2013 Chevrolet Silverado Expert Review
Reviewed by Staff Writer
Big pickup trucks like the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado remain a popular commodity among American buyers. In fact, the Silverado was the second-best selling vehicle in the U.S. for 2012, trailing only the Ford F-Series pickup (its biggest competitor) and surpassing the Ram 1500 by a large margin. Much of the credit for the 2013 Silverado's sales success can be attributed to its varied lineup that includes a number of cab configurations and powertrain choices. A redesign of the Silverado is on tap for the 2014 model year.
Silverado body styles start with the two-door Regular Cab, which seats up to three passengers and is available with a standard or long bed. The Silverado Extended Cab (also available with standard or long bed) seats up to six and the Crew Cab offers even more room for rear passengers, though it can only be had with a short-sized bed. The half-ton Silverado 1500 is offered with a choice of rear or four-wheel drive and two V-8 engines: a 202-hp 4.8-liter (mated to a four-speed automatic) or a 315-hp 5.3-liter with a six-speed auto.
Those who need more cargo and towing capability should consider the Silverado 2500 or 3500 HD, powered by a 6.0-liter 360-hp gas-powered V-8. For more power, a 6.6-liter turbocharged Duramax diesel V-8 churns out 397 hp and a whopping 765 lb-ft of torque, for a towing capacity of up to 21,700 pounds. The diesel powertrain helped the Silverado earn our Motor Trend Truck of the Year honor in 2011, when we stated that Chevrolet's heavy-duty pickups offer "a value that's tough to ignore" despite an interior feels a bit "plain" and "subtle." Available niceties including leather seats and navigation and we found the interior switchgear to be "easy to use."
New for 2013
Gas-powered, 2013 Chevy Silverado 2500HD models are now offered with a bi-fuel system that allows the use of both natural and conventional gasoline. Six-speed automatic-equipped Silverado 1500 trucks receive a grade-braking feature that shifts the gearbox to a lower gear on downhill grades.
Key Competitors
- Ford F-Series
- Ram Truck
- Toyota Tundra
Sum Up
Competitive but starting to fall behind.
