Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Chevrolet redesigned the Silverado 1500 for 2019 and officially introduced it at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The hood, doors and tailgate are aluminum, while the body and frame see increased use of high-strength steel. This resulted in up to 450 pounds of weight savings versus competitors’ crew cabs. Powertrain choices include a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter straight six-cylinder and an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. Interior styling looks mostly unchanged but offers more storage and a centering of the previously offset steering wheel. Eight trim levels will cover the spectrum of customer needs when the Silverado goes on sale in the fall of 2018.

The third-generation Silverado 1500 was quieter and smoother than the previous truck. Hinges were moved to the front of the extended cab’s rear doors, with an added pillar making the cab more rigid. Fuel economy increased thanks to cylinder deactivation across the powertrain lineup and an eight-speed automatic transmission seeing wider availability. The redesign was often panned for not going far enough in differentiating the look from the previous iteration, which Chevy addressed in a 2016 refresh most notable for discontinuing the stacked headlight design.

Refinement was the focus of the second-generation Silverado, with a new front frame design carrying a new coil-over shock front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. New V-8 engines offered more power, some with cylinder deactivation for increased efficiency. Available safety features not previously seen on Chevrolet trucks included stability control, side curtain airbags, rear park assist, adjustable pedals and navigation. A two-mode hybrid made a short-lived appearance starting in the 2009 model year.

Replacing the C/K pickup, the first Chevrolet truck to carry “Silverado” as a model name stood out as slightly larger and more aerodynamic than its predecessor. Underneath, a new hydroformed frame increased strength and rigidity. Power came from a carried-over 4.3-liter V-6 or two new 4.8- and 5.3-liter V-8 engines. Extended cabs could be had with four doors for the first time, with the passenger-side rear door made standard and the driver’s side optional. It was the first pickup with standard four-wheel disc brakes, an automatic transmission with a Tow/Haul mode and a four-wheel-drive system that could be used on dry roads.