[MUSIC PLAYING]
ELANA SCHERR: Look, I am just guessing here,
but I think that if you counted up all the various references
to trucks in country music songs,
you'd find more Chevrolet's than any other brand.
I mean, it makes sense.
Chevy makes good trucks, trucks worth singing about.
A new generation of the Silverado 1500
debuted in 2019, which means there
are plenty of used examples for you to pick up.
Pick up.
Get it?
Like a pickup truck?
OK, I'll stop.
The point is the Silverado offers
a lot of choices for shoppers from engine options
to bed and cab configurations.
Is it the right truck for you?
And if so, which one?
I'm Elena from Edmunds.
We test and review hundreds of cars and trucks every year,
while CarMax buys, sells, and expertly appraises thousands.
We're combining our car testing knowledge
with CarMax experience to help find that right truck for you.
For more videos like this, hit Subscribe.
And let us know in the comments what your favorite truck is
and what your favorite song about trucks is.
The Silverado stands out in class
for multiple engine options, a roomy cabin,
and an easy-to-use touchscreen.
But rivals like the Ford F150 and RAM 1500
do more to push the envelope on comfort and clever features.
As a result, they're ranked higher in Edmunds ratings,
but the Silverado has plenty of fans
and easily outpaces the aging Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
If you want to see how the Silverado stacks up to the RAM,
check out our comparison test.
If there's a word that the Silverado brings to mind,
it's "subtle."
No, not really.
This truck is big and flashy.
It's got a bold front grille, swooping
lines carved into the side, and a high hood and shoulder line.
If you're looking for a truck to project brash confidence,
you're in the right place.
There are a whopping eight different trim levels
to choose from, each tailored to a specific kind of use.
From the utility-focused Work Truck,
to the off-road spec Trail Boss, to the luxury
hopeful High Country.
Once you make that choice, you can choose again
from a bunch of different engines--
a couple of V-8s, a V6, even a turbo four-cylinder.
Chevy does offer a turbo diesel on this generation truck
but not until the 2020 model year.
So if you're looking for an oil burner,
adjust your search terms.
We're focusing on the mid-grade LT, which
comes with all these features.
It also comes standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder
engine.
But the one I'm driving is upgraded to the 5.3-liter V-8
with 355 horsepower for added umph.
Let's see how umphy it is.
If you're used to older bare-bones trucks,
you are going to be amazed at the Silverado's comfort
and drivability.
Trucks have come a long way since the old days.
All of the engines deliver smooth power,
but we are especially fond of the big V-8s.
This 5.3 is excellent, and there is also an optional 6.2-liter.
OK, whether you consider this next part
a pro or a con kind of depends on your philosophy of trucks.
See, this Silverado handles well, stops predictably,
and it shifts quietly.
But compared to, say, a luxury SUV,
it does still drive like a truck.
And by that, I mean you will notice rough roads,
and the ride comfort changes depending
on whether you're rolling empty or you've got payload
or a trailer behind you.
So what?
You might be saying.
It's a truck.
Of course, it rides like a truck, and I tend to agree.
But competitors at Ford and RAM have nailed down
ride comfort in their trucks to such a degree
that it's kind of changing what people expect.
That's just something to bear in mind when you're test driving.
You know, how important is that to you?
One thing that is important to all truck shoppers
is capability for work.
And there, the Silverado does not disappoint.
In certain configurations, the Silverado
is rated to toe more than 12,000 pounds
and carry 2,280 pounds of payload when properly equipped.
That stacks up well against any version of the F150 or RAM
1500.
The Silverado is solid when it's time to get down and dirty.
When it comes to fuel economy, never a truck's strongpoint,
the Silverado is competitive with Ford and RAM.
Obviously, you'll get more from a tank with the small
four-cylinder or the diesel in a 2020 model,
but both gas vats have cylinder deactivation,
which helps the 5.3-liter in this truck eke 19 miles per
gallon combined.
OK, enough with the macho number stuff.
Let's talk about the interior.
In the old days, the only requirement
for a truck interior was that it be easy to clean.
These days, trucks compete with SUVs
for eye-catching materials, helpful tech,
and stylish design.
The 2019 Silverado is a step up from previous interiors,
but it could be so much more.
There's a lot of plain plastic in here in this whole surround,
this whole console, door panel.
I mean, this door handle?
It looks like a chrome hot dog.
I hate it.
It's just the interior was redesigned in 2019,
and I would have expected it to feel more updated.
Here's another example.
This is a column-mounted shifter.
I don't hate it, but it feels old fashioned.
The Silverado isn't lacking in tech.
I mean, it's got an 8-inch touch screen,
and it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It does have a heated steering wheel and heated seats
available though.
And that?
Full-on luxury.
And you can get a bit more flash if you
go to the upper trim levels like the High Country.
While you can still get a Silverado
with a smaller regular cab or extended cab,
the vast majority are the larger crew cabs like this one.
You can see there's plenty of legroom for adults,
and the seats are comfy.
Although they are a little flat.
This is one of the biggest areas where
trucks have grown figuratively and literally over the years.
If you still have memories of cramming
into the middle space between your aunt and uncle
on a bench seat with the back window right behind your head,
the space in a modern truck is going
to seem as large as a two-bedroom apartment.
This is the business end of the Silverado.
It looks like any old truck bed, right?
Not so, friends.
The Silverado beats out other trucks with neat features
like 12 fixed tie-downs rated at 500 pounds each, the widest
bit on the market with the best overall capacity too.
An integrated bed step that doesn't
need to fold out or press down.
I think this is extremely cool.
You never know when you're going to need to get up in the truck.
This way, you don't have to think ahead.
The payload for our 5.3-liter V-8 with the crew cab is a very
good 2,180 pounds.
Silverado offers an optional power tailgate,
although this truck doesn't have it.
Let's recap with our top pros and cons.
Pros would be the wide variety you have to choose from,
several engines, styles, and sizes to suit your needs.
A spacious interior, plenty of room for family use.
A well-cargo bed, wide with lots of tie-down points.
Cons for Silverado are a rough ride, at least
compared to competitors.
Boring interior design-- such a recent redesign
should have more pizzazz.
And a small infotainment screen, even when you option up.
There are many Silverados to choose from, so shop around
and find the off-roader of your dreams or an economical fuel
sipper.
For the everyday truck user, I think the perfect combination
of value and capability is this truck right here,
the LT trim with the 5.3-liter V-8.
It's got room for family and the tools to handle a job site.
Of course you could say the same about the Ford F-150 or the Ram
1500.
The F-150 offers even more variety
in powertrains and styles, which makes it very
usable in almost any situation.
The RAM 1500 is extremely comfortable, even
in basic models.
And it's more sophisticated rear suspension
delivers a smoother ride.
You can also check out the Toyota Tundra
for a tough throwback experience.
There are so many good trucks to choose from.
The Silverado is the truck of choice for millions of pickup
buyers and country singers.
With so many variations of Silverado available,
it's almost impossible not to find one that meets your needs.
Subscribe to the CarMax channel for more expert
used car advice.
And for an in-depth article about Silverado
and all of its competitors, click the link
in the description below.
Don't forget to comment on this video,
and tell us what you think about this truck.