2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 2WD LT Crew Cab Review

THE AUTO PAGE
By John Heilig
Senior Editor
Mid-Atlantic Bureau
The Auto Channel

Reviewed Model: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 2WD LT Crew Cab
Engine: 5.3-liter Ecotec V8
Horsepower/Torque: 355 hp @ 5,600 rpm/303 lb.-ft. @ 4,100 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 143.5 in.
Length x Width x Height: 230 x 80 x 73.8 in.
Tires: P265/65R18
Cargo box: 61 cu. ft.
Economy: 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway/19.1 mpg test
Fuel capacity: 26 gal.
Curb Weight: 5,530 lbs.
Sticker: $40,910 (includes $995 destination, $4,810 in options)

The Bottom Line: Comfortable, from the chrome running boards to excellent legroom and cargo capacities, there’s nothing except size not to recommend the 2014 Silverado.

There’s a lot of old school about the new Chevrolet Silverado. There’s a complete instrument panel, for example, with not only a speedometer and tachometer, but also fuel, water temperature, oil pressure and battery voltage gauges. The shifter is even on the steering column, not on the floor or somewhere on the center stack.

And to appease one of my favorite gripes, there’s a bench seat in the front. But, to be honest, we kept the canter console down for the use of it as an arm rest, so it kind of makes my complaints moot.

Back to the “six on the tree.” First, it’s an automatic gearbox, so Chevrolet could have put the shifter anywhere. The stalk also has a +/- switch so you can shift it manually if you so choose, but there’s enough power and torque that manual shifting is only for extraordinary circumstances. There’s also a “trailer adjust” switch should you be trailering.

The transmission sends the very good power of the 5.3-liter V8 to the rear wheels (in our tester). Four-wheel and all-wheel drives are also available. There’s plenty of power in the engine, 355 horses and 383 pound-feet of torque. It’s comfortable power, too. Tromp on the accelerator and the car moves ahead with some pace, but not enough to give you whiplash. Considering that the Silverado in our test weighed in at 5,530 pounds, even moving ahead with any degree of alacrity is to be thankful for.

We drove the Silverado primarily around town, but we also included one 3-hour trip that involved Interstates. What a pleasant drive that was, with a comfortable large cab to stretch out in and power and a comfortable ride quality to ease any jarring we might have felt. There’s a dig at trucks that they ride like trucks. The Silverado doesn’t. It has a ride quality that s more car-like.

During our long run we dealt with torrential rain that had several cars pulling of to the side of them road until it stopped. We had confidence in the Silverado because of its size, its capability for traction on wet surfaces and a comfortable motor to get us there.

Granted we put a considerable amount of Interstate miles on the Silverado, but I was still impressed by our test mileage of 19.1 mpg. Many years ago, our full-size van, with a similar engine and similar overall weight, only averaged 12.5 mpg overall. If I recall, our best short-run mileage was around 17 mpg, so life has improved over the years.

We tested the crew cab version of the Silverado with a full-size back seat. Legroom and hip and shoulder room are excellent. There’s a flat floor, so three passengers can sit there in comfort, making the Silverado a true six-seater. Additionally, there are assist handles on the B-pillars to assist entry, along with the chrome running boards. Overall, there are four assist handles, three on the pillars.

Pickup trucks earn their reputations by their carrying capacity. The Silverado’s bed will hold 61 cubic feet of cargo up to the tops of the sides. Of course, you can always extend your cargo upwards. The bed has a liner to protect the metal surfaces and eight tie-downs to secure any cargo. The rear bumper has steps on each side to assist entry into the bed, as well as a cut-down over the license plate.

Granted, the Silverado has size issues. We didn’t encounter too many difficulties, although parking in standard supermarket lots was a challenge because the rear end often hung over either into the spot behind us or into the driveway. The rearview camera worked well to alleviate backing up issues.

Chevy is proud of the Silverado redesign. Unless you’re a true aficionado you probably won’t notice the design changes, but everyone will appreciate the capabilities of this vehicle.

© 2013 The Auto Page