2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Whether you're looking for a vinyl floor, crank window work truck, or a leather and navigation-equipped luxury hauler, Chevrolet's Silverado has you covered. With a wide range of trims, three engines, three cab choices and multiple bed lengths, if you're looking for the ability to tow, haul, or go off-road, Chevrolet has you covered.

Inside, the dash is better laid out than Ford F-150 or Ram 1500, and it's quieter in the cab as well. The dials, buttons, and gauges are all large and easy to use. Even with gloves. It's shorter than the competition by 5 cm or more, and despite Ford's much-hyped aluminium the Silverado does not weigh much more than the F-150. The ride can be stiffer than the competition, but the steering is more direct and it's more fun to drive than the competition. Fun being a relative term in this case.

The truck was redesigned for 2014, and got a facelift and some powertrain changes for 2016, so not much is new for 2017. There is a new trim level, High Country, which is the truck's most luxurious trim. MyLink systems add Android Auto, teen driver mode has been added and there is now capless fuel fill-up.

There are three cab configurations available. Regular, the small rear-door Double cab, and full four-door Crew cab. Regular cab models come with short (6'6") or long (8') box, Double cab comes with the short box, and Crew cab models get either the short box or an even shorter (5'8") box. The trim levels are base WT (work truck), LS, and LT, (which get all cab and bed options, Custom (which is Double cab only, and slots in between LS and LT), LTZ (Double and Crew cabs only), and top trim High Country, which is Crew cab and all-wheel drive only.

The base engine is a 4.3L V6 that produces 285 hp and 305 lb-ft. That engine comes with a six-speed automatic. Next up is a 5.3L V8 with 355 hp and 383 lb-ft. That engine gets the six-speed auto in most trims, but LTZ and High Country get an eight-speed automatic. Top engine is a 6.2L V8 with 420 hp. It's only in LTZ and High Country, comes with the eight-speed auto, and is the most powerful light-truck engine available.

The base WT trim comes with manual windows on regular cab, with power on double and crew cab. There is air conditioning, power locks, tilt steering, cruise control, a 4.2-inch colour display audio system, HID headlights, a locking tailgate, and tire pressure monitoring. The seat is manual adjust, the floor is vinyl, and the seat coverings are vinyl or cloth.

LS trim adds chrome bumpers, power mirrors, tinted rear windows, and remote keyless entry with remote locking tailgate. The windows are power, there's a six-speaker audio system, and the seats are cloth. Vinyl flooring is standard, with carpet as an option. LS gets OnStar with 4G LTE hotspot. Silverado Custom takes LS features but has body coloured bumpers, grille, and headlights. There are also 20-inch alloys. The stereo has a 7.0-inch touchscreen with MyLink.

Silverado LT adds an electronic transfer case to four-wheel drive models. It has 17-inch alloy wheels, and heated body colour exterior mirrors. The door handles and mouldings are also body colour. There is a rear-view camera, and a 4.2-inch colour display in the instrument cluster. The floor is carpet as standard, with a leather-wrapped steering wheel. There is a lockable storage compartment in the front bench seat.

LTZ adds the 5.3L V8 as standard, along with a locking rear differential. It comes standard with a trailering package. The wheels are 18-inch alloys. The headlights, taillights and fog lights are all LED, and the exterior mirrors get a chrome cap and turn signal repeaters. There is a power sliding rear window with defrost. The truck has a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, remote start, dual-zone climate control, 110 v power outlet, and heated front seats with power adjustment.

Top trim is High Country, which has an eight-speed automatic. Active safety features include forward collision alert, low speed automatic braking, lane guidance, and automatic high beams. There are 20-inch alloys, body colour bumpers, a unique chrome grille, step bars, 12-way adjustable power seats with heat, ventilation, and leather, a heated steering wheel, and a seven-speaker Bose stereo with navigation.

The active safety features from High Country are optional on LTZ. Also optional on LTZ and High Country is a rear-seat entertainment system with Blu-ray player and 9.2-inch screen. A Z71 package on LT and LTZ adds the eight-speed automatic, Rancho shocks, transfer case skid plate, hill descent control, and 18-inch wheels.

The Silverado has a maximum payload of 1,021 kg and max towing capacity of 5,670 kg when properly equipped.

Silverado models with the 4.3L V6 are rated for 13.4 L/100 km city, 10.0 highway with two-wheel drive, and 14.1/10.6 with four-wheel drive. 5.3L V8 models are rated for 14.6/10.3 and 15.0/10.7 (two-wheel and four-wheel drive) with the six-speed and 15.2/10.7 and 15.9/11.5 with the eight-speed. 6.2L trucks are rated at 15.9/11.2 and 16.0/11.7.