The Chevrolet Silverado is among the most popular pickup trucks currently for sale. It’s a giant of the pickup world, regularly battling the Ford F-150 and others for supremacy in the market.
While it might not sell entirely as well as its Blue Oval rival, the Silverado is still highly regarded. It’s practical, comfortable, and spacious, and there are plenty of versions to choose from.
Why do people love it so much? This list will answer that with several reasons that make the Silverado a truck that many in the United States love and cherish.
The Silverado Is A Famous Name
As far as recognizable vehicles in the United States go, the Chevrolet Silverado is undoubtedly up there. Its name goes right back to the top-tier trim on the Chevrolet C/K truck of the 1970s before it was added to the Suburban and Tahoe lineups. In 1999, the Silverado had become its line of trucks.
The new model was vastly improved over what had come before it. The Silverado soon made a name for itself as a genuinely modern truck with the bonus of all-wheel drive, something few trucks at the time could claim to have.
Powerful Powertrains
One of the most appealing parts of the Silverado is its powerful engine options. In fact, in 2023, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 had four different powertrains from which the customer could choose.
Standard on the 2023 Silverado 1500 was the 2.7-liter TurboMax engine that produces 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. More than enough for daily driving. However, for those who want more, Chevrolet also offered the 5.3-liter EcoTec V8, which is standard on the LTZ and High Country trims and has 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque.
Cameras For Excellent Viewing
Cameras are becoming increasingly widespread on modern vehicles. They can offer excellent viewing of areas such as our blindspots, replace mirrors, and provide even better angles and views of cars passing us on the highway.
The Silverado is no exception, with up to eight cameras available on the pickup truck, depending on the trim level. Each one gives you an excellent view of the truck, whether you are on the highway or simply trying to park up at home.
Brand Loyalty
This is also a factor in why so many people love Ford’s F-150 and F-Series truck ranges. Many customers will stay loyal to a brand or company, either because they like their products or because it is all they have ever bought throughout their lives. Many of us have probably only ever owned a Chevrolet, for example.
It is that loyalty that keeps people coming back for more of a particular car or vehicle. This is true of the Silverado, with its reputation ensuring many buyers have stayed loyal to the Chevrolet pickup truck.
Consistently Strong Sales
While the Chevrolet Silverado isn’t as high selling as the Ford F-150, its sales figures are still good. In fact, a look at GoodCarBadCar shows us that Silverado has regularly and consistently sold highly over the years.
Since 2014, Chevrolet truck sales have never dipped below 500,000. By the end of 2023, they were at 55,148, and in 2022, Chevrolet sold 520,936 units of the Silverado. By the end of 20214, with sales currently at 281,099, it is likely that they will again breach the 500,000 mark.
The Silverado Bison
The expansive range of Silverado models will keep people coming back for more. However, perhaps the ultimate reason for this is the Silverado ZR2 Bison. The Bison is Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford F-150 Raptor, and it is the ultimate off-roading version of the Silverado with immense power under the hood.
Thanks to its 6.6-liter V8 engine, the ZR2 Bison produces 401 horsepower and 464 lb-ft of torque. Yet the Duramax V8 TurboDiesel, which produces 470 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque, offers even more power.
An Electric Silverado
Like Ford, Chevrolet has also introduced an all-electric version of the Silverado. This serves as proof to its customers that Bow Tie is committed to ensuring the Silverado’s survival into the future, and the Silverado EV is one of the most impressive trucks currently on sale.
GM estimates the maximum range is up to 440 miles as standard, while its electric powertrain offers up to 754 horsepower and 784 lb-ft of torque. It also comes with excellent interior features, such as its 17.7-inch touch-screen display and an incredibly comfortable cabin.
The Silverado’s Reliability
The reliability of any vehicle can play a big part in why people love them. The Silverado has one of the best reliability records of any car currently on sale, and a quick look at websites such as Consumer Reports and J.D. Power backs up that claim.
J.D. Power currently lists the 2024 Silverado with an impressive reliability score of 82/100. A quick look at the 2023 model on J.D. Power shows that they scored the previous Silverado at 81/100, so it is undoubtedly a consistently reliable truck. In fact, the 2024 Silverado scores higher than the 2024 Ford F-150.
Practical As A Daily Driver
One of the best parts of the Chevrolet Silverado is that it is not only an excellent pickup but also a good daily driver. For starters, with its MSRP of $37,000, it’s one of the most affordable large vehicles on the market. Secondly, it has an available payload capacity of 2,260 lbs.
It is also very spacious inside, with enough seating for five people comfortably. This means that if you have a family, you could quite easily take them for longer trips and adventures without them feeling cramped or longing for more space.
The Silverado Hybrid
For some, making the jump to a fully electric vehicle is still a bit daunting. Yet many of us want to move from pure internal combustion power to something a bit more eco-friendly. While not yet officially available, it appears that Chevrolet is working hard to bring a Silverado hybrid to the market.
The rumors started earlier in 2024, claiming that Chevrolet would bring a Silverado PHEV to the market. This would be the first time since the early 2000s and early 2010s that a hybrid version of the truck was available, although this latest hybrid will be lightyears ahead.
The Silverado Is Incredibly Safe
While we might neglect this fact, modern vehicles are incredibly safe. The Chevrolet Silverado is no different, be it in its base form, the Silverado 1500, or up to the ZR2 Bison. These trucks are all made safer thanks to the exceptional Chevy Safety Assist suite.
The suite includes features such as a forward collision alert and automatic emergency braking. The wide array of cameras also helps to make the Silverado as safe as possible, as does the exceptional lane-keeping assist feature with lane departure warning.
Vast Numbers Available Pre-Owned
Bull-Doser, Public domain/Wikimedia Commons.
While it is affordable and brand new, many people might not be able to afford the Silverado brand new. Thankfully, though, like the Ford F-150, there are plenty of second-hand examples of the Chevy Silverado.
Scouring various websites, be they AutoTrader or Edmunds, will show just how many Silverados are available across all generations. These can save you a good chunk off the retail price and still provide years of reliable service to you and your family.
Chevrolet’s Commitment To The Truck
While Chevrolet is phasing out certain vehicles, such as the Camaro muscle car, the Silverado isn’t going anywhere. The EV version shows that Chevrolet is committed to the truck’s future, and the addition of the hybrid version will only solidify that commitment.
The Bow Tie knows that this is one of the most popular vehicles it has produced in its entire history. So, they would be foolish to let it go. It would appear that its rivalry with the Ford F-150 will last some time longer, and that is excellent for us consumers.
