The 5.3L-V8 is smooth, flexible and quiet. The 6.2L-V8 has abundant torque but uses more fuel than the 5.3L. The 10-speed automatic transmission is smooth and reacts well to driver request. Nicely weighted and precise steering. Sierra Denali: Its adaptive suspension delivers very good handling. However, its ride is not as good as that delivered by the air suspension available on the RAM 1500. The ride of the off-road focused Trail Boss reflects its off-road focus. Try it before you buy it. Strong braking with a firm pedal and easy modulation.

The most recent update of the Silverado-Sierra addressed complaints about unattractive interior materials. Simple, straightforward controls. The front seats are a bit firm for some users and more seating adjustments would be appreciated. The 60/40 split rear seat is firm and flat. Abundant rear seat legroom (crewcab), but not as much as the RAM 1500 or the Ford F-150.

Massive model range spread over two nameplates, three cabin styles and a multitude of wheelbases and power units. The 5.3L V8 is the most popular engine, followed by the 2.7L turbo four. The turbo diesel and the 6.2L V8 are in shorter supply. Silverado: moving from an extended cab to a crewcab body style (accounting for 90 percent of retail buyers) costs $2800 on a Custom 4 x 4 with the 2.7L turbo and $2000 on the LT. The 4 x 4 drive system costs an extra $3800 on most trims. The WT (Work Truck), with vinyl seats and rubber mats, is geared toward commercial users. Using the short box, crew cab, 4 x 4 as the basis for comparison, all trims are equipped with a forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, a lane departure warning and a lane-keep assist system. Buyers need to move up to the LTZ model to gain blind spot and rear cross traffic warnings and to the High Country for active cruise control. The High Country adds leather to the features list. The Trail Boss versions of the Silverado add a fair measure of off-road ability by just ticking an order form. The base models of both models are similar but the Sierra Denali is priced around $18,000 more that the Silverado High Country. The supply situation has improved to the point that there are some vehicles in stock now but high-end versions of this platform can take a while to come in. That said, some features go missing as there is no stock of certain parts at the factory when the truck is being built.

Prices of full-sized pickups have escalated so significantly over the last few years that many previous buyers will not be able to afford to replace their trucks when they go to buy a new vehicle. The extraordinary prices may be such that the market for pickups for daily family drivers may diminish, reducing sales of the category to a large degree.

Predicted reliability is slightly below average. The eight-speed automatic transmission can shift roughly. There are some reports of premature air-conditioning failures. Long-term issues appear to arise with valve-gear on the 5.3L and 6.2L V8s due to the variable cylinder management systems used. No reliability data on the new 2.7L turbo four or the six-cylinder diesel.

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