First Drive Review
Following in the footsteps of the latest 1500-series Chevrolet Silverado, which won our latest comparison test of light-duty trucks, the bow-tie division’s new-for-2015 Silverado HD now exhibits levels of refinement that heretofore were unheard of in big-rig pickups.
Our initial drive took place in the mountains above Phoenix, Arizona. The Silverado’s snappier sibling, the 2015 GMC Sierra HD, was along for the ride. But don’t be fooled by the General’s commercials and the GMC’s added tinsel. The two trucks are the same brutes underneath, with mechanicals largely unchanged from those of the previous models, which triumphed in Chevy form in our last comparison test of diesel workhorses. (For our 2015 Silverado HD debut story with a full breakdown of what did actually change, head here.)
A Gentle Giant
The new Chevy has the chiseled profile of a classic pickup, with a blocky grille and sheetmetal reminiscent of GM’s iconic C/K pickups of the 1980s. Yet the on-road behavior of the four-door, four-wheel-drive models we drove was anything but old school. The independent torsion-bar front suspension is still exclusive to the segment, and when paired with the relatively quick and accurate steering, it lends a connected and confidence-inspiring feel to the helm. That’s important when you’re towing up to 19,600 pounds with the conventional hitch.
Most impressive, though, is the ride quality, which is now nearly as plush and controlled as the lighter 1500’s. We’re anxious to experience the Silverado HD on Michigan’s cratered roads, but the long-wheelbase rigs floated over Arizona tarmac without any of the bucking and hopping normally associated with unladen heavy-duty pickups.
Power and Polish
There is a multitude of cab and chassis combinations available, as well as a standard 360-hp, 6.0-liter gas V-8, but our seat time was limited to the volume models: 2500-series 4x4s with the 6.6-liter DuraMax V-8 diesel and excellent Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission. It’s an $8585 setup with 397 horsepower and 765 lb-ft of torque. GM’s carefully controlled exercises with similar competitive trucks surely were devised in the Silverado’s favor. But there’s no denying the Chevy had the measure of the more powerful Ford and Ram pickups, accelerating stronger uphill with a five-ton trailer and controlling its speed more effectively on descents with integrated exhaust and transmission braking.
The big trucks’ updated cabin is equally strong and addresses the primary shortcomings of the previous model. It’s also pretty much the same interior as the light-duty Silverado’s, which is to say it’s attractive, comfortable, and functional. It takes less of a leap to get inside, and once you’re seated, the position feels lower and more enveloping. Greater sound insulation means the Silverado is eerily quiet on the highway for a truck, with the Duramax and road noise but distant murmurs. The Chevy’s trappings look rather basic alongside the fancier Sierra, but the Silverado can be fitted with similar luxuries, including heated-and-cooled leather seats and lane-departure warning.
Most of the new Silverado HD’s myriad configurations carry prices similar to those of their 2014 analogs, with greater levels of equipment accounting for modest increases. Expect to pay nearly $50,000 for a mid-level four-door, four-wheel-drive 2500 with the gas V-8, with maxed-out 3500 diesels topping $65,000. Watch this space as we hook up our instruments to the various models once we get a closer look on familiar turf, but our first experience shows that the 2015 Silverado HD redefines how a heavy-duty truck does its job.
