Silverado 1500: Competent & Competitive, But sure not Compact!

Author's Rating:

Pros: power, payload, handling

Cons: economy, size & maneuverability

Ease of Loading:

The Bottom Line: 
Don't fail to consider the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 when selecting a full-size pickup. It deserves a look.

Author's Review
It was tempting, I tell you, to simply trot out my three-week-old review of the 2002 Chevy Suburban 1500 and merely change a word here and another there (at least 100 of them, so I'd meet the requirements for unique content). But the more I drove and the more I looked at that Silverado 1500 extended cab, the more difference I could see and feel. So it looks like this review will have to stand on its own two feet...

But first, why in the world would I ever think I could get away with a near-duplicate review? Simple: starting in 2000, Chevy built their new Silverado 1500 pickup and the redesigned Suburban 1500 on pretty much the same frame. There are differences, though, in the way a pickup must respond to road stress vs. the way an enclosed SUV handles the same stresses. If you've ever driven a pickup for any length of time, you should have noticed that the frame flexes when you go over bumps. This is fairly easy to see because the bed of the pickup often moves independently of the cab. It can do that 'cause they're disconnected. To refine the ride in an SUV, though, the entire body must move as a unit.

Pickups have an independent bed for several reasons, but chief among them is that the bed is where the load sits ("Well, duh!" you say). Because they're designed to be workhorses (never mind that many trucks never haul anything heavier than a bag of groceries), pickups have a suspension tuned to the loads. This means the frame flexes slightly (it's rigid in GM's SUV version of the frame) and the rear suspension is heavy-duty leaf springs instead of smooth-riding coils (like the Suburban) or struts (as in sedans). That load-based suspension gives a pickup that characteristic jittery ride when you're running it without a load.

But let's get back to the Silverado, and what it's like to spend a week or so in one...


The Lot of a Passenger

My rental was the base trim model of the extended cab (2WD), which included power doors/windows/mirrors (heated mirrors), tilt, and cruise control, but not a great deal else in terms of creature comforts. Enterprise sprung for the smallest V8 engine as opposed to the stock V6. This truck was intended, I think, to be a working vehicle. As an extended cab, it has a full-width fold-down back seat, which is accessible through "suicide" doors (meaning they're hinged on the rear). It's not to be confused with a four-door crew-cab model; the back seat legroom is about the equivalent of a compact car. It's still larger, though, than the space in my own Toyota Tacoma extended cab, which can be pretty tight for my dog. Available body configurations, by the way, include regular cab, extended cab, or crew cab; short-bed or long-bed; 2WD or 4WD is available in any configuration.

The front seat is plenty big enough for three grownups when the center console is folded up. When it's down, there's a large storage compartment to augment the somewhat small (locking) glove compartment; the console storage has a coin dispenser and a slot built into the lid for papers or a notebook. The front seat cup holders dangle off the front of the seat, which makes it rather awkward for a middle passenger. You'll find three 12-volt power ports in the dashboard, plus map pockets in the doors (and on the seatbacks) and a cubbyhole in the ceiling big enough to store non-prescription / fashion sunglasses (most unusual).

Seats in this trim line are manual, with but rudimentary adjustability (forward/backward and seatback tilt) and a manually adjustable lumbar support. Front seats are comfortable though a bit soft; the bench seat in the rear is by comparison thin and hard. The back seat room and comfort are not suitable for adults on a long trip. The rear seat folds as a unit; it can fold up with one hand but seems to require two hands to lower it.


Driver/Truck Interface

The driving position is high; up with the SUVs and other full-size pickups. The tilt steering wheel is huge. A large instrument panel (identical to that in the Suburban) boasts speedo/odometer/trip odometer, tachometer, and a full set of gauges (fuel, temperature, oil pressure, ammeter). The panel has good, clear displays in daylight and after dark. The center dash holds sound (AM/FM/Cassette/Single CD) and climate controls. The sound system comes with speed volume control and auto tone settings; the speed volume control switch is poorly marked. Climate control has some logic built into it; the airflow cannot be set to recirculate if the defroster is on (a safety feature).

The shifter is column-mounted with display on the instrument panel. The headlight dimmer switch, windshield washer/wiper, and cruise control are all found on that inevitable GM super-stalk to the left side of the column. You'll find a headlight switch on the left-hand side of the dashboard, with a "Dome Override" switch that overrides both interior lights and the daytime running lamps. There’s also a switch to control a light over the cargo bed; quite useful when loading/unloading in the dark.

The interior design and decor are essentially utilitarian, as befits a working vehicle -- no wood grain, no bright chrome, few nooks and crannies to collect dirt and dust. Materials are dominated by monochromatic plastic and vinyl, with cloth seats and carpeting.


Driving the Truck

The optional 4.8L V8 puts out 270 hp; a 200-hp V6 is standard. Other available engines are the Vortec 5.3 and 5.8L V8s; a diesel model is also available. The standard transmission is a smooth-shifting 4-speed automatic overdrive (electronically controlled); a five-speed manual transmission is available as an option. EPA estimated mileage for the small V8 is 15 city and 20 highway; my overall mileage on a 450-mile trip was about 17.5.

The smaller V8 provides strong, smooth acceleration. Though not as powerful as the 5.3L Vortec model that's standard in the Suburban, it will certainly get the job done for the lighter pickup; though prospective buyers who plan to regularly tow or carry heavy loads would look into the larger engines, especially if concerned about power output. The 4.8L does get marginally better gas mileage, by the way.

Handling is, well, truck-like. Devoid of a load in the bed, the truck has the jittery rear-end feeling common in trucks; traction on wet (and, I presume snowy or icy) roads is quite poor, due partially to the light rear end and partially to the powerful engine. Traction control, an option on this trim level but standard on more expensive trims, may help marginally; 4WD is available on all body styles. Steering is responsive, considering the size of the vehicle, which is 19 feet long (compared to the Suburban's 18.3-foot length). Body roll during hard cornering is minimal and the empty truck takes cloverleaf-style freeway ramps in stride; in its 2WD configuration, there's none of the tippiness often associated with higher-profile vehicles. Road handling is above average: the truck handles rough or bumpy roads well -- better than it handles smooth roads, I thought.

A disadvantage of the large vehicle is its maneuverability. With a fifty-foot turning radius, the extended-cab version is tough to park in garages or lots, and feels somewhat out of place in tight situations. It's also large enough to fill a standard parking space pretty tightly. Conversely, its size is an advantage when carrying cargo: a 4x8 sheet of drywall or plywood nestles securely between the wheel wells, something that can't be said of compact trucks.


Safety

There are four shoulder belts; the GM belts that retract into the seat back instead of hanging off the inside wall of the body. Lap belts are provided for the center set passengers, front and rear. Dual front airbags serve the driver and passenger, and there is a cut-off switch for the passenger-side airbag in case small children ride up front. The rear seat provides LATCH points for child safety seats. Side airbags are not available in this trim level, they're optional in some high-end versions of the truck. An Antilock Braking System (ABS) is standard; traction control is optional in this trim level. Daytime running lamps are also standard (as in all GM cars).


Living With the Truck

My take on the points of this truck, aka the Good, the Bad, and the Indifferent:

The Good: positive points
+ road handling
+ smooth automatic transmission
+ available manual transmission
+ good power
+ cab storage

The Indifferent: sort of a list of "who cares?"
= interior noise: road and engine noise minimal, but wind noise intrusive; loud transmission whine when cold
= jittery ride, poor traction and stability when roads are slick
= unavailability of side airbags
= rear seat comfort and legroom

The Bad: real downers, man!
- front seat cup holder location
- the super-stalk (turnsignalwindshieldwasherwindshieldwiperheadlightdimmer switch)
- fuel economy
- maneuverability


The Truth Comes Out

So, you think the Silverado was designed and intended to be a working truck, eh? GM is definitely aware that many -- if not most -- trucks sold these days are intended to be family vehicles, not business and work vehicles. That all manner of creature comforts are available is one clue, but heck -- you could just claim you wanted your office as comfy as possible, right? No the real truth is this: GM packs a little cloth glove with the jack so that you don't get your hands dirty changing a tire! Oh, yeah, they know all right!


Overall

A good truck. Though it has a reputation for having average or below reliability, I didn't spot any problem areas in construction and finish in my sample of one. Competing trucks (Toyota Tundra, Ford F-150, Dodge Ram 1500) with comparable load and tow ratings are more maneuverable, though the Ram has inferior handling and ride (in my experience). This particular niche in the truck market is crowded, due (I am sure) to its popularity.

When shopping for a full-size pickup capable of carrying a 3/4-ton payload, you'll most likely base your purchase decision on manufacturer preferences and "sale prices" more than anything else; however, you should certainly evaluate the Silverado before making your final decision.