2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Fresh Car Review
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Fresh Car Review
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Fully redesigned last year, the two thousand fifteen Chevrolet Silverado one thousand five hundred offers a more modern take on the traditional full-size pickup truck. That means the nude interiors and low-quality materials found in the old trucks are gone, substituted instead by a more elegant interior, crossoverlike rail and treating, modern technology and — at the heart of it all — improved capabilities. In other words, the latest Silverado makes an excellent case for itself as one of today’s top pickup trucks.
Yes, it’s true that the fresh Silverado’s styling isn’t radically different, but that’s no accident. The petite switches give the truck a modern look while keeping it recognizable. It’s what’s under the skin that counts, and that’s where the Silverado shines. This year’s Silverado is broader, tougher and more high-tech than ever. While it may look mostly the same, the latest Silverado is also more capable, boasting a greater payload and towing capacity than ever before.
What’s Fresh for 2015?
Albeit the Silverado was fully redesigned last year, it also has some updates for 2015. They include GM’s latest OnStar system, which boasts Wi-Fi and 4G LTE mobile hotspot capability, along with a few minor switches such as an updated WT convenience package that now includes a backup camera and E85 capability for the truck’s Four.3- and Five.3-liter engines.
What We Like
Good interior; steering and treating almost feels like that of a car; astounding array of technology
What We Don’t
Styling is too similar to the outgoing model
How Much?
Fuel Economy
The two thousand fifteen Chevrolet Silverado one thousand five hundred is suggested with three engines: a Four.3-liter V6 that makes two hundred eighty five horsepower and three hundred five lb-ft, a Five.3-liter V8 that makes three hundred fifty five hp and three hundred eighty three lb-ft and a 6.2-liter V8 that makes four hundred twenty hp and four hundred sixty lb-ft. All have a 6-speed automatic as the only available transmission.
For shoppers interested in gas mileage, the Four.3-liter engine is the one to choose. It comebacks eighteen miles per gallon in the city and twenty four mpg on the highway with 2-wheel drive, or seventeen mpg city/22 mpg hwy with 4-wheel drive.
Drivers who step up to the Five.3-liter V8 will find fuel economy ratings of sixteen mpg city/23 mpg hwy with 2-wheel drive, or sixteen mpg city/22 mpg hwy with 4-wheel drive. The mighty 6.2-liter, meantime, comes back fifteen mpg city/21 mpg hwy with 2-wheel drive, or fourteen mpg city/20 mpg hwy with 4-wheel drive.
Standard Features & Options
Like all full-size trucks, the Silverado one thousand five hundred is suggested with a number of assets style configurations, engine choices, drivetrain options and bed sizes. We’ve simplified it here for shoppers interested in buying a Silverado, but choosing the truck that’s right for you will involve more than just picking a trim level.
Base-level Silverado models use the WT (Work Truck) designation. Two trim levels are suggested: the 1WT ($27,000), which includes only the basics, such as power locks, cruise control, air conditioning, vinyl upholstery and an AM/FM stereo without a CD player, and the 2WT ($29,100), which adds keyless entry, power windows, SiriusXM satellite radio and Bluetooth. The 2WT also features Chevrolet’s MyLink audio system with a Four.2-inch center-mounted color screen.
Shoppers who step up to the LT ($32,500) trim will have features such as steering wheel audio controls, a 6-speaker stereo, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth upholstery. The LT also offers more options than the WT, including features such as an alarm, a lane-departure warning system, a rearview camera and a forward-collision alert system.
The luxury-oriented LTZ ($40,200) is the next trim in the Silverado’s lineup. Only suggested in dual cab or squad cab bod styles, the LTZ includes leather upholstery, heated front seats, a remote starter, a memory system for the mirrors and seats, a rearview camera and an 8-in color touchscreen for the MyLink infotainment system.
Topping the Silverado lineup is the upscale High Country ($48,400), which features stitched leather seats, chrome trim on many exterior surfaces, a Bose audio system and cooled front seats. It also uses the truck’s 6.2-liter V8, which is off the hook to the High Country model.
If you’re interested in options, the Silverado has fairly a few. Extra extras include a power sunroof, a navigation system, safety features such as forward-collision alert and lane-departure warning systems, cooled seating, power-adjustable pedals and a heated steering wheel.
Safety
All Silverado pickups include daytime running lights, dual front airbags, front-side airbags, side-curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitor. Options range from a forward-collision alert system to GM’s OnStar telematics system, which can summon help in the case of an accident.
The Silverado is the very first pickup to receive a 5-star overall crash-test rating by the federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Team cab variants received the top rating, earning 5-star scores in frontal-impact tests and the side-impact assessment, along with four starlets in the rollover rating.
Behind the Wheel
The Silverado’s rail and treating have been dramatically improved compared to last year’s model. On the road, the truck now feels more like a crossover SUV than a bulky truck. The interior remains family-sedan quiet — even on the highway. Electrical power steering produces just the right amount of road feel but also makes the Silverado effortless to maneuver in a parking lot or on a boat ramp.
We spent most of our time in a 2-wheel-drive Silverado team cab with the Five.3-liter V8. This is the setup that Chevy says most buyers will order. With three hundred fifty five hp, this middle engine makes more than enough power but feels as sleek as a sedan.
To capitalize on the fresh, more refined feel, Chevy did some serious work on the truck’s interior. The gauges, dash, seats and even the carpet give the truck a more upscale feel in comparison to the previous Silverado. We like the Silverado’s large, easy-to-use buttons and switches. Just below the radio and climate controls are several large switches that control features such as parking sensors and Hill Descent Control. All these switches are large enough that real truck folks won’t have to take off their gloves to use them.
Other Cars to Consider
Ford F-150 — The freshly redesigned F-150 is strong competitor, suggesting V6 and V8 power, excellent capabilities, superb gas mileage and a long list of trim levels that range from basic to luxury.
RAM 1500 — Formerly the Dodge Ram, the RAM one thousand five hundred boasts muscular styling, HEMI V8 power and available air suspension. We also like its freshly available diesel engine, which is now suggested on light duty models.
Toyota Tundra — The Tundra doesn’t have the same wide-ranging lineup as the Silverado does, but it’s getting close. Shoppers who pick the Tundra will find a refined, muscular pickup with many superb standard features and options.
AutoTrader’s Advice
It’s hard to go wrong with any two thousand fifteen Silverado, provided that you buy the truck that’s right for you. In other words, don’t go with a bare-bones WT model if you’ll spend most of your time hauling your family around town. Likewise, don’t go with the High Country model if you’ll be driving to jobsites. For us, the right truck is somewhere in the middle: an LT, or possibly an LTZ, with Chevy’s high-tech MyLink system. We’d also go with the squad cab model to maximize practicality.