Pickup trucks used to be big, cumbersome, intimidating, specialized vehicles. Then, with fuel prices at all-time lows in the 1990’s, they exploded in popularity with a crowd that would not classify as your typical truck driver. But this new consumer, looking at the truck market, started asking, “why can’t I have all my luxury features on these pickup trucks?”
Manufacturers responded, tailoring their truck lineups to these new casual truck buyers. The results were often nothing more than over-powered, oversized family sedans with cargo beds on the back. And one would be right to suspect that traditional truck buyers were feeling alienated. Fast forward to today, and Chevrolet has finally struck the perfect balance between comfort and utility in three important ways.
Style
Demand has exploded for more “comfortable” pickup trucks – hence the popularity of “crew cab” models which can boast interior space equivalent to a Mercedes Maybach. But manufacturers may have misheard how truck buyers wanted comfort to co-exist with, specifically, the truck’s looks. Previous generation Silverados, for example, had softened exterior lines and proportions and had a relatively low stance.
Not so with this latest generation of Silverado. Yes, it has more comforts and interior space than ever before, but the look is big, tough and classic.
Versatility
With the Silverado, you have a choice of many different trucks. What I mean by that is the combination of engines, rear axle ratios, suspensions, cab configurations, bed lengths, trim levels, and drive trains available.
Whether you’re towing and hauling equipment into a quarry, or roadtripping with your family on the weekends, there’s a Silverado configuration that will have nothing more and nothing less than everything you need.
Handling
A lot of drivers are intimidated by driving such a large vehicle, but time and time again, I’ve heard truck buyers remark at how manageable the Silverado feels. This is due, in part, to it’s stiff, electric-assisted steering and adaptive suspension. Even someone used to driving a compact sedan will feel in-control and can handle the Silverado like a pro.
A standard back-up camera on consumer-grade models and available parking-assist doesn’t hurt either in giving the driver an advanced awareness of the vehicle’s relationship to other objects.
Conclusion
Silverados are for everyone now. The pendulum does seem to have swung back to the traditional truck buyer, no longer miffed by soft, curving body lines or perplexed by every car gadget under the sun – unless they want to be, because the new truck crowd is not to be ignored either, and will not find climbing into the latest generation Silverados an exercise in deprivation.
