Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Drivers in the Florence and Cincinnati area love the Chevrolet Silverado. This full-size pickup truck is made for those who need to tow and haul, with plenty of power and strength. It also offers a number of configurations for every need with everything from a lightweight and inexpensive model for occasional vacationers to heavy-duty haulers for those who need a hard-working professional truck.

But don’t worry, this isn’t just a work truck: there’s plenty of space for passengers and for stretching out your legs, and great amenities and infotainment features for those who spend all day in their truck or those who just want a comfy ride on their way to the beach or the woods.

The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offers regular cab, crew cab, and extended double cab models, as well as a 6.5-foot bed or an 8.2-foot bed. The basic Work Truck level comes with air conditioning, cruise control, tinted glass, and a 40/20/40 split front bench seat. Upgrade to the LS, and you’ll get keyless entry and power windows, plus Bluetooth connectivity, OnStar with a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a MyLink audio system with satellite and Pandora radio.

Upgrade to the LT, and you’ll get an EZ-lift lower tailgate, lumbar support on the driver’s seat, and a six-speaker audio system with steering wheel-mounted audio controls. The premium LTZ trim adds a remote starter, rearview camera for safety, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Optional trim levels include the High Country trim, which adds front and rear parking sensors as well as cargo box tie-downs and a spray-on bedliner. The Z71 trim adds off-roading features like special shock absorbers, hill descent control, and underbody shields with recovery hooks. The Max Trailering Package adds an integrated trailer-brake controller, along with heavy-duty suspension and a high-capacity radiator. You can also choose individual features for performance like different axle ratios, side step rails, and parking sensors, as well as luxury features like a sunroof and a rear seat DVD / Blu-Ray entertainment system.

The standard engine is a 4.3L V6 that produces 285 hp and 305 lb-feet of torque. The towing capacity does depend on the style of body you choose, but it can be anywhere from 5500 to 7600 pounds when fully equipped. The 5.3L V8 engine produces 355 hp and 383 lb-feet of torque and can tow a maximum of 6200 to 11500 pounds. Both of these engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional 6.2L V8 produces 420 hp and 460 lb-feet, and can tow anywhere from 9100 to 12,000 pounds with the eight-speed automatic transmission. All engines come with a choice of rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.

Top independent car review sites rave about the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500:

• Edmunds: “The latest Silverado boasts exactly the strengths most buyers have come to expect from full-size Chevy trucks: considerable towing and hauling capabilities and lots of available configurations. But what really sets this generation apart from its forebears is a comfortable and well-built interior and an overall excellent daily driving experience.”
• Car and Driver: “The pickup world is abuzz with talk of Ford’s new F-150 and its revolutionary (for a pickup) aluminum body. But the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is no wallflower, having topped a recent comparison test of light-duty trucks. While most of the Chevy’s updates for 2015 are modest, the addition of GM’s new eight-speed automatic transmission to models equipped with the optional 6.2-liter V-8 makes the most of this otherwise traditional rig.”

The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado is due for an upgrade soon, and it seems it might get it in the next couple of years. Spy photos reveal that the new model might feature LED strip headlights. It’s also expected to have upgraded engines with more power, as well as enhanced infotainment systems.