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2014 Chevrolet Silverado First Impressions

2014 Chevrolet Silverado | Photo: Charles Renny
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Charles Renny
GM's silver lining
Deer Lake, Nfld. - Chevrolet is the last of the Detroit three to redo their light-truck lineup. Sales have slowed due to the knowledge that an all-new truck would be available on the market soon.

What is a Chevrolet Silverado?
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup truck used as a work truck, off-road vehicle, tow vehicle, daily driver, family hauler, and just about any other kind of hauler you can think of.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado Price and Specs
EcoTec3 is the new generation of engines in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, starting with the standard 4.3L V6 that now produces 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque, while the optional 5.3L aluminum V8 pushes out 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. At the top is the mega-motor 6.2L V8 with 420 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque.

Towing capacity rises from 7,200 lbs with the V6 to 11,500 lbs with the 5.3L V8, and goes up to 12,000 lbs when equipped with the 6.2L. The only transmission available is the 6L80 6-speed automatic, which is available with hill-decent control as well as tow haul mode.

A regular cab 2014 Chevrolet Silverado starts at $25,540 and the double cab (four-door) version starts at $29,435. Crew Cab (four full-size doors) models (which make up about 60% of sales) start at $30,995. Within these cab choices are a few box length choices,2WD and 4WD, as well as seven different trim levels starting with 1WT and progressing through 2WT, LT, LT with Convenience, LTZ, LTZ and Z71 with LTZ trim, winding up with the TLZ Plus. A brand new luxury trim level named the High Country will be introduced in the 4th quarter of 2013.

Driving the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
Your first driving impression in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado is of how quiet the interior is at any speed. The second item your senses are going to sort out is how good the brake pedal feels under braking of all types. After that, your brain wakes up to a cacophony of change, all of which are popping into your senses as you go down the road.

Put a load in the back or hook the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado to a trailer and it makes little difference to the 5.3L V8 under hard acceleration. A driver will know that there is a load, but it tows so well with the sway control that many will not realize how much is there. Fortunately, hill decent, tow haul mode, and four very large disc brakes will easily help you keep control while driving.

Due to the size of the Crew Cab, getting around town requires patience and a bit of skill if you intend to park something of this size. Backing up is easy in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado thanks to large mirrors and the rear parking sensors. A back-up camera is available as part of the Chevrolet MyLink system.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
Unless you put the Chevrolet Silverado beside a previous generation, you are not going to notice the changes to the wheel wells or the fact that on the Crew Cab, the door pillar up 6 or 7 cm to make it easier to get in and out of the rear seat. If you are really sharp, you will notice that Xenon headlamps are available in a redesigned front end and that the tail end has changed as well. Chevrolet claims that there are few, if any, exterior parts carried over from the previous generation.

Before you even turn the key, you are going to notice the changes to the centre console (or 40/20/40 front seat) in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. Connectivity is the goal, and multiple USB ports and power outlets adorn the centre stack. Everything is oriented towards the Chevrolet Silverado being used as a work truck, including the locking cabinet in the bottom portion of the centre console.

Seats are truly impressive in quality and comfort. For the first time, heated seats will be available with cloth trim. At the top of the line, perforated leather is standard.

Comparing the Chevrolet Silverado
Competition for the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado comes mostly from Detroit-based manufacturers. Ford with the Ford F-150 is ahead in sales, and has been for decades. Ram, with the Ram 1500, is improving by leaps and bounds. The Silverado’s twin, the GMC Sierra 1500 goes head-to-head with the Chevy sometimes making it difficult to tell the difference between the two. From outside North America, the Toyota Tundra is a stronger competitor than the Nissan Titan.
2014 Chevrolet Silverado 2LT
chevrolet silverado 2014
2014 Chevrolet Silverado 2LT
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Charles Renny
Charles Renny
Automotive expert
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