Wednesday, June 22, 2016

2016 Chevy Silverado 1500: Rugged Performance Meets Refined Features

As a premier Chevrolet dealership in Clearwater, we at Dimmitt Chevrolet have come to know the Silverado as a throwback to a time when dusty roads led to more dusty roads, when High Noon was a time for dueling rather than eating a late lunch, and when saloons offered moonshine to spurred-boot wearers on horseback.

But 2016 has brought forth a new era of Chevy Silverado. Now the beloved Chevy trucks are packed with contemporary features and un-truck-like comforts that leave the traditional pickup style in its rearview.


Here’s what you can expect from the new lineup of Chevy Silverado 1500s.

New Chevy Silverado Look


Don’t judge a book by its cover: A good motto by which to live, but it holds little value when it comes to the 2016 Silverado. In fact, the Silverado’s cover is equally as remarkable as the rest of the vehicle.

Refreshed and ready for the road, Chevy’s signature truck boasts several exterior refinements. A dazzling front fascia is reinvigorated with single LED daytime-running headlamps and a new, more muscular hood. Front grilles are more angular and curved; they’re also trim-specific and come fitted with LED fog lights on higher-end models. Rear taillights are more distinctive and bright than past models, and chrome stripes move from front to back.

The cargo beds are offered in three lengths: 5-feet-8-inches, 6-feet-6-inches (standard), and 8-feet. Convenience is much better than in previous model years thanks to CornerStep bumpers and rear-corner handholds. The tailgate is fitted with a nifty remote-locking feature. There’s even an optional automatic running board that can move linearly to the rear, allowing easier access to the bed from the truck’s side.

Chevrolet released the Silverado 1500 with three available cab styles: Two-door regular, four-door double, and crew cabs. The regular cab seats three up front and can be ordered with the standard 6-foot-6-inch bed or an extended 8-foot bed. The double cab comes with only the 6-foot-6-inch bed. The crew cab has full-size back doors and can be had with the 6-foot-6-inch bed or a shorter 5-foot-8-inch option.

The options don’t end there, as the Silverado is available in these five unique trim levels: WT, LT, LS, LTZ, and High Country. There are also Z71, Silverado Custom, All Star Edition, and Texas Edition, Enhanced Driver Alert, and Max Trailering packages to highlight every cab style and trim level. (Features and availability of specific cab styles and bed lengths vary, so be sure to check with our Chevrolet dealership in Clearwater for details and to see these choices in person.)

The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado Interior & Features


Where the Silverado distances itself from past Chevy trucks is in its cabin. The seats are thickly padded and impressively comfortable—often a drawback with pickups both past and present—which makes long-distance trips a possibility. Passenger space is also ample, with increased leg-room in the rear seats of trucks with extended cabs. Controls are thoughtfully assigned in the center stack or on either side of the steering wheel. The Silverado also boasts numerous cubbies and cup-holders, as well as USB ports to charge mobile devices. The updated layout and materials from several model years back are still existent in 2016, and are even enhanced with soft-rubber overlays. Depending on trim level, the Silverado also comes with optional features like ventilated bucket seats, keyless entry, a wireless charging station, satellite radio, and more.


Overall ride quality is, frankly, the best we’ve experienced inside a pickup truck. With the newest Silverado 1500, Chevy stiffened up its front suspension and added leaf springs to improve handling and reduce cabin sway and frame reverberation. Most impressive of all is the absence of cabin noise. The Silverado seems to be as insulated as the best SUVs in the market; even at highway speeds, wind and road noise is kept to a minimum, and that’s thanks in large part to the inclusion of a V6 as opposed to the V8 of older models.

An important tech update to the 2016 Chevy Silverado is the MyLink infotainment system. Deservedly lauded for being one of the best systems on the market, MyLink for this year’s version of Chevy trucks is fitted with a faster processor to make navigation speedier for users. The infotainment system revolves around a 7-inch touchscreen—upper trim levels of the Silverado can be equipped with an 8-inch screen—that plays well with smartphone apps as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. With upgraded text-message alerts, OnStar, natural-language voice recognition, Siri Eyes Free, and 4G LTE hotspot capability, the Silverado is decked to the max in modern, driver-assist technology. MyLink continues to be a favorite at Dimmitt Chevrolet, especially because of its compatibility with a wide range of devices.

The addition of StabiliTrak and Trailer Sway Control as a standard feature also helps the Silverado stand apart from others in its class. Other optional safety features within the Enhanced Driver Alert package include rearview cameras, IntelliBeam headlights, lane-keep assistance, hill start assistance, lane-departure warning system, and a unique Safety Alert Seat that vibrates to warn the driver of incoming dangers.

It’s thoughtful touches like these that make this Chevy’s best Silverado 1500 yet.

A New Base Engine for Chevy Trucks?


Trucks are made for one thing: to lug things around. So when Chevy announced standard Silverado trims would come equipped with a V6 rather than the typical V8, we were hesitant to embrace the change. We were wrong.


The newest lineup of Silverados comes with three engine options.

The base 4.3L V6 engine offers more than enough power (285-horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque) to meet the needs of everyday drivers. It is mated to a six-speed transmission—we found this to shift as fluidly as most cars—and either RWD or AWD. It has a payload capacity of just under 2000 pounds and towing capacity of 7600 pounds, depending on cab style. The V6 also offers a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg combined in RWD, while AWD’s rating drops just slightly to a respectable 19 mpg combined. Also standard with the engine is EcoTec3 technology (variable valve timing, direct fuel injection, and Displacement on Demand, which saves fuel by entering a four-cylinder state).

The mid-level V8 engine is standard on Silverado LTZ and High Country trims, and optional on other models. At 5.3-liters, this V8 produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft torque, allowing the Silverado to haul 2260 pounds and tow up to 11,100 pounds with a Max Trailering package. It is matched with a six-speed transmission or optional eight-speed, which is new to mid-tier Silverado trims. The eight-speed taps into the V8’s power better to increase payload and towing capability, while also providing fuel economy in the range of 18 mpg/17 mpg combined in 2WD and 4WD, respectively. The six-speed uses a tad less gas, at 19 mpg/18 mpg combined fuel economy.

At the end of the line is the robust, 6.2L V8 engine. Available on the LTZ and High Country, this V8 makes 420 hp and 460 pounds-foot of torque, allowing it to tow up to 12,000 pounds with the Max Trailering package. It can also haul payloads in the neighborhood of 2200 pounds. The upper-level V8 is paired with the new eight-speed transmission, which offers better torque delivery and faster acceleration due to a Corvette-derived gearbox. Chevy trucks with a 6.2 V8 will come with fuel efficiency ratings of 17 mpg in both 4WD and 2WD.

Pick Up a Chevy Silverado from Dimmitt Chevrolet


Although the Chevy Volt might draw all the attention from millennials and the Chevy Cruze continues to be a top-seller at our Chevrolet dealership in Clearwater, we’re certainly impressed with the 2016 Silverado 1500. With modern features, a new transmission and engine options, and the most comfortable interior of any heavy pickup we’ve seen, the full-size Silverado is a masterpiece if we do say so ourselves.

Come test drive one of our favorite Chevy trucks! Contact us at 888-867-1203 to make an appointment, or visit our Clearwater used car dealership at 25485 US Highway 19 North. In addition to our inventory of 2016 Silverado 1500s, we also carry a great number of new Chevrolet vehicles and certified pre-owned cars, and provide exceptional Chevy specials to qualified buyers. Don’t wait! Visit Dimmitt Chevrolet for one of the best pickup truck selections in the Tampa Bay area.

Sources:
http://www.caranddriver.com/chevrolet/silverado-1500
http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/chevrolet_silverado-1500_2016
http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/silverado-1500/2016/review/
http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2016-chevrolet-silverado-first-review-new-look-new-transmission/2000012512/
http://www.topspeed.com/trucks/truck-reviews/chevrolet/2016-chevrolet-silverado-ar171299.html

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