By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com / Photos GM Media
For 2016, the new Silverado 1500 builds on Chevy Trucks’ legacy of dependability with a dramatic new design, advanced connectivity and enhanced customer focused technologies.
Exterior
New front end designs with a bolder, more sculpted appearance reflect the underlying strength of the Silverado’s high-strength steel construction, which helps provide the capability customers need and the value of low-cost ownership they count on.
Silverado’s cabs are designed to reduce wind noise in the cabin. Inlaid doors fit into body sides rather than wrapping over the roof and combine with triple door seals to reduce wind noise and turbulence, helping quiet the cab. Also, the front of the truck is carefully sealed to provide efficient cooling with minimal aerodynamic drag. An aluminum hood with twin power domes also enhances efficiency with lower weight than a steel hood.
When it comes to ergonomics, Silverado’s wide rear crew cab doors make it easier to get in and out of the truck, while the pickup box’s two-tier loading design, standard CornerStep rear bumper and ergonomically shaped handholds built into new box rail protectors make it easier to load and retrieve items.
The EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate makes it easier to access the box. An internal torsion bar reduces the effort to raise and lower it, while a rotary damper allows for a controlled and more gradual lowering motion when opening it. The tailgate is also easily removable without tools. It is standard on LT, LTZ and High Country.
Interior
The Silverado’s interior is roomy, quiet and functional, with a strong cab structure the foundation for Silverado’s refinement. Nearly two-thirds of it is made of high-strength steel, while shear-style body mounts are used to tune out both up-and-down and side-to-side movement for a quiet, comfortable ride. Double and crew cab models have a set of hydraulic body mounts to further isolate the cabs.
The instrument panel has a simple, intuitive six-gauge cluster. WT and LS models include a 3.5-inch driver information center display in the middle of the instrument cluster, with a 4.2-inch color driver information center display, for vehicle and infotainment data, standard on LT, LTZ, Z71 and High Country models. Ambient lighting highlights all functional areas, such as the 4×4 and headlamp switches, as well as the radio, for easier viewing at night.
In addition, the locking console accommodates hanging files for owners who use their truck as a rolling office, as well as controls for overhead ambient lighting, map pockets along the side, cup holders and reconfigurable compartments. It also includes USB ports, two 12-volt power points and a new 110-volt outlet. Plus, there’s a location on the console designed specifically for cell phone storage.
Powertrains
The Silverado’s trio of EcoTec3 engines, a 4.3L V-6, 5.3L V-8 and 6.2L V-8 are designed to balance confident performance with efficiency. Each features direct injection, Active Fuel and continuously variable valve timing to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions.
In the U.S. and Canada, the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission is matched with the 4.3L and 5.3L engines in WT, LS and LT models. Silverado LTZ and High Country models with the 5.3L and 6.2L engine are matched with the 8L90 eight-speed automatic.
The GM-developed Hydra-Matic 8L90 is roughly the same size and weight as the 6L80 six-speed automatic. Its 7.0 overall gear ratio spread is wider than GM’s six-speed automatic transmissions. That provides a numerically higher first gear ratio, helping drivers start off more confidently with a heavy load or when trailering. The 8L90 also enables numerically lower rear axle ratios, which reduce engine rpm on the highway.
MyLink with new phone integration technology, OnStar 4G LTE
Upgrades and enhancements for 2016 include an all-new radio with a 7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen that’s available on the WT trim and standard with the LS. An 8-inch system is offered on higher trim levels and equipment packages.
Also new for Silverado 7-inch and 8-inch radio systems is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability. Each provides simple and smart use of smartphones in the vehicle, integrating certain phone functions onto MyLink’s color touchscreen and allowing users to call up music, navigation apps and more via compatible phones.
Complementing MyLink to enhance Silverado’s connectivity is OnStar 4G LTE with a Wi-Fi hotspot. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot supports up to seven mobile devices and is on whenever the vehicle is on. It comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial. It is available on WT and standard on other models.
Summary
The Silverado 1500 is engineered to deliver great capability with great refinement, with a quiet, controlled ride, great steering and braking feel attributes that provide driving confidence when using the truck’s capability to its fullest.
The Estimated fuel economy is rated at 15 mpg City and 21 mpg Highway with the 5.3L V8 EcoTec3 engine. Manufacturer’s suggested starting retail price is $47,700.00, for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 4WD LTZ Crew, the one I drove included 20 Inch Chrome Wheels, 6 Inch Chrome Assist Steps, Heated & Vented Driver & Passenger seats, Front Full Feature Leather Buckets & Center Console, Floor USB Ports & Wireless Charging, Trailer Brake Controller and Movable Upper Tie Downs, and it came in at $52,585.00 including destination charge.
mlezcano@carsntravel.com
