WASHINGTON — The outgoing 2018 Chevrolet Silverado proves to be a value in the hot truck market.
The once-humble pickup is anything but a no-frills work machine. Now there are pickups that rival luxury cars with great comfort and the ability to still work hard.
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is the second-best selling vehicle in the U.S. and with three different cabin sizes and bed lengths, and six trim levels there is a truck for most budgets. You may get more value for your buck right now before the 2019 model hits the dealer floors.
While you can find a new Silverado 1500 for well under $30,000, it’s not this one. The crew cab Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71 4×4 has a sticker price near $60,000 and this isn’t even the top-of-the-line trim level.
That being said, this truck is one luxurious ride with perforated leather heated and ventilated seats that prove comfortable for long hauls. There is a heated steering wheel and the pedals are power-operated so shorter drivers can sit further from the steering wheel. Back seat space, while not the biggest in class anymore, has plenty of space for three and the seat bottoms fold up to provide a mostly flat surface.
The interior has started to show its age in a class of pickups that was revised in 2018. There are nice materials in the upper cabin and it’s mixed with more hard plastics than I would like to see in this price range. There is no push-button start so you fumble for the key to start more often than not. The climate and radio controls are simple to use with knobs and buttons, and the screen is responsive to touch. Apple CarPlay, Andriod Auto, 4G LTE hot spot and many USB ports prove a useful office or family machine.
Picking a crew cab Silverado proves a boon for passengers but makes for a long truck, especially if you choose the standard bed instead of the short bed. It can be a bit of a challenge in tighter spots and garage parking. Still, the standard bed on the crew cab is such a nice feature to have. I would choose this over the short bed.
Driving the Silverado with the optional 6.2L V8 really moves this large truck swiftly and it sounds good, too. Towing is improved with this engine and filling the bed with a fallen tree doesn’t faze the truck at all. The Silverado feels a bit heavy and ponderous in turns, which should be changed in 2019 with the use of more lightweight materials. The ride is near the top of the class with the ability to handle bumps well and with less of that shake you get with empty beds over large bumps. Road and wind noise is well controlled. Fuel economy with this large engine wasn’t a killer either. I managed 17.8 miles per gallon for the week.
My tester had the Redline trim package which gives the Silverado an edgy look and slick sport assist steps for easy entry and exit. The chrome is replaced with black trim pieces and a blacked-out grill and emblems. Large black wheels set this truck apart and work nicely with the silver paint. I like that the bumpers are in the body color making it appear as pricey as it is. The rear bumper has cut outs to get in the bed easier. The spray-in bed liner from the factory is a nice touch if you choose the Redline package.
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a solid pickup; and with a nice discount on remaining 2017 and 2018 models, it won’t be as costly as you’d expect. If you want to mix luxury with a brawny work truck, the Silverado 1500 LTZ allows the best of both worlds and combination of two vehicles into one large package.
Editor’s Note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI ,FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
