2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　

What's new

Completely redesigned for 2019Part of the fourth Silverado 1500 generation introduced for 2019

　　Full-size pickup trucks have been the best-selling vehicles in America for a while now. They seamlessly blend maximum utility and family-friendly versatility and can be had as a bare-bones work truck all the way up to a decked-out luxury rig. The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, redesigned from the ground up, represents the continuing evolution of this segment. It has lots of modern tech, a slew of available features, and all sorts of upgraded utility.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Work Truck 2dr Regular Cab LB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$208/mo  for Silverado 1500 Work Truck

　　Silverado 1500 Work Truck

　　Work Truck 2dr Regular Cab LB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $28,300 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Double Cab SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $32,200 MSRPWork Truck 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $32,900 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Crew Cab 5.8 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $34,600 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Crew Cab 6.6 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $34,900 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $35,500 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.8 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $37,900 MSRPWork Truck 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.6 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $38,200 MSRPCustom 4dr Double Cab SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $34,600 MSRPCustom 4dr Crew Cab 5.8 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $37,000 MSRPCustom 4dr Crew Cab 6.6 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $37,300 MSRPCustom 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $37,900 MSRPCustom 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.8 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $40,300 MSRPCustom 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.6 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $40,600 MSRPLT 4dr Double Cab SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $36,900 MSRPLT 4dr Crew Cab 5.8 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $39,300 MSRPLT 4dr Crew Cab 6.6 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $39,600 MSRPLT 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $40,200 MSRPLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.8 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $42,600 MSRPLT 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.6 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $42,900 MSRPRST 4dr Double Cab SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $38,800 MSRPRST 4dr Crew Cab 5.8 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $41,200 MSRPRST 4dr Crew Cab 6.6 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $41,500 MSRPRST 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $42,100 MSRPRST 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.8 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $44,500 MSRPRST 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.6 ft. SB (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $44,800 MSRPCustom Trail Boss 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $39,500 MSRPCustom Trail Boss 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.8 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $41,900 MSRPCustom Trail Boss 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.6 ft. SB (4.3L 6cyl 6A) - $42,200 MSRPLTZ 4dr Double Cab SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $43,000 MSRPLTZ 4dr Crew Cab 5.8 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $45,400 MSRPLTZ 4dr Crew Cab 6.6 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $45,700 MSRPLTZ 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $46,300 MSRPLTZ 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.8 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $48,700 MSRPLTZ 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.6 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $49,000 MSRPLT Trail Boss 4dr Double Cab 4WD SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $45,900 MSRPLT Trail Boss 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.6 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $48,300 MSRPLT Trail Boss 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.8 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $48,600 MSRPHigh Country 4dr Crew Cab 5.8 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $53,000 MSRPHigh Country 4dr Crew Cab 6.6 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $53,300 MSRPHigh Country 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 5.8 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $56,300 MSRPHigh Country 4dr Crew Cab 4WD 6.6 ft. SB (5.3L 8cyl 8A) - $56,600 MSRP

　　vs

　　$233/mo

　　Avg. Large Truck

　　Underneath, the Silverado's frame has been built with a variety of steel materials. The doors, tailgate and hood are now made from aluminum rather than steel. So even though the 2019 Silverado is longer, taller and wider than before, it's lighter. The range of choices for under the hood include a V6, two V8s, a turbocharged four-cylinder, and even a diesel six-cylinder that is expected to come later in the year.

　　Inside, the Silverado 1500 has a familiar look. Chevy reorganized the gauges and switchgear, but most of the buttons and knobs feel as if they've been carried over from the previous generation. We do like that the optional 8-inch center touchscreen gets a new look with updated graphics and improved resolution. Also, the back seat in crew-cab models gets an additional 3 inches of legroom, making space for a cabin full of 6-foot-tall adults.

　　Despite the 2019 Silverado's familiar fit and finish, it's a very capable truck with more to offer than ever before. The multiple powertrains, varying trim levels and array of cabin configurations mean you can have one in just about any shape or form you want. We'd definitely recommend test-driving a few rivals, though, specifically the Ram 1500 and the Ford F-150. Both rivals are appealing in their own ways.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss as one of zzdcar' Best Off-Road Trucks and the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Best Off-Road Trucks for this year.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.2 / 10

　　From stem to stern, the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado is new. The Silverado is now longer, wider and taller than last year's model, yet it's also lighter thanks to a greater use of lightweight parts and body panels. That means it can tow and haul more, and fuel economy estimates are on the rise.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Crew Cab Short Bed (5.3L V8 | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 5-foot-8-inch bed).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.2 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	7.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	8.0
Technology	7.5

　　

Driving

7.5

　　The 2019 Silverado 1500 is a nicely balanced and easy-driving truck that's better than the generation it replaces. The 5.3-liter V8 now comes exclusively with the eight-speed automatic, which is a boon to general drivability.

　　

Acceleration

7.0

　　The 5.3-liter V8 produces plenty of power when accelerating or climbing a hill, although its exhaust note isn't as pleasing as that of some other burly truck V8s. Acceleration with the standard 3.23 gearing is respectable. In our testing, the Silverado covered 0-60 mph in a respectable 7 seconds.

　　

Braking

7.5

　　The brakes feel strong and predictable, with easy modulation and smooth response in stop-and-go traffic. Our truck's pedal travel did feel a bit long compared to rivals, though. At our track, it executed a 60 mph panic stop in 133 feet. This is a fairly typical distance for a full-size truck.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The Silverado has good straight-ahead sense and a nice chunky wheel. But the steering effort is a bit light in the Normal setting, and there's little sense of connection to the road. The Sport setting in the LTZ firms things up a little, but the vagueness remains.

　　

Handling

7.5

　　Handling is secure even when the Silverado is equipped with the Z71 off-road package. Cornering response is predictable, and body roll is held nicely in check. But this truck's rear end is supported by leaf springs, so it can be upset by midcorner bumps, especially when the bed is empty.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　The V8 supplies plenty of low-end torque, and the transmission's eight available gears and smart shift schedule help keep it in the sweet spot. It's easy to drive the Silverado off the line smoothly, and it responds well to throttle commands.

　　

Off-road

7.5

　　Our test truck had the Z71 off-road package, which amounts to upgraded tires and shock absorbers. But the Silverado feels big on tight trails, and its broad hood makes it tough to see obstacles. We have not yet tested the Trail Boss, but it should do better with its 2-inch suspension lift, lockable rear differential and more aggressive tires.

　　

Comfort

7.0

　　The Silverado feels suitably comfortable for long trips on the open road. The seats aren't quite as plush as those in its main rivals, but the shape and support are there. It rides smoothly overall, but the damping feels inadequate at times. The automatic climate control system is able to keep everyone comfy.

　　

Seat comfort

7.0

　　The LTZ's leather seats seem long-wearing and durable but not exactly plush. The seat padding is firm, but the seats should be suitably supportive on longer trips. The rear seats are a bit flatter and firmer, though, and the backrest angle could be tipped back a degree or two.

　　

Ride comfort

6.5

　　The ride is relatively smooth on the highway, with most small impacts neatly absorbed. But the damping isn't as good over larger swales and bumps, which can upset the ride and get the truck bouncing.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.0

　　The Z71 tires make a little road noise and we did detect more wind noise than we expected, but neither one is offensive. Engine noise is nicely muted until you get hard on the throttle, at which point is gets a bit unpleasant — not because of volume but because it doesn't sound as nice as other V8s.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　The climate system can easily heat and cool the cabin, and the control layout is logical. If only some of the buttons were larger. We really like the truck's split-heated front seats (separate settings for the back and seat bottom), a GM exclusive feature. The rear seats are heated, too. Our LTZ test truck had rear vents on the back of the center console.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　The Silverado's massive crew cab means there's plenty of space for four or five adults. Access to both rows is relatively easy, but the rear doors don't open as wide as we'd like. Up front, the center console is easy to use, but it feels plain and dated although it's brand-new.

　　

Ease of use

7.5

　　The cabin switchgear feels similar to the outgoing design and is relatively easy to use. There are a few controls we'd change the placement of (the towing selector is one of them) but otherwise the interior layout is relatively simple and intuitive. It's definitely time to retire the column shifter, though.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.0

　　Most adults will need to use the grab handles to step up and in, which is typical for off-road-oriented full-size trucks. The front doors open wide and the rear doors have lots of lateral space to maneuver through. That said, the rear doors don't open quite as wide as we'd like when loading bulky items in the back seat.

　　

Driving position

7.5

　　The power-adjustable seats have enough range of motion to accommodate almost any driver, and the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel offers plenty of adjustment range. If you're like us, though, you might find yourself choosing a higher seating position to see better over the hood.

　　

Roominess

8.0

　　Front headroom and legroom are plentiful, even for those who are quite tall. The back seat of the crew cab is absolutely massive, too, with significant legroom. Three adults can easily fit shoulder to shoulder.

　　

Visibility

7.0

　　A high seating position and big windshield should add up to a commanding view, but forward visibility is impeded by a hood that is both tall and broad. The windshield pillars are somewhat thick, too. All of this makes it hard to see where the corners are. The large outside mirrors give a good view of what's going on behind.

　　

Quality

6.5

　　The Silverado's interior seems to value function over form. The buttons and dashboard plastics are made from materials similar to those in the previous-gen truck: sturdy but somewhat cheap-looking. There were no noticeable squeaks or rattles in our test truck, but the overall vibe is decidedly less modern than top rivals.

　　

Utility

8.0

　　The new Silverado can tow quite a bit (even with the standard axle ratio) and it has a big bed with impressive capacity and an abundance of tie-downs. There's a good amount of in-cabin storage if you fold-up the rear seat bottoms, but it lags behind rivals when it comes to small-item storage in the cockpit area.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　There are multiple pockets in the Silverado's boxy center console, but we'd expect more given that this truck has a column-mounted gear shifter. The door pockets are decent with deep bottle holders, but the central cupholders are a bit small.

　　

Cargo space

8.0

　　The 60/40-split rear seat bottoms fold up easily to reveal a massive amount of storage space for luggage and other items you want to keep dry and locked up. The rear floor isn't perfectly flat, but it's close. All three domestic truck brands do well in this category, but the Ram earns the top spot.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.0

　　The back seat has two sets of lower LATCH anchors and three top tethers, so seats will fit in any of the three positions. Loading the seats (not to mention the kiddos) may be difficult due to the truck's ride height. But the tall cabin and the optional side steps helps will help with those tasks.

　　

Towing

8.5

　　We tested a 5.3-liter V8-powered, short-bed 4WD crew-cab truck that had the standard 3.23 axle gearing, which results in a 9,600-pound tow rating. That is impressive for a truck equipped with a standard axle ratio. The tow rating would have been 11,400 pounds with the optional 3.42 axle ratio package, and it could have been as high as 12,100 pounds with the 6.2-liter V8.

　　

Hauling

8.5

　　The Silverado's short bed is a bit longer, deeper and wider than those of rivals and it has more tie-downs. The Chevy's 12 tie-downs are now rated at 500 pounds each, a big improvement over the previous year. The max payload for our test truck was an impressive 2,020 pounds.

　　

Technology

7.5

　　While the Silverado is available with a lot of high-tech features, most of them are limited to the top-trim LTZ and High Country models. Smartphones connect quickly and those systems respond to commands well, but the native Chevy voice controls are subpar.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.5

　　The new Chevy infotainment system has crisp graphics and responsive touchscreen buttons. The simple menu structure and quick command responses make using the system easy. It's not a huge touchscreen, but it gets the job done. The standard six-speaker stereo system has only average sound quality.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.5

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. Our smartphones connected to Bluetooth and indexed our music quickly. There are USB and USB-C ports on the dash, a USB port deep in the center console, and another in the rear seat area. It'd be nice to have a couple more ports, particularly in back.

　　

Driver aids

6.5

　　Our truck had automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, front and rear parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. None of these are standard, but they come in the Safety Package II. Adaptive cruise control is conspicuously unavailable, though.

　　

Voice control

7.0

　　The merely competent voice recognition system understands basic commands like "Play Artist, Bob Dylan" but is less able to interpret natural language. Connect your smartphone and you'll get access to Siri and Google voice. Those systems work much better.

　　

Which Silverado 1500 does zzdcar recommend?

　　While most buyers will be fine with the midlevel LT or RST trim level, we think the premium LTZ and High Country trims are the most appealing in the Silverado lineup. They provide safety equipment you can't get on the less expensive trims, and they come with almost all the standard interior tech you can ask for. They're also the only two that offer the optional 6.2-liter V8. Of the two, we'd probably opt for the LTZ. It includes most of the High Country's standard equipment in option packages, so you can pick and choose what you want.

　　

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models

　　The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a full-size pickup available in eight trim levels: Work Truck (WT), Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ and High Country. Like most full-size trucks, the Silverado is available with varying cab and bed configurations depending on trim level.

　　The Silverado 1500 is available in three cab styles: the two-door regular cab (WT only), the four-door extended (Double) cab and the crew cab. The regular cab seats three and can be had with either a 6.5-foot-long standard bed or an 8-foot-long bed (late availability). The extended cab can seat up to six and comes only with the standard bed. The crew cab adds full-size rear doors and increased rear legroom, and it's available with the standard bed or a shorter 5-foot-8-inch bed.

　　The base WT is powered by a 4.3-liter V6 engine (285 horsepower, 305 pound-feet of torque) matched to a six-speed automatic transmission. As you might expect, the WT is pretty bare-bones. Standard equipment highlights include 17-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, a tilt-only steering column, a 7-inch touchscreen interface, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system with a USB port.

　　Next up in the Silverado lineup is the Custom trim level that adds 20-inch wheels, front tow hooks, power and heated mirrors, deep-tinted glass, cruise control and remote entry. Above the Custom is the Custom Trail Boss trim level, which is four-wheel-drive only and has 18-inch black wheels, a trailering package and the Z71 off-road suspension package.

　　Building on the standard Custom trim level, the LT gets a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (310 hp, 348 lb-ft) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It also has LED headlights, a tailgate damper, alloy wheels, a steering wheel with audio controls, an upgraded driver information display, OnStar with 4G LTE and Wi-Fi, and an 8-inch touchscreen. Further up the ladder, with the RST, you get a power-locking and power-release tailgate, in-bed lighting, remote start, rear window defrost and dual second-row USB ports.

　　The next trim level, the LT Trail Boss, is much like the Custom Trail Boss, with a few exceptions. The LT Trail Boss also comes standard with a 5.3-liter V8 engine (355 hp, 383 lb-ft) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. And, on top of the standard LT trim, the LT Trail Boss adds some special exterior trim, dual exhaust, the trailering package, and the contents of the trailering and Z71 suspension packages.

　　Near the top of the lineup, the LTZ also gets the 5.3-liter V8 as standard, along with most of the RST's standard equipment. It also adds a higher-definition rearview camera, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, a heated tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a trailer brake controller, two 120-volt power outlets, dual-zone automatic climate control, a navigation system, leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory settings, and HD radio.

　　Right at the top of the heap, there's the High Country trim level. In addition to the LTZ's equipment, it pads on 20-inch chrome wheels, front and rear parking sensors, a power-up-and-down tailgate, chrome side step rails, a spray-on bedliner, a seven-speaker Bose audio system, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a power-sliding rear window, wireless phone charging and lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

　　Many features on the upper trim levels are offered on the lower ones as packages or stand-alone options. Other available features, depending on the trim level and configuration, include various axle ratios, off-road-oriented tires, larger wheels, tow mirrors, power-retractable side step rails, and a sunroof. Notably, the Max Trailering package features an integrated heavier-duty suspension calibration and a higher-capacity radiator. Also available are trailer monitoring systems that allow for trailer tire-pressure sensors or trailer rearview-camera connections.

　　Available only on the LTZ and High Country trims is a 6.2-liter V8 engine (420 hp, 460 lb-ft) that's paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

　　A few key packages offer varying safety equipment for the Silverado. The Safety package is available on LT, RST, LT Trail Boss and LTZ models, and it adds lane departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Safety package II is available only on the LTZ and the High Country. It includes everything in the standard Safety package equipment as well as forward collision warning with low-speed emergency braking, lane keeping assist, forward pedestrian detection with braking, automatic high beams, and a safety alert seat. The Technology package (available only on the LTZ and the High Country) adds an in-mirror rearview camera display, a driver head-up display and a 360-degree parking camera.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 Silverado 1500 articles

　　

2019 Silverado 1500 Highlights

Type: Crew CabRegular CabDouble CabDouble Cab

　　Trim: Work TruckCustomLTRSTCustom Trail BossLTZLT Trail BossWork Truck

　　

Base MSRP	$32,200
Engine Type	Flex-fuel (ffv)
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$208/month
Seating	6 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Max Towing Capacity	9,800 lbs.
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles