Watching the evolution of the American pickup truck over the past 25 years has been a fascinating experience. Some time I recently spent with a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado demonstrated clearly just how far these most utilitarian of vehicles have come.
When I got started in the auto industry as an engineering student in the late 1980s, technology and trucks were two words that simply didn’t go together. Also not part of the truck equation were driving dynamics, braking performance, refinement or any kind of sophistication.
Over the course career developing anti-lock brake systems, traction control, stability control and electrohydraulic brake systems, I spent a significant proportion of my time working on truck programs. A lot of that time was spent driving trucks in extreme conditions and frankly it was often a harrowing experience every time I turned the steering wheel or stabbed the brake pedal. It didn’t really matter which manufacturer we were working on, the brakes and steering often seemed like an afterthought. Of course this was often true of American cars of a generation earlier, but by the 1990s, they had started to progress to a higher level.
In those days, stabbing the brake pedal often resulting in a significant amount of pedal travel before any discernable deceleration was generated, and releasing the pedal might or might not modulate the brake force. The problem was small single piston brake calipers with a lot of compliance. Similarly the steering was at best sloppy with lots of on-center play that made it feel like the tiller was connected to the front wheels through a wet sponge.
Fast forward to 2014 and the contemporary pickup truck has been utterly transformed. While you might think that it doesn’t really matter how a truck handles, when you consider that these vehicles are the highest volume sellers from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, it absolutely does.
The latest generation Silverado and its GMC twin, the Sierra debuted in 2013 as a 2014 model. It was the first GM vehicle to launch with GM’s fifth-generation small-block V8 engine. The biggest upgrade to the new generation powerplants was switch to direct-injection which yields more power and improved fuel efficiency. The DI enabled GM engineers to bump the compression ratio to 11.0:1 in the smaller 5.3-liter V8 I drove and 11.5:1 in the larger 6.2-liter version. The test truck was rated at 355 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque and seemed to have more than ample performance despite its heft.
While a nearly three-ton truck is never going to be as nimble as a Camaro or Corvette, the first time I tapped the brakes, it was clear, this was not like the trucks of my younger days. There was only the slightest hint of free-play followed immediately by a smooth and progressive build-up of deceleration. Adjustments in pedal force corresponded directly to braking force, just as you would expect. The steering was similarly precise with weighting that made parking lot maneuvers easy while avoiding drifting at higher speeds. The ride was also comfortable and well-damped even with an empty bed.
Motors in the seat cushion bolsters of the driver’s seat vibrate to provide alerts for the park assist and lane departure warning
Inside, the crew-cab, had plenty of room for five adults to ride in comfort and the back seat cushions can fold up to provide an large enclosed space for carrying cargo you don’t want to leave in the bed.
The new-generation Silverado is equipped with the latest Chevy MyLink system that is shared with the Impala and Corvette. Unlike the original MyLink that debuted in 2012, this more powerful version is actually derived from the Cadillac CUE system. It has a different, simpler user interface than CUE and loses a couple of features that are exclusive to Cadillac including the proximity sensing for the touchscreen and the haptic feedback (no great loss actually).
The MyLink setup is easy to use, responsive and never crashes unlike a certain competing system from one of Chevrolet’s main competitors. Like many of today’s infotainment systems, it supports bluetooth audio streaming of content from paired phones and provides remote control of Pandora running on the phone. No additional app support is available yet, but GM has promised that eventually.
Yes, there is a place to charge your devices, all of them!
For those with devices to charge, the Silverado is the place to be. Directly below the center stack is power center with two 12-volt power ports, three USB ports and a 110-volt AC outlet so you can charge your laptop. A storage slot below the charging ports provides a convenient place to store your phone while charging without using the cup holders or the larger storage bin. If the six outlets at the front aren’t enough, the deep bin below the armrest has two more USB ports, plus an auxiliary audio port and an SD card slot. A second AC outlet is accessible to rear seat passengers.
Like other 2015 model year GM vehicles, the standard OnStar system includes a built-in WiFi hotspot and 4G LTE radio powered by AT&T. The hotspot enables kids sitting in the back to browse the web or stream music on their WiFi enabled devices at speeds that rival what most Americans get at home. You will of course have to add yet another data plan for at least $10 per month to take advantage of this but staying connected cost money.
the first time I tapped the brakes, it was clear, this was not like the trucks of my younger days
The fit and finish and materials in the cabin are completely up to contemporary car expectations and look totally in keeping with a $50,000 vehicle. The leather-covered steering wheel and front seats offer heating for cold mornings while the dual-zone automatic climate control lets the driver and passenger tune the temperature to their individual comfort levels.
The display in the instrument cluster indicates when an object or pedestrian is in close proximity to the truck
Speaking of technology, the Silverado also offers features that make it easier to maneuver such a large vehicle. Ultrasonic sensors at each end along with a rear camera make it easier to know how close you are to other vehicles. The sensors can also detect a pedestrian walking by outside of your field of view. A camera-based forward collision alert and lane departure warning system alert the driver if you are closing too quickly on a vehicle ahead or drifting out of the lane. Another feature inherited from Cadillac is the vibrating driver seat that rumbles the seat cushion for the parking assist and lane departure system. Like the premium models, the seat will vibrate the side of the seat where the driver needs to pay attention, for example drifting right will shake the right side of the seat.
For 2015, GM has added an eight-speed automatic transmission to the Silverado and Sierra, but only with the larger 6.2-liter V8. No doubt the smaller 5.3-liter and the base 4.3-liter V6 will get the new transmission in time as GM ramps up production. For now however, those engines are paired with GM’s still excellent six-speed automatic. During my mostly around-town driving, I managed 17 mpg with the Silverado.
The well-equipped four-wheel-drive Silverado LTZ I drove stickered at $54,055 which is by no means cheap, but not out of line with a comparably Ram 1500 or Ford F-150. This configuration has a 7,200-pound tow rating but other configurations are offered with up to 11,800 pounds. If you need to haul more stuff on a regular basis, you may also want to opt for the longer 6.5-foot bed rather than the standard five-foot, eight-inch bed on my tester.
A Saturday morning trip to the dump after doing fence repairs
GM has been offering some aggressive incentives of late to try to grab some market share before the all-new aluminum-bodied F-150 hits dealer lots in significant numbers in the coming months. If you’re looking for a truck, this is definitely worthy of consideration and drives so much better than the trucks of just 10 or 20 years ago. On the other hand, if you’re looking for even better fuel efficiency, you might want to look at the Ram 1500 diesel, Ford’s new 2.7-liter EcoBoost-powered F-150 or the smaller, midsize Chevy Colorado.
Click here for full specs on the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado
