Chevrolet only redesigns its full-size pickup about once a decade, so it’s big news when such a new model appears on the scene. It’s even bigger news when the new Chevy truck is as good as is the 2007 Silverado and appears just when GM could really use a hit.
With
But after spending a thoroughly enjoyable week behind the wheel of a Victory Red Crew Cab 4X4 tester, there will be a bunch of truck buyers who will be missing something special if they bypass the Silverado.
What surprised me most was what impressed me the most about the Silverado – it simply reeks of tightness and solidity. You drive over the typical
Washington
It never happened, not even in the steering column where you can always feel the shock of a bottomed-out suspension reverberating up to the palms of your hands. Chevy says the new platform is vastly stiffer than the previous generation Silverado and I believe it.
Next most impressive was thespaciousness and utility of the Crew Cab interior. You lose some cargo carrying capacity in the bed, but who cares when five adults can situate themselves so comfortably for a long interstate cruise, a day of suburban errand-running or the morning commute to the salt mine.
Even with the Crew Cab, the bed, which on my tester featured Chevy’s optional Cargo Management System, easily accepted a big load of old carpet and padding, plus a heavy disassembled desk, for a weekend trip to the dump, followed by a bunch of errands run with the ever-gorgeous Claudia superintending.
The revised instrument panel gives proof that GM designers really are getting it about the attractiveness of carefully combined leather-grained plastic, authentic-looking faux wood paneling and smooth surfaced/solid-feeling switches and buttons that are artfully and ergonomically arranged.
I could go on and on but my editor won’t let me. Trust me, this is one fine full-size Chevy pickup. It might even save GM.
