2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Test Drive

?2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ?Crew Cab?

A broad portfolio with all the right stuff

San Antonio, TX – ?Chevy?s ever popular Silverado truck line should definitely prove to be even more popular with the launch of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 stable. The latest iteration Silverado is new from stem to stern or hood to hitch if you will. The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is more powerful, more technologically advanced and more capable than its predecessors. Not only that, but it may well be the best looking Chevy truck to leave the Bowtie plants since 1948. Okay, that may be a stretch, but the 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab is definitely one really good-looking hauler in any of its many forms. Trim levels will include two work trucks ? 1WT and 2WT, LT and LTZ. Z71 suspension models are available for both LT and LTZ trucks. Later this fall, a Silverado High Country special edition will bow, providing an impressive entry into the Premium pickup marketplace.

To be sure, truck owners are divided into distinctive separate camps ? Chevy fans, Dodge (now Ram) fans, Ford devotees and those who gravitate toward import trucks. You will seldom find a staunch supporter of one brand being drawn to another. Truck loyalty tends to be like blood ? family is family and family rarely strays from its roots.

The latest iteration Silverado was launched recently at the Knibbe Ranch not far outside San Antonio, TX. Journalists from around the country were afforded the opportunity to learn, first hand what the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab could do, both on and off-road, as well as in various towing and payload exercises. Obviously, the 1500 Crew Cab version is not the only Silverado model available, but it was selected as the truck to do duty as the focus for the inaugural Silverado 1500 launch. Other Silverado examples will include Regular cabs and Double Cabs with both short and long beds available, all available in both RWD and 4WD configurations.

The Silverado 1500?s exterior styling cues blend strong Chevy truck heritage with a more refined, modern aesthetic appeal. The new design displays a more muscular, more functional and more aerodynamic presence. A twin-port grille, full-width bumper and dual power dome hood create a bold impact, that?s carried out through its sculpted body sides and fender flares.

The new design is about more than just looks, The new front end is engineered to improve sealing for more efficient cooling, while the roof and tailgate spoiler were shaped in the wind tunnel to smooth airflow over the truck for reduced drag. New inlaid doors fit into recesses in the bodyside, reducing wind noise for a quieter cab.

Moving to the inside, the all-new interiors of the 2014 Silverado 1500 reflect the same focus on form and function as the exterior. The upright instrument panel, six-gauge instrument cluster and multiple storage options were designed specifically to serve the needs of truck customers. Controls are functional, logically placed and easy to operate, even with work gloves on. Crew cabs rear doors are larger, for easier entry and exit, with rear doors on double cab models now hinged at the front for easier access, especially in tight spaces.

Chevrolet?s new MyLink provides easy-to-use connectivity on the job site or on a family vacation, with natural voice recognition and enough ports and power outlets to support multiple devices.? Controls and switchgear are grouped categorically, making perfect sense, and the dash includes a 110V outlet, 3 USB ports and two lighter-type plugs for added connectivity. There are double (stacked) glove boxes, slider sun visors, and the center console provides storage ? enough for even hanging file folders.

Power sources for the new Silverado lineup will include an all-new 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V-8, which is expected to find its way into three out of every four new Silverado 1500s. The 5.3-liter engine is SAE certified to deliver 355 horsepower at 5,600 rpm along with 383 pound feet of torque at 4,100 rpm ?V-8 power that?s actually proven to be more efficient than a turbocharged V-6. The EPA estimate for 2WD models is 23-mpg highway, while 4×4 models deliver 22-mpg highway for the top fuel economy rating of any V-8 powered competitor. Later in the model year, a 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V-6 will become available in the Silverado 1500 models along with a 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8. All three EcoTec engines feature direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation, where 6-cylinders switch seamlessly to 4, with V-8s dropping from an 8 to 4-cylinder operation under lighter loads), Flex Fuel capability and continuously variable valve timing. The transmission is a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic with manual shift capability.

Pricing for 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular cabs will start at $24,585 Double cabs will start at $28,610 and Crew cabs will have a base price of $32,710. Prices include a $995. Destination/Freight charge, but do not include tax, title license or optional equipment.

My primary test vehicle was a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab 4WD powered by the 5.3-liter SIDI V8, in LTZ trim featuring Z71 suspension componentry. It came with a short box (5?8? ? a 6?6? and 8?bed is also available) with the exterior finished in Victory Red with a Black interior. I also spent time offroad in one equipped the same but finished in deep Ruby with a Cocoa and Dune interior. Base prices were set at $ 43,165 with the final totals coming to $50,910 after adding the LTZ Plus Package, which featured power adjustable pedals, Bose Premium Audio System, Front and Rear Park Assist and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel; the Driver Alert Package with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Safety Alert seat. Additional features and equipment included: MyLink with navigation, front bucket seats with driver memory settings, heated and cooled driver and front passenger seats, a power sunroof, 6-inch oval chrome assist steps, LED cargo box lighting, upper cargo tie-downs and 20-inch chrome wheels.

SUMMARY: The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 lineup offers enough choices in terms of cab styles, engine choices, suspension and drive setups, trim levels, styling and feature and equipment options to satisfy and meet the needs of virtually any potential truck customer.

Lots of thought obviously went into the development of this latest Silverado 1500 both inside and out. The bed features and undersill LED light and EZ Lift and Lower damped tailgate for effortless opening and closing, thanks to a torque strut hidden in the hinge trunion. The hood is lightweight aluminum for weight savings and ease of opening. Four-wheel drive mode operation is as easy as twisting a knob, and the Hill Descent Control is speed adjustable. StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control and Hill Start Assist are standard on all Silverados.

This newest iteration Silverado 1500 not only looks good; it functions admirably in every category. Acceleration provides plenty of grunt off the line and the transmission shifts smoothly. The ride quality of an unladen Silverado 1500 is decidedly firm with the Z71 off-road suspension, but smooths out with a heavy load.

Towing capacity is 11,500 pounds with the 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 and max towing package.

Bottom-line, whether working hard or hardly working, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab, though not an inexpensive choice, is ideal to serve in virtually any capacity from attending the opera to hauling a load to the construction site and all scenarios in between.
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[wptabtitle] SPECIFICATIONS: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71 Crew Cab 4WD [/wptabtitle]
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Base Price:	$43,165.
Price as Tested:	$50,910.
Engine Type and Size:	L83 Ecotec3 – 5.3-liter, OHV, 16-valve V8 with VVT, Active Fuel Management and Direct Fuel Injection with FlexFuel capability.
Horsepower (bhp):	355 @ 5,600 rpm
Torque (ft./ lbs.):	383 @ 4,100 rpm
Transmission:	Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic.
Drive Train:	Longitudinally mounted front engine / Four-Wheel Drive.
Suspension:	Front – Independent coil-over-shock; mono-tube shock absorbers. Rear – Solid axle with semi-elliptic, variable-rate, two-stage multileaf springs; splayed shock absorbers; and mono-tube shocks.