Test-Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4WD Crew Cab. Click image to enlarge

I drove the Silverado HD back in 2006, and at the time noted a choppy ride when the truck was empty. The new suspension makes all the difference: this time out, even with nothing more than a single passenger to weigh it down, the ride was smooth and compliant. It certainly doesn’t feel like a heavy-duty truck.

The base WT trim line is really a work truck, with steel wheels, wind-up windows, manual mirrors and vinyl flooring, although it does come with standard air conditioning, electronic stability control, chrome bumpers and variable intermittent wipers, and its seats can be ordered in vinyl or cloth. The LT, undoubtedly the volume seller, adds several convenience features, while the LTZ ramps it up: weight-distributing trailer hitch platform with dash-mounted controller, fog lights, power-folding mirrors, polished aluminum wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming mirrors and heated leather seats. The chairs are very comfortable and on the crew cab, the rear seat cushions fold up for extra inside cargo space.

The Silverado’s interior was a show-stopper when it was first introduced, since it provided a substantial upgrade over the cheap cabin upon which the automaker had coasted for so long. It now looks dull and dated when put up against its Ford and Ram rivals, but I’m willing to forgive it. There was only so much money to redo this truck, and as I mentioned before, it was spent in the right places.

About the only thing I won’t overlook is the set of climate controls, which uses tiny buttons to set the mode, and slightly larger buttons that must be tapped to increase or decrease the temperature. These mini-controls not only take too much time away from the road when you’re trying to find them, but they’re almost impossible to operate when you’re wearing work gloves. Everything else on the truck is big and imposing, and the knobs for the heater should be as well.

Getting into the consumer’s mind to rate a pickup truck is a tough call, for two reasons. First, there is such a wide range of intentions for the truck, from hauling full loads to work every day, to using it simply as a big car. Secondly, only the Camaro-Mustang-Challenger crowd comes close to the intense brand loyalty shown by those who will only consider a GM, Ford or Ram truck. All three are extremely worthy trucks, and in the last little while, very little has separated them. This time around, I’m going to give it to the Silverado by a nose, for its extremely well-done diesel engine and transmission, which are exceptional whether you’re towing a trailer or just scooting to the store. It may not have had a ton of money to throw around, but GM certainly spent it in the right place.