10 Things You Need to Know About the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado

There seemed to be a ceasefire in the full-size pickup truck class over the last few years, but that’s long over now. Large caliber rounds are being fired, and the truck wars are hotter and more intense than ever.

This is a war between Ford, Ram, Chevy, and GMC. Ford’s F-150 is the most popular truck in the segment, and it has been since the mid-1970s. That’s over 40 years, and the other manufacturers are tired of looking at Ford’s taillights. For 2019, Ram, Chevy, and GMC are ganging up on the F-150, each bringing all-new big pickups to the rodeo.

For as long as anyone can remember, the Chevy Silverado has been the second best selling pickup in America. And this year, to better battle the Ford, as well as the all-new Ram 1500, the Silverado has been redesigned, re-engineered and reinvigorated. Here are 10 things you need to know about the 2019 Chevy Silverado.

Years ago, Ford made news when it began building the bodies and beds of its F-150 out of aluminum to save weight. Up to that point the Ford was constructed of steel, just like its competitors. The change was controversial, and many wondered if Chevy would follow Ford’s lead and use aluminum for the bodies and beds of the 2019 Silverado. Chevy has not. The Silverado’s cabs and beds are still steel. Mostly.

While its fenders, roof, and bed are made of steel, the Silverado’s doors, hood, and tailgate are made of aluminum, which has shaved 88 lbs from the overall weight of its body. Chevy also points out that it’s using higher-grade steel than before, with a higher yield strength, to create the Silverado’s new, stronger bed floor.

The 2019 Chevy Silverado doesn’t just look larger than last year’s truck — it actually is.  It's the largest Silverado ever, with a 3.9-inch longer wheelbase and an overall length that is 1.6 inches longer. These increases have added cargo volume and more interior room to all cab lengths. For instance, popular crew-cab models now offer 3-inches of additional rear-seat legroom for a total of 43.8 inches, equaling the rear seat space of the Ford F-150. The new Ram 1500 offers about 1.5-inches more.

Remarkably, the 2019 Silverado is also lighter, weighing 450 pounds less than last year’s truck when comparing crew cab V8 models. Chevy says the truck’s all-new fully boxed steel frame contributes significantly to that weight savings. It offers 10 percent greater torsional rigidity while weighing 88 lbs. less than its predecessor.

Chevy has widened the Silverado’s bed, and the company now says the truck has the most cargo volume in the full-size pickup class regardless of bed length. The short-box, for instance, offers 63 cubic feet of volume, which is up significantly from the Ford’s 52.8 cubic feet. Chevy says most of that volume was created by widening the maximum width of the bed floor by nearly seven inches.

Also, the Silverado’s bed now has nine moveable tie points and 12 fixed tie-downs. The strength of the tie-downs has also been doubled to 500 pounds of force before bending. Another cool feature is lockable storage bins that fit over the truck’s wheel wells. They’re available from Chevrolet Accessories and offer nearly seven cubic feet of cargo space for short-box models while accommodating a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood flat on the cargo floor. Pretty cool.

Standard power for the 2019 Chevy Silverado LT and RST models comes from a new all-aluminum 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Developed especially for the all-new Chevy Silverado, it’s the first four-cylinder engine in the full-size truck class.

The new engine develops 310 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm, which is 22 percent more torque than the 4.3-liter V6 it replaces, and it’s a great match for the Silverado’s 8-speed automatic transmission. Chevy also says it expects this combination to offer comparable payload capability as the 3.3-liter V6 Ford F-150 and the 3.6-liter V6 Ram 1500. Its fuel economy ratings are 20 mpg city and 23 mpg highway, which are excellent for this class.

We recently drove the 2019 Chevy Silverado with the new turbocharged 2.7-liter in and around Phoenix, Arizona and were very impressed with the engine’s power and drivability. The four-cylinder’s turbo spools quickly. There’s no lag. Throttle response is excellent and there’s plenty of passing power.

Off the line acceleration is also strong, with enough thrust to push you back in the seat and hold you there. Chevy says the truck will hit 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds. We should also call attention to the Chevy’s Start/Stop feature, which turn’s off its engine at redlights to save fuel. It’s so smooth you won’t even notice it.

Although it’s strange to open the Silverado’s huge hood and see a little four-cylinder engine in its expansive engine compartment, you will not be disappointed from behind the wheel. Chevy has also tuned the 8-speed automatic transmission to perfection. It always seems to be in the right gear, and it quick with a downshift when you want one.

If the turbocharged four-cylinder isn’t what you had in mind, Chevy also offers two V8s in the new 2019 Chevy Silverado. Buyers can also choose models powered by a new 355 hp 5.3-liter V8 or a 420 hp 6.2-liter V8, each with a new Dynamic Fuel Management system. Chevy says it’s an industry-first, actively shutting off any number of cylinders, in a variety of combinations, depending on immediate needs to optimize fuel economy.

The Silverado will also be available with an all-new Duramax 3.0-liter inline-six turbo diesel, which along with the 6.2-liter V8, features start/stop technology to improve fuel economy. Both are paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, while the 5.3-liter V8 is paired with the excellent 8-speed automatic. Both transmissions offer Tow/Haul modes as well as manual control so you can choose gears yourself.

New for 2019, the rugged off-road-ready Trail Boss trim level can be added to the Silverado Custom or the Silverado LT. It adds off-road equipment and capability to the pickup, including a 2-inch suspension lift and the Z71 Off-Road Package with a locking rear differential, skid plates, Rancho shocks, 18-inch wheels, and Goodyear Duratrac off-road tires. It’s available with a 4.3-liter V6 making 285 hp or the 355 hp 5.3-liter V8.

Although the four-wheel drive Silverado Trail Boss models look butch and perform significantly better off-road than other Silverado models, don’t expect it to match for the ultra-capable Ford Raptor, which is the undisputed king of the factory off-road rigs. That said, Trail Boss Prices start just under $45,000, which is about $10,000 less than the Ford.

Both a part of General Motors, Chevrolet and GMC participate in what is called “platform sharing.” This is when two or more vehicles look different but are essentially mechanical twins, sharing their chassis, suspensions, powertrains and more. This practice is very common throughout the auto industry, from small economy cars and sedans to luxury suvs and of course pickups.

The 2019 Chevy Silverado and the 2019 GMC Sierra may look different, but the two trucks use the same frame, suspension, engines, transmissions and other components, big and small. The two trucks generally feel and perform the same. However, there are a few differences. For instance, the top-of-the-line GMC Sierra Denali uses suspension technology and hardware unavailable in the Silverado, which gives it a smoother ride. The GMC also costs a bit more.

Chevy’s engineers have done a fantastic job re-engineering the suspension of the 2019 Silverado. The steering is quicker and more responsive, and the truck rides significantly better than before. It’s comfortable and compliant on all road surfaces, and body control has improved. However, the new Silverado still doesn’t ride as smoothly as the 2019 RAM 1500.

Ram continues to be the only full-size pickup with rear suspension coil springs, which are usually found on cars and SUVs. This allows the Ram to ride more comfortably than the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, and the Ford-F150, which still use rear suspensions with leaf springs.

Chevy has also redesigned the interior of the 2019 Silverado. Although it isn’t a radical transformation, the truck’s new cabin is attractive, ergonomically sound and it’s very comfortable. The front seats are roomy and well shaped, with just the right amount of density. They’re not too firm or too soft. As Goldilocks would say, they’re just right.

Some Chevy fans may be disappointed that the new interior doesn’t break new ground in the class, while others will applaud its simplicity. Chevy continues to use a column shifter in the Silverado as well as an 8-inch touchscreen, which is smaller than the screens offered in the Ram. The gauges, although clean and clear, are also similar to last years model.