2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Up front, the Silverado is tall and blunt, taking inspiration from the heavy-duty line from Chevy, which in turn, look like big rigs to us. The result is an aggressive look that only gets more pronounced on special edition trims. The high shoulders and squared-off appearance are sharp enough to set your watch to, and squared-off wheel wells finish the design.

Despite the brick-in-the-wind look, the Silverado is actually more aerodynamic than its predecessors, and active grille shutters help smooth the airflow across the front to maximize fuel economy.

Inside, the layout is simple and the ambiance is refreshingly refined. GM has resisted the urge to make the interior of its trucks either more complex or even lower and more car-like. The instrument panel is upright and simplified, with controls clustered either just to the left of the steering wheel or in a large, upright center-console area, and GM has aimed to make all the knobs, buttons, and interfaces easy to read and operate even with work gloves on. This also helps the ungloved who just want to change a setting with only a glance at the controls. Most materials are of high quality, with most touchpoints made of soft rubber.

The people's choice is still the 5.3-liter V-8 wedged in the middle, which is a confident and quick engine. It's paired to a smooth shifting 8-speed automatic that complements the Silverado's good ride. It's an 8 out of 10 on our performance gauge. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

Pickup truck powertrains can be as complex as their trims and accessories, so an open mind and plenty of coffee are suggested before picking what setup is best for you.

Base trucks are equipped with a 4.3-liter V-6 that makes 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. That engine is essentially a V-8 with two cylinders lopped off with a balance shaft design that helps smooth the rougher edges. We say the V-6 has enough muscle for most light-duty jobs, including hauling a weekend boat or a trailer full of snowmobiles or ATVs. We towed a 4,700-pound camper with the V-6 and didn't blink merging into high-speed traffic or maintaining speed up steep grades.

The 5.3-liter V-8 is the mainstream pick and makes a meaty 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. When equipped, it can tow up to 11,500 pounds, and is mated to a 6-speed automatic, or 8-speed automatic in LTZ and High Country trims.

Top-trimmed trucks can stuff a 6.2-liter V-8 under the hood that makes 420 hp and 460 lb-ft, but we're not sure that's the answer for many drivers. Fuel economy is predictably the lowest in those trucks, and unladen, the trucks can have a fair bit of suspension hop that spoils the Silverado's ride.

All three engines sport Chevy's cylinder deactivation technology that can shut down all but four cylinders in the engine in low-load situations, such as highway cruising, coasting, or deceleration. An active exhaust system makes up for the required change in back pressure when the switch occurs, and also does its best to keep the associated pulses from being felt or heard by occupants.

We've found the ride to be good in the Silverado, despite its less cushy setup than the Ram 1500. Chevy's electric power steering system is nicely weighted too, without over-boosting like other models.

Chevrolet offers the Silverado 1500 in three different cab configurations: two-door regular cabs, four-door extended cabs, and roomier four-door Crew cab models. Three bed lengths are available and vary based on cab selection: 6-feet-6-inches, and 8-feet long. Unlike with past generations, Crew Cab models are available with a 6-feet-6-inch long bed.

The Crew Cab models are Chevy's hottest sellers, and are spacious for four adults. The rear doors are large for easy entry and exit, and the middle pillar is pushed forward, which helps rear occupants swing their feet in more easily. Extended cab models, called Double Cabs, have rear doors that hinge from the front as well, but cut rear leg room by more than 6 inches for rear passengers. Still, back-seat riders have more than 34 inches in the back, but those models aren't as spacious as Crew Cab models.

Inside, the available cloth is a high-wear material. Also available are options ranging from tough vinyl in Work Truck trims all the way up to supple piped leather in top-of-the-line High Country models. With the High Country trim, Chevy brings the Silverado in line with GMC's Denali offerings, adding a premium look and feel. The seats front and back are comfortable and well contoured, and steering wheels can be tilted or telescoped to offer a more natural driving position; a heated steering wheel is also available.

Clever features abound. Chevy's available steps near the box make it easier to get in and out of the bed, and LED lamps are hidden under the bed rails to help visibility. Inside, an active noise cancellation system comes standard on trucks equipped with a bigger V-8 and Bose audio system that quells any thrums from the active cylinder deactivation system.

Chevrolet's MyLink system is among one of our favorites from any truckmaker. It's plain and straightforward, with crisp high-resolution graphics that are easy to read. When equipped, the system can support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which is more intuitive for smartphone owners.

In federal testing, the Silverado 1500 managed top five-star scores in nearly every test, except rollover protection, where it earned a four-star score. The IIHS separately gave the Chevy truck top "Good" scores in every crash category, except the small overlap crash test, where it earned an "Acceptable" score in extended-cab models, Crew Cab versions received a "Marginal" score.

All trucks are equipped with stability control systems and trailer sway control, as well as a standard set of airbags, including dual-stage front and side impact airbags, as well as side curtain airbags.

In top LTZ and High Country models an advanced suite of safety systems are available, including active lane control, forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking, automatic headlights, front and rear park assist, and a seat-mounted alert system that vibrates to warn drivers of the direction of possible dangers.

In base configuration, the Silverado 1500 is very spartan—same story for the rest of the full-sizers. It gets back to our baseline through great customization options, some of which can be very pricey. We give it a 5 out of 10 on our features scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

Fleet-truck buyers will get air conditioning, an AM/FM four-speaker stereo, cruise control, 17-inch wheels, vinyl seats, power locks, and a handshake. Power windows, remote keyless entry, and locking tailgate are a $1,175 option on WT models. 

LS trucks get an upgraded 7.0-inch touchscreen with Chevrolet's MyLink infotainment, an upgraded stereo, Bluetooth, OnStar, power windows, and cloth seats. Custom trucks similar to LS models, but are skinned differently with 20-inch wheels, body colored bumpers and grille inserts.

Stepping up to an LT truck adds more creature comforts such as an 8.0-inch touchscreen with MyLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4.2-inch color driver information display, upgraded aluminum wheels, rearview camera, a 110-volt AC outlet, and a tailgate bed with dampers that make lowering or closing the bed easier. Z71 models add a little more pizzazz with 18-inch wheels, off-roading gear such as Rancho monotube shocks, and a little more chrome.

LTZ models are near-luxury trucks, according to us. In addition to heated, power-adjustable leather seats, the LTZ models feature LED headlights, remote starter, and the bigger 5.3-liter V-8 is standard on those trucks. LTZ Z71 trucks follow the same logic as before.

High Country models are trimmed like luxury cars with 20-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, navigation, step-in rails, heated steering wheel, power adjustable pedals, wireless cell phone charging, Bose audio, and a standard suite of safety features that we cover separately. 

All models come with at least one USB charging point, LT and higher trucks have at least three.

Like every other truck, there's a dizzying array of extras that can be added across the range of models that can customize each truck to every buyer. It's an exhausting list, and far too long to go into detail here, but it's enough to say that these trucks can be as unique as fingerprints.

The only change from prior years is the addition of a "teen driver" feature that helps parents spy on monitor young drivers and can report back things like speed, distance driven, and how many times advanced safety features were activated during a drive. Ferris Buellers of the world: you've been warned.

The 2017 Chevrolet Silverado is fairly fuel efficient compared to its class, and most models hover around 18 mpg combined. It's that rating that we base our 5 out of 10 score for fuel efficiency. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

We imagine most retail buyers (read: not fleet buyers) will consider the 5.3-liter V-8 to be adequate for most needs. In rear-drive configuration, those models manage 16 mpg city, 23 highway, 19 combined when equipped with a 6-speed automatic. With four-wheel drive (4WD) those models are rated at 16/22/18 mpg. Depending on cab and box configuration, that 6-speed may be swapped out for an 8-speed automatic in higher trims, but it's worth noting that the 8-speed is rated lower. The EPA chalks the differences up to the complex formula that they use to test pickups, which is based on sales mix and other factors; Chevy says the differences are due to lack of testing to the EPA's new standard. We say the answer is somewhere in the middle: the 8-speed may be a smoother shifter, but ultimately driving styles will dictate your final mileage.

Top trims equipped with the larger 6.2-liter V-8 are rated lower: 15/20/17 mpg with 4WD. Work truck buyers opting for the V-6 and rear-drive manage 18/24/20 mpg.

In very limited circumstances (California buyers, and in one trim) a Silverado with a light eAssist hybrid system and the 5.3-liter V-8 reaches 20 mpg combined. Those are available to only a small number of buyers, so it doesn't factor heavily into our rating.

By comparison, turbocharged V-6 Ford F-150 models are rated slightly higher, but we've had a tough time replicating those numbers in the real world.