Dependable and All-American - The 2009 Chevrolet Silverado

The Chevrolet Silverado worked hard to earn its reputation as the 'strongest, most dependable and longest lasting truck on the road'. It is an all-American pickup with more emphasis on work than on gimmicks. The Silverado is available in a long list of configurations, with three cabs, three beds, five engines (nine if you count all the 5.3-liter derivatives), three transmissions, and five suspension setups on four wheelbase lengths. Although the Silverado aims to create a unique design, there's certainly a strong family resemblance with the Chevy Tahoe/Suburban. The 2009 Chevy Silverado is available in four trim levels: WT, LS (Crew Cab only), LT, and LTZ.  A hybrid is also available.  The 1500 is the 'half-ton', model in Chevrolet's full-size pickup line-up.  For 2009 the Chevy Silverado has a starting MSRP of $19,375 - $41,355. What the Silverado has going for it is its range of power, looks, utility and comfort, its excellent towing manners and plenty of pulling power, and lots of aftermarket products available for utility.  The downsides to the 2009 Silverado include its confusing and endless lineup and options, side airbags are not standard, and there is no SS sport edition like there is on other Chevys.

Silverado Design

Extended Cab and Crew Cab models have back seats and windows in the side doors that power down. The Crew Cab has four front-hinged doors, much like a sport utility vehicle. The Extended Cab has rear access doors hinged at the rear that open to 170 degrees to provide full access to the rear seating area. The Regular Cab can be outfitted with a standard bed (6-foot, 6-inch) or long bed (8-foot).The Extended Cab also offers a short (5-foot, 8-inch) bed, which is the only bed available on the Crew Cab. The rear view of the truck features stacked tail lights on either side of a tall tailgate that has a sculpted center section that mimics and inverts the shape of the fender flares.  A raked windshield and careful aerodynamic and body-building engineering make the truck both quieter on the inside and more fuel efficient.  The popular Z71 offroad model returns with upgraded shocks, skid plates and special badging.

New For 2009

Chevy will debut a new model designed to squeeze every mile possible out of a gallon of gasoline. The Silverado XFE (Xtra Fuel Economy) has aerodynamic enhancements, an aluminum-block 5.3-liter flex-fuel V-8, a six-speed automatic transmission and 3.08:1 rear axle ratio. Available on two-wheel-drive trucks, the XFE has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 15/21 mpg city/highway. That's 1 mpg better than non-XFE models. More V-8 models will get the six-speed automatic transmission, and an electronic stability system is now standard on all models except those with a V-6. GM also updated some electronic features; OnStar adds Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Bluetooth and Destination Download, and vehicles with XM Satellite Radio can now get NavTraffic. A rearview camera system is available on extended and crew cab models. In addition to these a monster 6.2-liter engine was added to the lineup.

Drive and Handling for '09

The Silverado benefits from a rear axle design featuring shocks absorbers mounted outboard and more upright for better dynamic control than that of the previous-generation models. The front suspension uses coil-over shock absorbers and the rack-and-pinion steering gear is mounted to the engine cross member to provide enhanced control and feedback.  Five suspensions are available: Z83 is the standard setup designed for a smooth ride; Z85 is a little firmer for enhanced handling and towing; Z71 is for off-road driving and includes 18-inch wheels; Z60 is for maximum street performance and includes 20-inch wheels; NHT is for maximum towing capacity and includes high-capacity rear springs as well as all-terrain tires.

Inside the Silverado

The Silverado cab is spacious and well-organized. The more luxury-oriented interior includes bucket seats with a permanent center console with 20 liters of storage capacity. Chevrolet says the interior of the new Silverado is 20 percent quieter than its predecessor (pre-2007 and Silverado Classic models), thanks to enhanced insulation materials, much like those used in the company's sport utility vehicles, and to aerodynamic improvements that reduce wind noise.  The center stack puts ventilation and audio controls within easy site and reach of the front seat passenger.   The Silverado offers two distinct interiors. The WT, LS and LT get an interior that's more work-oriented, while the LTZ draws inspiration from the SUV lineup. Besides interior fabrics and colors, the dash layouts are different, and the work trucks have larger controls. The easiest way to tell the difference is that work trucks have two glove boxes and LTZs have one. The work trucks come standard with cloth seating; leather is available on the LT. The LTZ gets heated leather seats, wood trim, a Bose sound system and a larger center console. The split-bench rear seat in crew cabs can be folded up to expand load space.

Silverado Power

There are five engine sizes to choose from: 4.3-liter V6, 4.8-liter V8, 5.3-liter V8, 6.0-liter V8 and 6.2-liter V8; and two transmissions: a four-speed automatic and a six-speed automatic. Some engines are E85 capable. Most V-8 models are rated to tow around 9,000 pounds, but some models manage more than 10,000 pounds with an enhanced trailering package.

Lineup for 2009 

WT is a basic work truck that comes with a driver information center, AM/FM/XM stereo, 40/20/40 split-bench, vinyl-covered front seat, dual glove boxes, two auxiliary power outlets, tire pressure monitoring system, OnStar and a four-speed automatic transmission. The LS Crew Cab  offers more features.

LT adds a cloth-covered front seat with lockable storage under the seat, a CD player and MP3 compatibility, power windows/locks/mirrors, remote keyless entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and outside temperature displays, chrome front bumper and 17-inch styled steel wheels, and power folding and heated exterior mirrors.

LTZ adds heavy-duty trailering equipment, an automatic locking rear differential, body-colored bumpers, reclining and heated leather front seats with 12-way power, an in-dash six-CD changer with Bose speakers, 18-inch wheels, turn signal indicators in the exterior rearview mirrors and heated windshield washers.

Summary

The Silverado is a timeless truck that year after year proves its worthiness in the pickup truck segment.  It doesn't offer fancy luxury packages, but rather provides an outstanding foundation to tackle tough chores while giving owners freedom to personalize their truck. For another view, read Motortrend's 'First Look' Review.  Safety features on all Silverado models include dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, and tire pressure monitoring system. Safety options include side-curtain airbags, StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation technology, Autotrac active transfer case, rear park assist, and OnStar.