The Chevy Silverado gets a makeover for 2019. It’s larger and lighter than the outgoing model, there are new engines and the interior gets upgraded. With Ford having updated the F-150 in 2018, and the Silverado and Ram redesigned for 2019, this is a good time to shop for a full-size pick-up.
The Silverado seats five or six passengers. It’s available in eight trims: Work Truck (WT), Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, LT Trail Boss, RST, LTZ and High Country. Starting prices range from $32,200 to $46,300.
With a dizzying selection of powertrains, trims and cabin and bed configurations, you can sure find the truck that’s right for your needs and budget.
Available cab styles are the two-door regular cab, four-door double cab and the crew cab. The regular cab seats three passengers and is available with a 6.5-foot standard bed or an 8-foot bed. The extended cab seats up to six and comes with the standard bed. The crew cab is available with the standard bed or the short 5-foot-8-inch bed.
Six engine choices are available: a V6, two V8s, a new four-banger and a diesel that will be available later this year.
The base engine is still a 4.3-liter V6 that makes 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. The two V8s are a 5.3-liter V8 that makes 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet and a 6.2-liter V8 that makes 420 hp and 460 lb.-ft.The V8s both have Chevy’s new Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) system which actively shuts off any number of cylinders, in a variety of combinations, depending on driver needs to enhance fuel efficiency. New for 2019 are a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel.
Several different transmissions are available to go with all of the engine options. The base engine and the 5.3-liter V8 get a six-speed automatic. The 5.3-liter with DFM and the new four-banger get an eight-speed automatic. The 6.2-liter V8 is paired with a ten-speed automatic.
The Silverado is easy to drive. Like many full-size pick-ups, it drives like a smaller vehicle with a mostly comfortable ride. There’s plenty of power when you need to accelerate or go uphill. It’s also surprisingly agile in busy city traffic. While you will notice some rough roads and large bumps, the ride is pretty smooth when you’re on the highway. Visibility to the front can be hampered due to the large hood and thick pillars.
Switching to four-wheel-drive is easy as all equipped Silverados now have push button controls instead of the old shifters on the floor.
The 2019 Silverado can tow about 300 pounds more than the outgoing model. When properly equipped, the Silverado can tow 12,500 pounds and haul 2,590 pounds of payload. This is great for the class. There are lots of features to help with towing including a trailering app, side- and hitch-view cameras and a trailer brake controller.
EPA estimates for my tester are 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined. I got 17 mpg during my test drive.
The interior is improved but still lags behind the competition. Many materials are not as upscale as what you’ll find in the competition.
Thanks to my tester’s huge crew cabin, passengers enjoy lots of leg- and headroom in both rows of seating. And the back seat will easily accommodate three adults.
There’s a new infotainment system with a user-friendly touchscreen; however, even though it’s new for 2019, it looks a bit dated compared to what you’ll find on some rivals. You can also control many functions with knobs and buttons but since the cabin is so large, it can be a bit of a stretch to reach them!
Standard features include cloth upholstery, front bench seat, rear view camera, seven-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, one USB port, six-speaker audio system, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Options include keyless entry, remote start, leather seating, front bucket seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, sunroof, the Infotainment 3 system with an eight-inch HD touch screen and navigation, three additional USB ports, seven-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless phone charging, and two 120-volt power outlets with one located in the bed.
Available features that are new for 2019 include a head-up display, a rearview camera mirror, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, front pedestrian braking, and a surround-view parking camera.
The good:
Reasonable starting price
Many trim, engine, transmission and bed choices
Smoother ride
Biggest bed among full-size pickups
Can tow more than outgoing model
Roomy interior
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are now standard
The not-so-good:
Competitors have nicer cabins
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $42,600. The All Star Edition package is $2,815 and adds dual-zone climate control, driver power 10-way seat adjuster with lumbar, heated driver and front passenger seats, heated steering wheel, leather-wrapped steering wheel, electrical steering column with lock control and manual tilt and telescoping, second row USB ports, rear window defogger, power outlet and rear auxiliary 12v, keyless open and start, remote vehicle starter system, theft-deterrent system, 40/20/40 split-bench with covered armrest storage, adjustable lumbar and under-seat stowage, tailgate with lift assist, power lock and release, LED lighting, differential, auto-locking rear, trailering package, trailer hitch, 7 pin and 4 p in connectors and hitch guidance. The Z71 Off-Road and Protection Package is $1,985 and includes off-road suspension with shocks, hill descent control, skid plates, high capacity air cleaner, two-speed electronic transfer case, Z71 badge, dual exhaust with polished outlets, 18-inch bright silver painted Aluminum wheels, all terrain tires, rear wheelhouse liners, all-weather floor liners, and Chevytec spray-on bedliner. The Assist Step and Tonneau Package is $1,750 and adds a tri-fold hard tonneau cover and assist steps (running boards). The 5.3-liter V8 with Dynamic Fuel Management is $1,395. The Safety Package I is $890 and includes front and rear park assist, lane change alert with side blind zone alert and rear cross traffic alert. The trailer brake controller is $275. Destination charge is $1,495. The grand total is $53,205, less a $1,000 All-Star Edition and Z7i1 Off-road and Protection package discount, for a total vehicle price of $52,205.
Bottom line:
If you want a full-size pickup, you’ll want to take a look at the 2019 Chevy Silverado. There’s a lot to like with several powertrain options, large bed, roomy interior and a long list of tech and driver assistance features. The good news for shoppers is there are several solid offerings in the class, including, of course, the Dodge Ram and Ford F-150. Your final choice will depend on the features you need.
