Overview & Reviews

Like its rivals, today's Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is available with a wide variety of body styles, powertrains and trim levels. Thanks to this flexibility, the half-ton Silverado pickup is just as adept at serving as the weekday family car as it is at transporting home-improvement supplies or towing a boat on the weekends. And if you want something fancy, there are always loaded-up versions that come complete with a rumbling V8, flashy wheels, bucket seats and high-tech infotainment options.

Older versions of the Silverado 1500 pickup have been praised for their strong work ethic but criticized for having bland cabins of questionable quality. The current version, however, exhibits greatly improved fit and finish. Where there was once an abundance of hard panels and uneven gaps, the Silverado now features richer materials and precise fitments while maintaining its hard-working nature. Of course, there are other compelling choices in the full-size pickup truck market, but the half-ton Chevrolet Silverado is a solid pick no matter what it's used for.

Current Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The current Chevrolet Silverado 1500 debuted for the 2014 model year. It offers a number of improvements relative to its predecessor, such as upgraded interior trim, new technology features and engines that are both stronger and more fuel-efficient.

Under the hood, the base V6 engine has gone from zero to hero. Although it shares its 4.3-liter displacement with the previous-generation V6, that's all they have in common, as the current V6 makes 285 horsepower -- a 90-hp gain. Also, the new V6 is available across the lineup, whereas the old one was limited to basic work-truck models. The other engines have hit the gym as well: the 5.3-liter V8 now makes 355 hp, while the 6.2-liter V8 trots out 420 horses. All three engines use a six-speed automatic transmission that yields more frugal fuel economy, particularly from the overhauled V6.

As usual, the Silverado is available in a variety of body styles. There are three cab configurations (regular, extended, crew) and three bed lengths (5.75 feet, 6.5 feet, 8 feet). Available trim levels, depending on which combination you choose, include Work Truck, LT, LTZ, High Country and Z71. The Work Truck is better equipped than it used to be, providing full power accessories, USB connectivity and optional Bluetooth along with the expected vinyl upholstery. The LT steps up to a chrome grille, an "E-Z" lift/lower tailgate, alloy wheels and cloth upholstery. The premium LTZ throws in more chrome, a power sliding rear window, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a rearview camera, heated power seats, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control and an 8-inch touchscreen with MyLink smartphone integration.

The luxurious High Country trim gets niceties like Bose audio and fancier power seats, while the Z71 boasts an off-road-ready suspension and other heavy-duty components, plus some mean-looking styling tweaks. Silverado options include a rear-seat Blu-Ray entertainment system, a navigation system and multiple towing packages.

In reviews of the current Chevrolet Silverado 1500, we've remarked that its subtle styling changes conceal serious progress under the skin. Tops on that list is the capable new V6, which finally makes Chevy a viable six-cylinder player in this segment. But we've also noticed significant refinements in the Silverado's ride and handling, thanks in part to a more robust structure that's less prone to surface-induced shuddering. Not that this truck has gone soft; on the contrary, its towing capacity exceeds 11,000 pounds with the 5.3-liter V8 and hits a mind-boggling 12,000 pounds with the brawny 6.2.

Inside, the current Silverado is a whole new ballgame. Ingress and egress have been streamlined in the redesigned extended cab (double cab), which comes with crew-cab-style conventional doors in place of the old reverse-opening rear doors. Materials quality is appreciably higher across the board, so buyers of lower-trim models are no longer stuck with substandard plastics and the like, while nicer models have it better than ever. The attractive, easy-to-use 8-inch touchscreen with mobile-app functionality makes Chevy's workhorse as high-tech as some luxury sedans. Bottom line: This Silverado is the complete package.

Used Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Models
The previous-generation Silverado 1500 was produced for the 2007-'13 model years. It was available in three cab styles (regular, extended and crew) and trim levels ranging from no-frills "Work Truck" to plush LTZ. The most popular trims were the midlevel LS and LT, which provided many popular features as standard, including air-conditioning, full power accessories and a CD player. Significant options included a variety of towing packages, the Z71 Off-Road package and a navigation system.

Powertrain choices encompassed everything from a workaday 4.3-liter 195-hp V6 to a muscular 6.2-liter V8 with 403 hp, but most Chevy Silverados of this vintage were fitted with either a 295-hp 4.8-liter V8 or a 315-hp 5.3-liter V8. A four-speed automatic transmission with a tow and haul mode was standard on Silverado pickups with the base V6 and 4.8-liter V8. The 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8 received a six-speed automatic toward the end of this production run.

Calling cards of this Silverado included no-nonsense performance, a reasonably refined and quiet ride (even with the heavy-duty towing package) and a comfortable cabin that admittedly looks a little old compared to some contemporaries. We mentioned a few other downsides in reviews, including minor interior ergonomic issues, underwhelming performance from the base V6 and the hesitant responses of the four-speed automatic transmission while downshifting. The excellent six-speed automatic, however, is hard to fault with its smooth, on-point performance.

During its lifespan, the 2007-'13 Silverado remained largely the same, but keep in mind that the initial top-of-the-line engine was a 6.0-liter V8 rated at 367 hp; the 6.2-liter V8 didn't replace it until the 2009 model year. That same year, the six-speed automatic transmission was introduced as an option for the 5.3- and 6.2-liter V8s, and it became standard with those engines for 2010.

The previous Silverado 1500 was produced from 1999-'06. Although Chevrolet has produced a pickup truck since 1918, this generation marked the debut of "Silverado" as the big truck's formal name instead of a trim-level designation (which it had served as since the 1970s). Underneath the handsome new styling, a fresh family of V8s debuted, ranging in size from 4.8 to 6.0 liters. They offered output running from 255 hp with the smallest 4.8-liter to 345 hp from the high-output 6.0-liter V8 in the Silverado SS. A base V6 was also available, but as expected, most of these Chevy Silverados came fitted with one of the V8s. (Buyers looking at the heavy-duty series Silverado 2500HD and 3500 of this generation could also get a 6.6-liter turbodiesel V8 or an 8.1-liter gasoline V8.) A unique four-wheel-steering option (called QuadraSteer) came online about midway through this generation and cut the truck's turning circle down to 37.4 feet -- around 10 feet less than a typical full-size pickup. Unfortunately, QuadraSteer was discontinued for '06, as buyers were put off by the high cost of this option.

Consumers more interested in function than flash should be happy with a used half-ton Silverado from this era. The truck offered plenty of performance and work capacity, though it was hampered by a dated cabin design fraught with cheap materials and below-average fit and finish.

The previous generation of full-size Chevrolet pickups -- the last of the so-called "C/K" line -- ran from 1988-'98 and comprised three distinct versions: 1500 (half-ton), 2500 (3/4-ton) and 3500 (1-ton). Standard cab and extended cab body styles were offered, as was a crew cab, though the latter was actually from the previous 1981-'87 generation. Although six-cylinder and diesel V8s were offered, chances are strong that most Chevy trucks from these years will have either a 5.0- or 5.7-liter V8 mated to a four-speed automatic. In keeping with tradition, one could choose either rear-wheel drive (indicated by a "C", e.g. "C1500") or four-wheel drive (indicated by a "K"). Trim levels for these C/K trucks include the base Cheyenne, midlevel Scottsdale and top-line Silverado. Strengths include strong, durable powertrains, while weaknesses center on sketchy build quality and materials within the cabin.

User Reviews:

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  Good truck - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By FRED - August 10 - 5:30 pm

  I use this truck for a meat packing plant I own. It has a lot of power and hauls meat, my boats, and a huge trailer of deer hides very well. I never had a mecanical failure on it before. I smoked a deer with it and it had a lot of damage to the front and fender (which still was never fixed right becouse the front bumper and grille is not centered very well). I also like the acceleration on it. Overall I love this truck.

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  Silverados are junk - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ka8dzt - August 10 - 10:00 am

  Many small minor problems. Transmission replaced at 58,000 miles. Brakes are junk...have never worked right. Passenger seat belt doesnt work correctly...never has. Engine vibrates badly especially on cold mornings. Eats fan belts. Have work with 2 dealers Terry Lee Chevrolet and Rose Chevrolet. Didnt seemed concerned about my complaints. Never fixed any problem I had...said I had to live with the problems. Have bought GM vehicles for over 30 years but never again!!!!!!

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  1500 SS - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By chris delano - August 10 - 10:00 am

  fast and smooth good handleing nice look eye turner powerful with fast reaction time

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  Very Good Truck - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Connell - August 8 - 10:00 am

  These are great trucks. I have owned Chevy trucks in the past and have always sworn by them. For the last year and a half I have been driving a Ford 150XLT, and I would have to say that the Fords are junk. I still have the Ford because it is a company vehicle, but I needed another Chevy truck just for the pleasure of driving one.

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  My 03 SS - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By GaryC69Z - August 4 - 10:00 am

  I drive my SS 5 - 6 days a week. I really enjoy that GM feeln every time I stand on the throttle. I traded a 2000 Silverado and was dreading the fuel ecomomy drop between the two but to my suprise I am getting 16.5 mpg like clockwork.

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  Get with it GM - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By murdog - August 1 - 1:23 pm

  I bought this 2006 Silverado and drive it off of the Lot and the next day it was back at the dealer for a repair of the alternator. Then at 9000 miles in for a tranny seal. Then at 17000 miles for the OnStar antenna falling off and the visor falling off and hitting my wife in the head. The truck has been good on gas avg of 20 Hwy 16 city. Not too bad. But as many times as it has been to the dealer for things breaking that should never break. I just bought a 2008 Ford Fusion for work and will be solidly in the Ford camp now.

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  Silverado did it again! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By scar - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned all of the big three and drove all of them before I purchased my new 03 Silverado LT Z71 ExtCab. Nothing comes close to the performance, style, economy, safety for the dollar! I like a truck that is built like a truck and rides like a luxury car. Way to go Chevrolet!

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  03 1500 2Dr Stepside 4x4 - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ZL-1 - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I am very happy with my purchase and I am glad I got the 5.3. The gas milage is about the same as the V6, however the power is above and beyond. The workmanship is outstanding for an assembly line vehicle. The gas milage and performance will improve with the addition of Gibson headers and a K&N Induction system.

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  Silverado did it again! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Scar - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned all of the big three and drove all of them before I purchased my new 03 Silverado LT Z71 ExtCab. Nothing comes close to the performance, style, economy, safety for the dollar! I like a truck that is built like a truck and rides like a luxury car. Way to go Chevrolet!

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  My Dream Truck! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dancer - July 27 - 2:00 am

  MY BOYFRIEND BOUGHT ONE AND LOVED IT. I DROVE ONE AND LIKED IT TOO. AFTER READING YOUR CONSUMER RATINGS, I KNEW THIS WAS THE ONE I WANTED. IT DOES IT ALL SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE REST. COMFORT, LOOKS, AND GET-UP-AND-GO!! FEEL SORRY FOR THE 2 FELLAS THAT RATED IT AT 1.0 THEY DIDNT HAVE A REASON AND PROBABLY WOULDNT KNOW A GOOD TRUCK IF THEY GOT RUN INTO.