Kennedy: Chevy Silverado blends work and play features

photo Our Chevy Silverado test truck from Walter Jackson Chevrolet is coated in the new Graystone metallic paint. Staff Photo by Mark Kennedy

FAST FACTSModel: Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab LT (2WD)Exterior color: Graystone MetallicInterior color: Light Titanium (leather)Engine: 5.3 liter, V-8Horsepower: 315Transmission: Six-speed automaticFuel economy: 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highwayDealer: Walter Jackson Chevrolet (Ringgold, Ga.)Price (as tested): $34,795

Perennially one of the best-selling pickup trucks in the United States, the Chevrolet Silverado can be a work vehicle by day and a civilized family-hauler by night.

Our test truck this week from Walter Jackson Chevrolet in Ringgold, Ga., was coated in a new-for-2012 metallic paint color called Graystone that makes a handsome choice, especially when combined with Light Titanium colored leather seats.

Like many of today's loaded pickups, the Silverado extended cab has many of the same virtues as SUVs: A plush interior, seating for six and a commanding view of the road.

STYLING

It's a myth that people in the market for a pickup don't care about styling. The Silverado, like its competition the Ford F-150, is a tribute to macho mass. The grille of the Silverado is an expanse of chrome punctuated by the familiar Chevy bow-tie emblem.

Our test truck had attractive, 18-inch alloy wheels that came as part of an All-Star Edition option package, which also includes dual-zone air conditioning, Bluetooth and a CD player

with USB connections for your MP3 player. Standard features on the LT trim level include remote keyless entry, chrome rear bumper and rear-door access to the second-row seats.

PERFORMANCE

Our test truck came with a 5.3-liter V-8 that is the engine of choice for most Silverado buyers, according to Ryan Jackson, Internet manager and sales representative at the Walter Jackson dealership. Jackson said some families are even opting for an extended cab truck as their primary family vehicle.

The 5.3-liter V-8 makes 315 horsepower, a significant upgrade from the standard 4.8-liter V-8. On a late-afternoon test drive along Nashville Street in Ringgold, the big Silverado was a comfortable cruiser. Meanwhile, on a sprint up Interstate 75, the big truck had power to spare.

Driving position and visibility are superior in the Silverado, while leg and shoulder room are ample. A 90-day free trial of XM radio is available.

BOTTOM LINE

Your choice of pickups is largely a matter of taste and personal preference. But with sales consistently topping 25,000 units a month nationally, the Chevrolet Silverado is a safe and practical choice.

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