2007 Chevrolet Silverado First Drive

Table of Contents Introduction Origins Model Mix: Configurations Model Mix: Powertrains Model Mix: WT, LT1 Trims Model Mix: LT2, LTZ Trims Pricing What's New: Outside What's New: Inside What's New: Under the Hood What's New: Engines What's New: Towing, Payload Driving: Test Conditions Driving: Performance Driving: Ride and Handling Driving: Comfort Driving: Controls Advice: Selling Points Advice: Deal Breakers Advice: Competitors Engine Specifications Capacity Specifications

Chevrolet Silverado Introduction

Chevrolet Silverado -- First Drive: There are more bumper stickers on the back windows of pickup trucks than on any other type of vehicle. Really – it’s true. People don’t buy trucks, they trucks, and do so for decades. For automakers, this is key, especially GM. With close to a million Silverados sold every year, changing it is a dicey affair. Get it wrong and sales dry up; get it right and it’s smiles and cigars all around. So light up, GM. From inside the cab to the way the 2007 Silverado drives, this truck is proof that GM is coming on strong. The presence of an aging four-speed automatic and a few other minor issues doesn’t take away from the fact that this is one truck that should serve its masters for many years and many, many happy miles.

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The Basics: Origins

When the voiceover man on the commercial says that the Silverado has been America’s truck for 89 long years, and you’re ready to weep aloud at the thought of a loyal Silverado surviving dust storms and wars...wait…not so fast. The “Silverado” didn’t pop up until 1999. From the 1960s through the 1990s, Chevy trucks were named C/Ks. That adds up to forty-odd years, though Chevy claim that the company did sell a truck 89 years ago: the 1918 Chevrolet 490 Light Delivery. There’s no relation between then and now. Fact is, today’s truck is part of a new GMT900 line of vehicles from GM, which includes the Chevy Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban.

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The Basics: Model Mix, Configurations

The Silverado has three cab configurations (regular, extended, crew) and four trims: Work Truck (WT), LT (1,2) and LTZ luxury. The LS is an optional exterior package. All come with a choice of two-wheel-drive (2WD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD), and bed choices range from short (5’8”) to standard (6’6”) and long (8’8”). There are two interiors: Pure Pickup, for the WT and LT, with larger knobs and handles, and the luxury LTZ – the same as what's found inside new GM SUVs. Cloth seats are standard on WT and LT models with leather available on LTs along with a six-way, power-adjustable driver seat. The LTZ features a heated, 12-way, power leather driver seat. A lockable in-seat storage bin is built into the new 40/20/40-split rear bench, large enough to store a laptop and a 12-volt outlet.

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The Basics: Model Mix, Powertrains

All Silverados come with a four-speed automatic transmission; what changes is the engine to which it’s connected. Powertrain choices start with a 4.3-liter V6 engine, standard on the WT Regular Cab and 2WD Extended Cab models. One step up is a 4.8-liter V8 engine, standard on WT 4WD Extended Cab, LT Regular Cab, Extended Cabs and WT and LT crew cab models; that’s followed by a 5.3-liter FlexFuel V8, available on all models; a 5.3-liter V8, available on all models and a 5.3-liter V8 with Active Fuel Management on Crew Cab 4WD models. The 5.3-liter V8 is standard on LT and LTZ models and available on all other trims, and a 6.0-liter V8 with Active Fuel Management is part of the LT and LTZ Extended and Crew Cab Maximum Trailering Package.

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The Basics: Model Mix; WT, LT1 Trims

The Silverado Work Truck (WT) is a work truck with a few frills included. Standard features include a stereo, two power outlets, a heater (no a/c), a rubber floor and a dual glove box. You get an overhead console, a tilt-steering and a year's worth of OnStar. Options include a/c, cruise control, power doors/windows and remote keyless entry. The WT Convenience Package includes power door locks, remote keyless entry and stereo with CD player. Moving up to the LT nets WT options plus an auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass/temperature display, leather-wrapped steering wheel and extendable sun visors. Options include a power slide rear window (Crew, Extended), a sunroof, steering wheel-mounted controls, remote starter, adjustable pedals, dual-zone climate control and side curtain airbags.

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The Basics: Model Mix; LT2, LTZ Trims

The LT2 trim makes dual-zone climate control standard, along with a center console that swallows 20 liters of storage with two power outlets and two cupholders. Options available on the LT2 trim include a DVD entertainment system for Crew cabs, and an LT2 Convenience Package which cobbles together a remote vehicle starter system, universal home remote, power-adjustable, folding and heated outside rearview mirrors and heated windshield washer fluid. The LTZ trim adds a universal home remote transmitter as standard, along with the sunroof and the remote vehicle starter. GM's safety package is an option on the LTZ trim, as are side-impact curtain airbags, DVD entertainment for Crew cabs, adjustable pedals, and a power slide rear window.

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The Basics: Pricing

You get an all-new Silverado pickup with a new 5-year/100,000 warranty for pretty much the same price as the outgoing 2006 model. Two-wheel-drive Work Truck Extended Cabs with the 4.8-liter V8 engine start at $23,605, moving up to $27,000 for Crew Cabs. The same vehicle in the LT1 trim has a starting sticker of $26,565; the LT2 trim with the 5.3-liter V8 engine begins at $28,295 and the LTZ trim goes for $32,105. All prices include a $900 destination charge, and apply to 2WD models – there’s a $3,100 premium for 4WD. Buyers interested in a Silverado without the trimmings – including the 4.3-liter V6 engine in lieu of the V8 pay $18,760 for a Regular Cab Work Truck, including destination.

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What's New: Outside

One look and one can see the difference a complete redesign makes: more pronounced fender blisters front and back, a new grille and headlight casings that make the Silverado more muscular. Gone is the Chevy face up front, replaced by a more chiseled front assembly that looks as if it’s been carved into the truck. To be sure, the 2007 model exhibits more flair than the ’06 version; even the greenhouse has been caressed for a more modern look. The most significant changes made, however, are harder to detect but speak of GM’s renewed mandate of quality construction: exterior gaps on the new model, especially between the cab and the bed, have been significantly reduced, and the hood now fits flush inside the fenders instead of capping fender and grille.

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What's New: Inside

What’s new about the inside of the Silverado depends on which truck you buy: the LTZ trim gets the same interior as the SUVs, while WT and LT trims feature a “Pure Pickup” interior. The Pure Pickup variant seems more able to hide scuffs and dirt than the LTZ trim and offers bigger control switches, door handles and a dual glove box. Other additions include a lockable in-seat storage bin built into the 40/20/40-split bench. All Silverado models enjoy more room inside, including more storage capacity. Design changes include what GM refers to as a “low and forward” instrument panel, which really did improve visibility and usability during our test drive. In back, there’s plenty of legroom with a new, stadium-style rear seat with a 60/40-split design and folding center armrest. Entry to the rear seat/storage area of extended cab models is eased with rear doors that open 170 degrees.

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What's New: Under the Hood

The story here isn’t only what’s new, but what isn’t: the same ‘ol four-speed automatic transmission. Granted, it’s a good transmission, but you can feel the gears struggling to meet up with the engine power from time to time. What is new, however, is impressive: rack-and-pinion steering, a new fully boxed frame, wider tracks and a coil-over-shock design. Put it together and you’ve got yourself one smooth-riding and nimble truck, empty or under load. Also new is a tow capacity of 10,500 pounds when properly outfitted, and a maximum payload of 2,160 pounds. There are five suspension systems, ranging from smooth to tow. All are superbly engineered.

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