Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 LT test drive and reivew

The bestselling vehicle is a truck. Always has been and will be for a long time. People need to haul things besides butt. And for $40,000, you can do it with class, comfort and efficiency. Take a luxury car, make it bigger with a huge open trunk, add towing/hauling features and there you go, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 LT.

The optional 5.3 Liter Ecotec V-8 produces 355 horsepower, 385 lb-ft of torque featuring active fuel management (cylinder deactivation), direct injection and variable valve timing. Combined with the six speed automatic transmission, this 4-wheel drive model is rated at 16/22mpg city/highway. This set-up with 4WD has a 1,957 lb. payload capacity and with the 3.42 rear axle ratio, a maximum conventional trailering rating of 9,600lbs.

The Silverado is worthy of compliments like, “Hey man, nice truck.”, “Cool truck, dude.” And, “That’s a nice rig.” The All Star Edition option package is the way to go with 18” wheels, power driver’s seat, dual zone climate control and a remote start that doesn’t have a proximity sensor so the key still needs to be inserted upon entry. The 8” color display works great with the rear vision camera which is a massive help with towing. The bed liner was replaced with a spray-in by Rhino.

There are numerous thoughtful and very convenient features inside and out. Steps cut into both sides of the rear bumper are appreciated since the tall owner reports having had a small step ladder in his previous dually for cargo access. There are ports for 7 and 4 pin trailer hook-ups in the rear bumper and the bed has numerous cargo hooks.

Inside there is very clever lockable interior storage that is the bottom part of the center front seat. Also that center backrest rest folds down revealing more storage capability. An integrated trailer brake function with gain adjustment to the left of the steering wheel is another helpful towing aid. Besides the back-up camera, the side-view mirrors also have an additional fish-eye mirror for another visual aid. Other features are 3 months of SiriusXM and 6 months of OnStar. The Mylink radio has multiple functions including voice activation, Bluetooth and pairs to a smart phone. The My Chevy app has remote service reminders, park reminder functions and is service oriented.

Although a big truck, it rides very quietly helped by the triple sealed doors. Although bumpy on rough streets, it isn’t harsh, yet the movement is conveyed to passengers. It is reported to be very smooth on the highway. One interior concern is the potential longevity of the button pads on the steering wheel from frequent use. Also there is a seemingly slight miss at idle and since service codes are not being thrown, it is speculated it could be from one of the fuel management features.

Be sure to check out the video and slideshows to see the various amenities. The quiet, comfortable Chevrolet Silverado like any heavy truck may not be a great choice for long distance commuting but this one is an excellent choice for long or short distance hauling.