Large pickups are the "backbone" of the American economy, says General Motors' chief engineer for large pickups – and the backbone of GM's economy, too. Same for Ford and Fiat-Chrysler.
Morgan Stanley says 90 per cent of Ford's global profits come from pickups. For GM, it's two-thirds. Assume the same for Fiat-Chrysler.
Then there's this: pickup buyers are the most loyal customers in the industry. A Chevy Silverado guy will likely be so for life. Ram guys, Ford F-Series guys and GMC Sierra guys, too. Guys, guys, guys. Women buy a tiny fraction of big rigs.
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This all explains why GM has been meticulous and cautious with remaking the Silverado and Sierra. The designs of both are similar, recognizable, unremarkable and aimed squarely at conservative male sensibilities. In three words: clean, tidy and inoffensive.
Inside, however, the Silverados I have tested – several, in fact – are pleasant, comfortable, luxurious in the higher-end models and logical. The controls and instruments are bunched together according to function, rather than being randomly tossed about in a massive cabin. That said, for the present, the Ram from Fiat-Chrysler has better seats and an even more user-friendly control layout.
In the pickup world, I also give the nod for overall ride comfort to the Ram. Four words explain this: rear coil spring suspension. The Ram has it and it's brilliant.
As well, Toyota's Tundra boasts the best reliability in third-party testing, though the Detroit makers all make big claims about real-world durability.
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However, here are the areas where the Silverado shines in testing:
- tremendous payload and towing capacity;
- easy-to-raise and lower tailgate;
- low-ish ride height (for a big pickup) for easier entry and exit;
- cool bumper steps in the bed corner that ease bed climbing;
- advantageous fuel economy forgasoline engines (though the light-duty Ram is available with a diesel);
- near car-like handling, which is remarkable for a pickup capable of towing a small house.
GM developed three all-new engines (a V-6 and two V-8s) as part of the 2014 pickup remake and all three EcoTec3 engines boast baked-in fuel-saving technologies: direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation). The best all-around choice is the 5.3-litre V-8 (355 horsepower/383 lb-ft of torque); it's terrifically powerful and nearly as fuel efficient as the V-6.
If you're a Chevy guy, you have no reason to leave the brand. You'll like this truck. If you're a Ford or Ram guy, you of course don't care.
You'll like this car if ... You're a loyal Chevy guy and you need a new rig.
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2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LTZ 1LZ
TECH SPECS
- Price: $50,700 ($1,695 freight).
- Engine: 5.3-litre V-8.
- Drive: Automatic full-time four-wheel drive.
- Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 14.9 city/10.7 highway using regular fuel.
- Alternatives: Ford F-Series, Ram, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra.
RATINGS
- Looks: I am not unhappy with the exterior design, just unmoved. Here’s the thing: GM has a chance to really move the needle on design with the 2014 remake, and instead took the careful route. Probably the right choice given the customer base, but …
- Interior: Love the instrument layout and the sensibly organized controls. You can find and use everything almost instantly without hurting your back by lifting the heft owner’s manual. Really looks and functions well. Seat comfort and support could be a bit better, especially in back.
- Technology: GM has offered Active Fuel Management (AFM) or cylinder deactivation technology for a decade now. It works in the real world to improve fuel economy by seamlessly switching to four-cylinder mode to help save fuel during light-load driving. Smart stuff. The infotainment interface is also designed to be simple to operate for even first-time users.
- Performance: In the areas that matter a ton to pickup buyers – towing and payload – the Silverado is a standout. The small-block V-8 choice is strong, responsive and relatively fuel efficient. This engine does not use turbocharging – as Ford does – to boost power while also doing well on the tested fuel economy numbers. On the other hand, GM does not offer a diesel light duty rig, like the Ram.
- Cargo: Huge bed and it’s easily accessed thanks to a light-to-lift-and-lower tailgate and steps built into the bumper corners. Alas, there is no lockable storage space back there, as you can get with the Ram.
Verdict
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8.5
A strong pickup entry, but a conservative one.
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