully, making it seem surprisingly civilized and under control even when you abuse the gas pedal.
Unless you do a lot of serious towing, though, most buyers would be better served by the more fuel-efficient engine offerings: a 4.3-liter V6 or 5.3-liter V8.
All three engines have up-to-date designs to save on gas, including direct fuel injection, cylinder deactivation and continuously variable valve timing. That helps Chevy win some bragging rights in one key area: the best fuel economy of any V8 pickup, with a highway rating of 23 mpg.
On the flip side, V8s are becoming a rare commodity lately, and GM has yet to jump on any unconventional bandwagons. There’s no turbocharged offering like Ford has with its EcoBoost engines, and there’s no light-duty diesel like in the Ram. With Chevy, you’ve still got the traditional choices of V6 or V8 gasoline engines under the hood.
From the driver’s seat, the current generation Silverado feels exceptionally stable at speed thanks to a suspension that’s designed equally well for cruising on the Interstate, maneuvering around town and carrying heavy payloads.
The Silverado’s cabin is intelligently designed for work with roomy storage spaces and ample, conveniently located power outlets.
While the Silverado starts at $27,715 for the very basic Work Truck trim level, my tester was a well-equipped Z71 Crew Cab model with a starting price close to $46,000. And, in typical modern-truck fashion, it had more than $10 grand in add-ons, including that monster V8 engine.
I like a lot of the little things that Chevy gets right on this truck, like the rear doors that open wide to make it easy to climb into the back seat. The ingeniously simple CornerStep rear bumper is another nice feature.
But above all, it’s this truck’s rare but wonderful mixture of brute strength and classy refinement that makes it stand out.
At a Glance
What was tested?
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 4WD LTZ Crew Cab ($45,810). Options: 6.2-liter V8 ($2,495), custom sport edition ($2,000), power sunroof ($995), premium paint ($995), driver alert package ($845), chrome steps ($700), heated and cooled driver seat ($650), Bose audio system ($500), Chevrolet MyLink ($495), full feature leather seats ($375), trailer brake controller ($230), movable upper tie downs ($60), LED cargo lighting ($60). Price as tested (including $825 destination charge): $27,035
Wheelbase: 143.5 in.
Length: 230 in.
Width: 80 in.
Height: 74 in.
Engine: 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 (420 hp, 460 lbs.-ft. torque)
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Estimated Mileage: 15 city, 21 highway
RATINGS
Style: 7
Performance: 9
Price: 9
Handling: 7
Ride: 8
Comfort: 7
Quality: 8
Overall: 8
Video Review:
2015 Chevrolet Silverado
http://bit.ly/15silverado
Why buy it?
It checks all the tough-truck boxes, including rugged styling and two powerful V8 engines, while also being surprisingly refined. It’s wonderfully quiet at highway speeds.