Overview
The Chevy Silverado 1500 packs a punch and is ready to take on any challenge, no matter the day. This truck offers two V-8 engines, ranging from 310 horsepower with a turbo four-cylinder engine up to an impressive 420 hp 6.2-liter V-8 - plus a Duramax turbodiesel that puts out 495 lb.-ft of torque! It's got tight steering too so you can even pretend you're in your Corvette for short bursts - although its rough ride will snap you back into reality soon enough.
Although the interior design is a bit conservative and material quality could be better, what makes up for it is an over-sized infotainment screen that comes as standard on certain trim levels. The Silverado's maximum towing capacity of 13,300 pounds surpasses its GMC Sierra 1500 sibling and Ram 1500 vehicles; however it still falls short of Ford F-150. In conclusion, this pick-up truck offers intense competition in the market!
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
No matter your needs, the Silverado 1500 has an engine for you! Choose from a turbocharged four-cylinder, two V-8s and even a Duramax diesel 3.0-liter inline six. Of these powerful engines, the 6.2 liter packs quite a punch with 420 horsepower and 460 pound feet of torque - allowing our High Country test model to reach 60 mph in only 5.4 seconds! The smaller 355 hp five point three liter proved no slouch either with its impressive 6 second acceleration time; while the 2.7L Turbo is also noteworthy boasting up to 420 lbs/ft of torque too!
We tested the diesel-powered Silverado and were astounded by its quiet yet powerful engine that produces 305 horsepower from a 3.0-liter inline 6 Duramax, with an impressive 495 pound feet of torque! On top of this, it drives smaller than you would expect for its size - providing an agile handling experience along with solid brake feedback to make driving smoother. We could not be more impressed at how well the vehicle performs compared to other competitors in the market!
If you're searching for a more rugged half-ton Silverado, the Trail Boss model is perfect. It offers an impressive 2.0-inch lift, along with aggressive tires and other specialized additions that make taking on any offroad adventure smoother and even more enjoyable. The all new ZR2 is absolutely pioneering when it comes to serious offroading - read our separate review to find out what makes it so revolutionary!
Towing and Payload Capacity
The Silverado's extraordinary hauling capacity is unparalleled, with a towing power of up to 13,300 pounds! It surpasses the Ram 1500's rating by 550 lbs and lags behind the F-150 only slightly at 700. The 6.2-liter V-8 provides its peak performance but that doesn't mean it'll slack on payload; in fact, it can still haul as much as 11,500 pounds even when equipped with 5.3L engine - and if you're looking for something light duty then there’s always the turbocharged four cylinder which can also tow 9500 lbs! Ultimately providing a range of 1870 to 2280lbs depending your model choice.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
If you're searching for a fuel-efficient vehicle, the Silverado 1500 may not be your top choice; however, some of its powertrain options are more efficient than others. The optional diesel has EPA estimates up to 23 city/33 highway mpg with all-wheel drive and 26 mpg on our 75-mph fuel economy route – which we matched! All in all, the Silverado1500 is an incredibly reliable pickup truck that offers excellent efficiency despite its large size.
Meanwhile, the gas-fed turbo-four with all-wheel drive is rated at up to 20 mpg city and 22 highway. The thriftiest 5.3-liter V-8, all-wheel-drive powertrain is rated up to 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway; our real-world testing revealed that it was actually more efficient than the Silverado's smallest engine, the turbocharged four-cylinder: in our testing the V-8 achieved 21 mpg whereas the turbo-four returned 18 mpg. The 6.2-liter V-8 has city/highway estimates of up to 16/21 mpg, and on our real-world highway test it also proved impressively easy on fuel compared with the turbo-four by delivering 19 mpg.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Whether you're looking for driver-assist technology, towing assists, or even Super Cruise's hands-free feature with a trailer attached, the all new Silverado offers it all. For more information on its safety ratings and crash test results, be sure to visit NHTSA and IIHS websites. With the impressive list of features offered by this vehicle, there is no doubt that your journey will be both safe and secure!