With a conservative but thorough update in 2013, the Chevrolet Silverado updates the no-nonsense, work-ready attitude that made the trucks a staple of the American pickup landscape. The Silverado’s not flashy: apart from the new High Country luxury edition, Chevrolet is content to let Ford, GMC and Ram focus on the style. The Silverado is a work truck, through and through.
That’s not to say that it doesn’t feature the comforts of home, of course. The new Silverado is a tough truck, but the update also includes improved comfort and drivability.
As with most pickup-truck redesigns, the Silverado’s update is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Pickup buyers are generally less motivated by fashion than by function, and Chevrolet chose not to alienate its loyal customers with a wild update. The Silverado remains an upright pickup with a big chrome grille and that familiar bowtie riding front and center. The headlights are jewel-like units with a stacked-quad design that wrap smoothly around the corners into turn signals, helping to define the shape of the truck’s front fenders. The hood and fenders are bulged ever so slightly, hinting at the ability beneath, and at the rear a simple tailgate and taillight design hides functional features like the CornerStep rear bumper step and an integrated spoiler that improves airflow on the freeway. As always, regular, double-cab and crew cabs are available, as is a choice of 5’8″ or 6’6″ cargo beds. The double cab now features front-hinged doors for easier access.
The new Silverado is somewhat less carlike than before on the inside, with a tall, vertical instrument panel and a series of industrial-looking toggle switches down low on the center console. The dash’s multiple analog gauges are businesslike in a way that looks a bit like Ford’s in its layout, but don’t tell Chevy that. The Silverado’s quiet on the road, thanks in part to the inset door design that reduces wind noise. There’s plenty of headroom and legroom of course. The newly available Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system offers a range of connectivity features with a simple interface geared toward ease of use through a choice of four- or eight-inch touchscreens. Radio controls, Bluetooth connectivity and other functions are available via voice commands.
Chevrolet paid some necessary attention to the Silverado’s hardware. Fuel economy is becoming a growing point of interest for full-size truck buyers. Ford has addressed it with a smaller V6 turbocharged engine, while Ram has gone to a compact diesel. The Silverado is available with a choice of V6 or V8 engines. The Silverado keeps things conventional and sticks with a pair of V8s and a V6. The base V6 is a 4.3 liter that makes 285 horsepower. Stepping up to the midrange 5.3 V8 gets you 355 horses, and the new range-topping 6.2 liter V8 produces 420 horsepower. Direct fuel injection, variable valve timing and GM’s Active Fuel Management cylinder-deactivation system are standard across the board to improve fuel efficiency and smoothness. Chevrolet says the 5.3 V8’s 23-mpg freeway fuel economy rating is actually better than the six-cylinder F-150’s. Unlike the Ram and Ford, Chevy’s got a smaller pickup in the lineup to appeal to more frugal customers. Six-speed automatic transmissions are used on all Silverados. The Silverado’s effective at putting its power to work, too; the V6 will tow up to 7600 pounds, and properly equipped, the Silverado will tow up to 12,000.
Pickup truck suspensions don’t vary much; coil-over shocks at the front, and a solid axle with leaf springs at the rear. It’s all in the details, and the Silverado has been tuned for a compliant yet responsive ride on pavement. Wider wheels than last year’s model are standard, providing a greater contact patch for improved stability. On the road, it’s got the same good, truckish feeling that the last Silverado did, thanks in part to a frame that’s been stiffened with additional high-strength steel and hydroformed cross members. Electronic power steering helps to ensure that the high seating position does not translate to a tippy or nervous feeling. The brakes have also been upgraded for longer service life. GM’s StabiliTrak stability control with trailer sway control is standard, as is a hill-start assist. Making things easier on the road, a number of luxury-car driver aids like a forward collision alert, lane departure warning and parking assist for the front and rear are available.
Although it’s all new, Chevrolet kept the base price of the Silverado the same, an unusual move for a comprehensive redesign. With more refined performance and improved capabilities, the new Silverado’s $23,590 starting price will give Chevy truck customers something to be happy about. Pricing is reasonable across the board, with a V8 powered crew cab model starting at just over $33,000. We tested a crew-cab with the 5.3 V8, two-wheel drive and the Z71 package. Among the amenities were a power sliding rear window, rear park assist, adjustable pedals, backup camera, trailer brake controller and heated front seats, and the MSRP was $41,210.
