The 2007 Chevy Silverado is a complete redesign,
and is built on a stiffer chassis. The 2007 Silverado also features an all-new
interior that can be outfitted in a variety of ways. The new styling is bold yet
still conservative. The main reason the new Silverado looks bolder is that it's
three inches wider in front and an inch wider in the rear than the previous
generation. The older-generation trucks will continue to be sold as
the 2007 Silverado Classic. The new Silverado is available in a range of body
styles with a wide variety of engines, drive trains and suspensions designed to
meet every need. The truck's major changes include exterior restyling, vastly
improved interior quality, larger cabins, higher maximum towing and payload
capacities and improved gas mileage. The Silverado comes in regular,
extended and Crew Cab body styles and offers short, standard and long cargo box
lengths; there are eight powertrain combinations, five suspension packages and
three trim levels.
Silverado Trims
The 2007 Chevy Silverado is available in several
trim levels: WT, LT and LTZ, plus an LS version in standard cab, extended cab
and crew cab body styles. Extended cab and crew cab models have back seats
and windows in the side doors that power down. The crew cab has four
front-hinged doors. The extended cab has rear access doors that are hinged
at the rear but that open to 170 degrees to provide full access to the rear
seating area.
The WT is a basic work truck that comes with a
driver information center, AM/FM stereo, 40/20/40 split-bench and vinyl-covered
front seat, dual glove boxes, two auxiliary power outlets, tire pressure
monitoring system, one year on OnStar service and a four-speed automatic
transmission.
The LT adds a cloth-covered front seat with
lockable storage under the seat, a CD player and MP3 compatibility, power
windows/locks/mirrors, remote keyless entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror with
compass and outside temperature displays, 17-inch chrome-styled steel wheels and
power folding and heated exterior mirrors.
The LTZ adds heavy-duty trailering equipment, an
automatic locking rear differential, body-colored bumpers, reclining and heated
leather front seats with 12-way power, an in-dash six-CD changer with Bose
speakers, turn signal indicators in the exterior rearview mirrors and heated
windshield washers.
Powertrain and Handling for 2007
The powertrain on the 2007 Silverado is similar to
previous years. There is a 4.3-liter V-6 and 4.8-, 5.3- and 6.0-liter V-8
engines paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. The 5.3-liter engine
includes fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation technology and is flexible; it is capable
of running on E85 ethanol and/or gasoline. The 6.0-liter grants the maximum
towing capacity of 10,500 pounds. This capability also requires one of
five suspension choices called NHT. The other four suspensions are for a smooth
ride, enhanced trailer towing and handling, off-road capability and street
performance. Two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are available in all
three body styles. Coil springs have replaced torsion bars in the front
suspension, and the recirculating-ball steering has given way to the lighter,
simpler and more precise rack-and-pinion design. The suspension does a good job
of absorbing shock from rough roads. The truck also has a new rear axle design
with shocks absorbers mounted outboard and more upright for better dynamic
control.
Inside the Silverado
A higher quality interior outfits the 2007
Silverado, especially in the LTZ trim level. The mouse-fur ceiling liner
has been replaced by classier, woven fabric. The WT and LT trim levels share an
altogether different but also improved interior design. The cabin is more
driver oriented, and includes two glove boxes in the dashboard, and a
40/20/40-split front bench seat with the center section of the seat back folding
down to form a wide arm rest with lots of storage capacity. The LTZ interior
includes bucket seats with a permanent center console with 20 liters of storage
capacity. The center stack also puts ventilation and audio controls within easy
site and reach of the front seat passenger. Extended cabs feature stadium-style
seating with an elevated view for those sitting in the second row. Both the
extended cab and crew cab versions offer plenty of rear legroom. In
addition to added front-seat legroom, headroom and hip room, Chevy made the 2007
interiors seem roomier by moving the dashboards down and forward a few inches. The rear seats are more supportive and offer more legroom in both extended and
Crew Cabs.
Chevy Silverado Exterior
The new Silverado now has more conventional stacked
headlights flanking an enormous grille, with the large Chevy bowtie set against
it. The front bumper incorporates rectangular fog lamps. The windshield is
more swept back, yet the nose is taller and more squared off. The aerodynamics
are better, thus the improved fuel economy and provides for a quieter cabin. GM claims
that the Silverado and GMC Sierra are the first full-size trucks to offer both
300 horsepower and 20 miles per gallon on the highway. The new design
gives the 2007 Chevy Silverado a taller and stronger appearance than the
previous generation; it is three inches wider in front and an inch wider in
the rear. The hood has a wide power dome. Bulging front fenders wrap over the
front wheels and incorporate the headlamps within their forward sweep. The rear
of the truck features stacked tail lamps on either side of a tall tailgate that
has a sculpted center section that mimics and inverts the shape of the fender
flares. The LT has chrome bumpers and the LTZ's are body-colored. Wheels range
from 17 to 20 inches in diameter. The cargo bed lengths are 5 feet 8
inches, 6 feet 6 inches and 8 feet. Not all lengths are available with all cab
styles and powertrains, though.
Safety
The 2007 Silverado comes with OnStar, dual front
airbags, anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring system, front seat belt
pretensioners, and antilock brakes. The StabiliTrak electronic stability
system is standard on Crew Cabs and optional on extended cabs but not available
on regular cabs. Side curtain airbags and Ultrasonic rear parking assist
are optional for all three body styles.
With its new for 2007 design, the Chevy Silverado
has improved in just about every aspect possible. From better cabin space,
to better fuel economy, more amenities, and a more stylish design, the Silverado
is an impressive truck. The new Silverado offers a nice ride and taut
handling and it was designed to continue its reputation among owners as the
"strongest, most dependable and longest lasting truck on the road." The
Chevy Silverado 1500 is available in a wide variety of trims, cabs, bed lengths
and powertrains. The Silverado gets an estimated fuel range of 20 mpg Hwy,
and 16 mpg City.