Being considered as some modern era pickup truck, Chevrolet Silverado actually dates back to the early 60’s when it was named the C/K Series of Chevrolet and GMC. But the nameplate Silverado was chosen from the top trim level of C/K series for the all new Chevrolet’s heavy duty pickup truck line up in 1998 as the modern substitute for the former C/K series.
Since then, nothing changed much about the Silverado. The name kept going on as powerful as the C/K series did, hunting down Ford’s F150 series in global car markets. The competition among pickup trucks as so tight and tense in North American car market but the Silverado managed to keep a second place on the podium finish of the best-selling vehicles in the North America for several consecutive years.
Chevrolet Silverado came for four distinctive generations since 1998 but the GMC Sierra came one generation earlier back in 1988. Just like the other rivals, Silverado comes in various trims levels and cab styles and also in some van forms based on the very same platform to better fit the job. Unlike the upper top level rival the Ford F150, the Silverado held on to more engine options that made this pickup truck more modular and optional to choose by the final buyer.
The engine choices for the third generation Silverado (2014-2019) included four GM EcoTec3 with displacements from 4.3L as a V6 and 5.3 and 6.2L V8s for other three engines. EcoTec3 power ratings were 285 to 355 and 420 horsepower, 305 to 383 and 460 lb.ft, respectively. One 6.0L V8 Vortec 6000 rated at 360 horsepower and 380 lb.ft was also available to complete the gasoline engine lineup. Two 6.6L V8 diesel GM Duramax engines were offered rated as 397 and 445 horsepower with 765 and 910 lb.ft torque at extremely low RPM ranges for best hauling and towing capacity while keeping the emissions low and retaining the proper mileage.
Transmission choices for the third generation Chevrolet Silverado were limited to two GM ATs. One 6L80 and 8L90 with 6 and 8 speed gearing ratios respectively. No more optional transmissions were needed as the 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain options along with the engine variety were so vast to cover all daily and logistic applications for all light, medium and heavy duty trims offered.
The fourth generation Chevrolet Silverado came all as a new truck on a new platform with two more additional engine options along the others offered with the previous generation. The totally new GM L3B 2.7L turbocharged I4 engine made its way into the Chevrolet Silverado’s lineup rated at 310 horsepower and 348 lb.ft. The new engine is not necessary the weakest link in the engine department but is the most cost effective and the most low emission one offering an acceptable performance for light duty Chevrolet Silverados. The other new engine choice is the 3.0L Duramax diesel I6 rated as 277 horsepower and 460 lb.ft as an additional diesel power plant.
Offering great in field potentials and reasonable prices there is no wonder why Chevrolet Silverado made its way to the military applications as all performance SUV like Jeeps do. When GM ceased the production of CUCV II military transport vehicles back in 2000, the LSSV (Light Service Support Vehicles) program replaced them in 2001. The military trucks of GM are built by the very famous company named AM General, the very same company that designed and produced HMMWVs for the military along it civilian versions called Hummer.
The LSSVs are powered by a single 6.6L Duramax Diesel V8 mated to two automatic 4 speed 4L80E or 5 speed Alisson 1000 transmissions.
Chevrolet Silverado started the 21st century towing tons of awards. The perfect combination of performance and price made it a reasonable vehicular choice for public. Although Silverado never reached the popularity level of Ford’s F150 but it did not let go of all the prizes on its long way of development. Just to mention a friction of the huge loads of awards bolted to the name Silverado, it is necessary to point that only in 2018, Chevrolet Silverado gained various awards such as “best Resale Value” in full size pick up segment by Kelly Blue Books. NHTSA gave Silverado 5 star overall score as a result of all the safety and crash tests done to it. SEMA show and Motor Trend magazine both chose Silverado as the “truck of the Year”. Chevrolet Silverado along its counterpart the GMC Sierra were finalists of North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year and Ward also gave it the “Best Engine Award” for the powerful GM EcoTec3 6.2L V8 engine on Chevrolet Silverado.
The Chevrolet Silverado is a fine combination of what a customer care about. A reasonable priced performance pickup truck which comes along within various engine, performance, trim level and cab setups to fulfil the job it is tasked with.