Road Test Review: 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LTZ 6.2-Liter V-8
Words By Thom Blackett, Photos by Thom Blackett, General Motors
Let’s cut to the chase: With a manufacturer in bankruptcy, the idea of buying a Chevrolet Silverado (or any GM model, for that matter) might not fill you with warm fuzzies. Government-guaranteed warranties make the situation better, but they may not be incentive enough to direct a big part of your monthly income toward a new Chevy truck.
Of course, shoppers with that mindset will miss out on what is possibly the best Silverado ever built and, thanks to 2009’s powertrain upgrades, the most powerful light-duty truck on the market. It has a newly available 403-horsepower V-8 with 417 pounds-feet of torque that up until now was only available in the top-level GMC Sierra Denali. But best-in-class power doesn’t always mean best-in-class capability, nor does it mean the Silverado’s legacy eight-cylinder motors are to be considered obsolete. They’re not, especially now that GM offers a new six-speed transmission for the 6.2-, 6.0- and 5.3-liter V-8s. Buyers will have to decide if the 6.2’s extra power is what they need most, though, and extra power alone may not be enough to win many of those battles.
To find out, we tested a four-wheel-drive 2009 Chevrolet Silverado crew cab LTZ decked out with 20-inch chrome wheels, a power sunroof, navigation, the 403-hp V-8 and an assortment of other accoutrements that brought the sticker price up to $46,825. There’s no denying that’s a lot of money, but budget-conscious buyers can take comfort in knowing that a no-frills Silverado starts at about $20,000.
New for 2009
The Silverado was overhauled for the 2007 model year, so visual changes for 2009 are relatively minor. Eye-catching updates include new 18- and 20-inch chrome wheels and two new colors: Black Granite Metallic and Imperial Blue Metallic. There’s also Bluetooth connectivity, a new rearview camera and route-guidance features delivered via OnStar’s Turn-by-Turn navigation system and XM Satellite Radio’s NavTraffic.
Those enhancements are sure to please a number of truck shoppers, but more significant are the additions of a six-speed automatic transmission and a Vortec 6.2-liter V-8, an engine that until now has been reserved for trucks such as the GMC Sierra Denali and Cadillac Escalade EXT. The small-block is available in Silverado crew cab variants, while the six-cog gearbox can be had with either the 6.2-liter or less powerful 5.3- and 6.0-liter V-8s.
Powertrain Performance
With 403 hp and 417 pounds-feet of stump-pulling torque, the Silverado’s 6.2-liter V-8 gives Bowtie drivers a clear advantage in the light-duty class, outranking not only the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan, but also thoroughly redesigned versions of the Hemi-powered Dodge Ram and the Ford F-150. Even Ford’s new 6.2-liter “Boss” V-8 is expected to push “just” 400 horses and 400 pounds-feet of torque, meaning bankruptcy concerns or not, Chevy wins the award for Most Grunt Under the Hood.
Unfortunately, those impressive figures don’t translate to the highest payload and towing capacities in the bunch, and for many truck buyers, capability outranks raw power. With the 6.2-liter V-8, the 2009 Chevy Silverado offers a maximum tow rating of 10,700 pounds (2WD, 3.73 rear axle) and a payload that tops out at 1,909 pounds (2WD, 3.73 rear axle). In comparison, the 2009 Ford F-150, with its 320-hp, 5.4-liter V-8 and new six-speed automatic tranny, hits the worksite with an 11,300-pound tow capacity and 3,030-pound payload. The Toyota Tundra, when equipped with a six-speed gearbox and 5.7-liter V-8 generating 401 pounds-feet of torque, tows up to 10,800 pounds and delivers a 1,990-pound payload. Thanks to the Nissan Titan’s 9,500-pound tow capacity and the revamped Dodge Ram’s 1,850-pound payload limit, however, the Silverado manages to land in the middle of the pack.
If those hard facts don’t endear shoppers to the Chevy, a tap of the accelerator just might. The 6.2-liter V-8 ponies up plenty of giddyup, regardless of whether the truck is at a standstill or lumbering down the highway at 75 mph. There’s plenty of power delivered across the rev range, and for those anxious to replace costly 20-inch tires, the Silverado will lay a thick patch of rubber with little provocation. If it’s not obvious, let’s just say that we enjoyed our time exploiting the 6.2-liter engine’s generous power offering (though we didn’t love the resulting 12.1 mpg quite so much).
Unfortunately, the six-speed automatic left us less impressed. That’s surprising, because we looked favorably upon this unit when it was used in other vehicles (Sierra Denali, Chevrolet Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade). This experience was marred by clumsy transitions from 1st to 2nd gear at slow speeds, and abrupt shifts under heavy acceleration. This might not have been an issue a few years back, but with the availability of smooth-shifting transmissions like the F-150’s new six-speed automatic, it’s one today’s buyers should consider.
Ride & Handling
Despite being a four-wheel-drive truck, our Silverado LTZ tester was outfitted with 20-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle 275/55R20 tires that, not surprisingly, were quick to spin instead of grip during our rendezvous with a few mud pits. Drivers who venture off the beaten path or live in areas with inclement weather will want to go with more aggressive treads. On the pavement in Southern California, the Silverado delivered lots of body roll, and while the steering offered a decent level of heft, it didn’t provide the slightest smidge of road feel. Better response and more communication between the wheel and road would be nice, though those traits aren’t terribly commonplace in the world of pickups. A request for Chevy to dial down the turning radius, however, does seem well within reason.
In terms of unloaded ride quality, the Silverado can’t match the coil-sprung Dodge Ram, but overall the experience could be classified as compliant and composed. As with most full-size, four-wheel-drive pickups, we expected a bothersome level of bounce as the unloaded and stiffly sprung rear end hopped over highway expansion joints. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the Silverado exhibited little of this annoying characteristic. That’s likely due to the Silverado’s new-for-2009 hydraulic body mounts that sit between the cab and frame under the C-pillar. They dramatically cut the amount of beaming when the truck is empty.
Comfort & Convenience
With a sticker price of nearly $47,000 and competition including the new Ford F-150 Platinum, Chevy has to deliver the goods with its Silverado LTZ. Our tester, which benefited from a number of options, like the LTZ Plus Package, combined plenty of must-have features with an interior marked by highs and lows.
The cabin showcased an attractive design graced with materials that represented a huge improvement over previous generations. These included a mesh material on the headliner and visors, matching colors and grains on the pillars, soft-touch windowsills and padded armrests, and rubber grips on the primary controls. Serving to offset these niceties was a bounty of hard plastic in areas that could use a little padding, plus rough, unfinished edges on bits and pieces decorating the doors and center console. Hard plastics have their place in a dirty work truck that needs to be wiped clean from time to time, but the game changes when the MSRP is roughly equivalent to average annual income in the U.S.
For buyers willing and able to shell out that kind of coin, the Silverado LTZ will reward them with leather-clad front buckets that are great for long drives or coddling drivers on bumpy trails. These wide, soft, comfortable seats include multiple power adjustments, as well as heat with three settings and a driver-side memory function.
Drivers will also benefit from an abundance of legroom and headroom. Getting in can be a bit of a hassle because of the truck’s height, but the doors open wide, and there are grab handles for everyone except the driver. Move to the rear seat, and you’ll find accommodations that aren’t exactly best-in-class. The bench offers very soft padding, but thigh support is lacking, the backrest is too upright, the head restraints don’t rise high enough, and legroom is tight -- even with a 5-foot, 8-inch driver behind the wheel. Ford’s redesigned F-150 SuperCrew is considerably more spacious.
If Chevy doesn’t have the lock on interior space, it fares only marginally better in terms of storage provisions. The split rear seat folds up to create room for larger objects, whereas smaller items can be housed in front-door and seatback pockets, or in the center console. That large covered box houses a power outlet, yet you won’t find any USB or MP3 jacks in there. For the latter, you’ll need to head to the radio face, which on trucks like ours is part of the touch-screen, in-dash navigation/Bose audio system. Our test truck was devoid of a handy rearview camera (one is available as an option, though), and it had small audio buttons that would be difficult to use while wearing work gloves. Those faults were somewhat offset, though, by the inclusion of current traffic information and steering-wheel-mounted controls. Larger buttons are provided for the climate control’s temperature settings.
The Silverado also deserves credit for its low interior noise levels, with the exception of the 6.2-liter V-8’s rumble. Thankfully, the exhaust has been tuned to offer a pleasant note -- one we became particularly fond of. Visibility is also admirable due to the huge side mirrors, small head restraints in back, ample side glass and fairly narrow side pillars. Backing up can be a bit of a guessing game, something that the optional new rearview camera has been designed to address.
Silverado in the Market
This is the best light-duty Chevy truck we’ve driven. Our 2009 Silverado crew cab LTZ delivered gobs of power, a competitive six-speed transmission, a relatively quiet and comfortable ride for front-seat occupants, and respectable towing and payload ratings. And don’t forget about the 5 year / 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Unfortunately, if you need to get your truck serviced, you may just find that the dealer you bought the truck from or the one around the corner from your house has disappeared, given GM is planning to close 40 percent of its 6,000 dealerships by October 2010 -- and that’s just one obstacle facing the Silverado. Its respectable tow rating is nonetheless outmatched by the less powerful F-150 and Tundra, and the Chevy lacks innovative features like Dodge’s Ram Box and Ford’s bed steps. There’s also a dearth of refinement considering the truck’s $46,825 as-tested price. To top things off, the aging, 317-hp Titan offers a greater payload capacity.
The hard truth is that despite being the best Chevy, the 2009 Silverado just isn’t the best truck.
Specifications
Test vehicle: 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD Crew Cab LTZ
Price as tested: $46,825, including $975 destination charge, $190 LTZ Plus Package; $2,250 navigation system, $1,045 20-inch chrome-clad wheels, $1,000 Vortec 6.2-liter V-8, $995 power sunroof, $250 power-sliding rear window, $200 trailer brake controller and $195 cargo management system.
Engine: 6.2-liter V-8
Horsepower: 403 at 5,700 rpm
Torque: 417 pounds-feet at 4,300 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Final drive ratio: 3.73
EPA fuel economy: 12/19 mpg city/highway
PickupTrucks.com’s observed fuel economy: 12.1 mpg
Ground clearance: 9.0 inches
Payload capacity: 1,714 pounds
Towing capacity: 10,400 pounds
Also Consider: Dodge Ram, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra
Comments
Now need to work on Front and side Crash rating. Ford and Tundra are better. Also Dodge and Nissan are POOR!!! But the Silverado is a good Truck.. Not being Negative, just want to be safe in my Truck thats all..
Well, it may not have the best tow ratings or refinement, but it is a nice looking truck (although the red color isn't for me :-D). For me as a person that drives a chevy, I'm not going to care that Ford has a higher tow rating, or a bigger payload. I pull a nearly 8,000 lb travel trailer that's 28ft long, which is pretty good size I think, so just so long as the truck I have can pull it, I'm satisfied (although I use a 2500 to pull mine, I'm a diesel guy :-D). But I guess not everybody has those brand loyalties (one good reason for me is that I'm related to a retired GM employee, so I get a discount). Just my opinion.....
Why would you buy this truck with a 6.2 if it doesn't give you anymore real world performance. It's a great truck if you want to burn gas and burn tires.
Good review although I slightly disagree. I've driven Chevy, Ford and Toyota trucks recently and I have to say that today for my money, the best truck for driving, convenience, ride, mpg and operations is the Chevy. All the big trucks have their advantages and disadvantages but I would not bet against the Silverado. It is an excellent truck. I would also take slight exception to the characterization that to buy a truck from GM right now carries significant risk on warranties and service. You are right about a shrinking dealer base (as you will find with both Ford and Chrysler. Toyota already has about 1/6th of the dealer base of GM), but if you read the stories on GM's bankruptcy you will see that they are using the chapter 11 process to remedy some of the severe problems that have beset the company for some time. They hope to emerge in 60 days (Chrysler just emerged after 30) as a company that will have more resources to dedicate to their trucks than ever and a financial situation that will give them the wherewithal to do it. Trucks are core to GM's business for sure. While yes there is some risk, there is also promise of an improved company already making by your own story the best truck they have ever made and in a position to have real advantage over their competitors.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/16/toyota-tundra-fails-to-score-five-stars-in-nhtsa-frontal-crash-t/
Ryan please do your homework before you post something and end up getting called out by other guys who know what they are talking about. The Tundra has a 4 star rating which the link and article will show. I'm sure it has something to do with the Tundra not having a fully boxed frame, which the Ford, Chevy, GMC and Dodge do. Also if you've driven a new Tundra the 4 star rating is right there on the window sticker.
what do you taking the ford have hard time to pull 6500p trailer imagine a 10,000 p maybe ford need to go down whit numbers and not looking stupid if you pull a trailer ,the problems whit ford ,you pull a trailer and the truck start to jerk every time you hit a small bum we thing is because that new system..
wow y just read the 2008 shootout,and the 6,2 did good,and the ford whit 11.300 p have problem whit 6500,wow ,what is your point .about the 6,2,,
pickup trucks.com, will be satisfied when, G.M. is totally out of the picture. Nothing will ever satisfy,pickup truck .com,till the Japenees trucks rule. Just gtot finished tlking to a guy at the local gas station,filling up their Topyota tundra,and Yamaha water craft. I asked him why living in Canada was he buying FOREIGN PODUCTS. Ya,ya,ya. Yes all the Canadian ,and the American web sites say ,the Japenese trucks are more realiable then the U.S.A trucks. Iasked him,did he ever own an American built truck,he answered no.
Pick up truck.com in my opinion is Japenees biast.
Have friends with tundras,bellieve you me,they are no better then Ford G.M, or Chrisler,
gouda
This note is aimed at what "Gouda" said in the previous post. If you live in Canada all of the auto makers including Ford, Chev, and Dodge are "foreign" owned companies ie. USA. Canada doesn't have an automotive company of it's own. I hear the same dumb logic applied to motorcycles. Why buy foreign (Jap scrap) when you can buy a Harley. Guess what ... Harley Davidson is a foreign company too (if you live in Canada).
How many people ever tow over 10,000 lbs with a half-ton anyway? I wouldn't say the Silverado isn't the best truck because it cannot beat the Tundra and F-150 in towing and hauling.
I like Chevy's way of building trucks: they always like to be conservative with things, and these trucks also have good ownership costs (based on my own experiences) because of it. Choosing which truck is the best can depend on a lot of things in my opinion, and I wouldn't call this truck a loser because it can't beat every other truck in its class in every category.
@Kevin I did my homework and the Chevy, GMC, Dodge and Nissan are very POOR. Also the Pickuptruck.com show this. Ford is rated 5 stars and the NHST even prove it. Now as the Front for Dodge is Good, but Chevy and GMC its Acceptable...The Fully Box doesn't have anything to do with it!! LOL As far for Tundra its safer than Chevy, GMC and Dodge. Also Guess this the Ram Beat the Chevy Ford and Tundra in 4x4 model. Read it on that in Edmunds.com.......... LOL
Its not a bad truck. its just not as good as the rest. the ford is the better truck. the best ride,room,looks,towing. whats not to like. although i wish it did a litttle better in the mpg department.
Well what do you know a negative review of a GM product. 1st the tundra is ugly as all get out and they pour so much money into advertising that it's assinine. Ford just looks boxier every time. They are going back to styling like my dads 78 f100. It's 2009. Plus Ford refuses to put out 4.4l diesel so they can milk the faithful for Super Duties. Pay up suckers!
Best looking rigs on the road in order
Gmc Sierra
Dodge Ram
Silverado
Tacoma(Only toy worth looking at)
Couple corrections Mike:
i) 6.2L was available in the past with max tow wasn't it? Oh wait this is only a 09.... OK maybe then you are correct. I thought perhaps it wa a '10. My bad.
ii) Payload comments. The comments re Fords high payload rating do not carry through to SCrew. In fact a F150 equiped the same as this Chevy would have a payload of 800 - 1000lbs LESS than the Chevy. In reality this would impact real world towing as well give the Ford could therby handle than much less tounge weight.
Oh and another thing, The 403 hp is with the recommended premium fuel, correct? Fords conservative #s are based on reg fuel and are preliminary. If anything it will have more than you expect... Basic marketing perhaps? I guess we wait and see.
I understand on reg fuel the 6.2s hp is @ 384?
Just in from Drudge...
Obama's new GM Chairman declares: 'I don't know anything about cars'...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aQ._YJhEj_Jo
As for not carrying through to the supercrew, Dbossman on another forum has posted an email he got from a Ford employee that gave estimated payloads for the competition.
------------------------------
Payloads on F150 trucks can range from 875 lbs. to 3030 lbs. This is consistent with our competition where GM ranges from 874 lbs.* to 1909 lbs., Toyota from 875 lbs.* to 1990 lbs., and Dodge from 790 lbs.* to 1910 lbs.
Thus, in a 157" wheelbase 5.4L 4x4 truck, payload can range from 875 lbs. to 1430 lbs.
The competition does not offer 157" wheelbase vehicles. However, in the 145" crew cab variant of a 5.4 4x4, payloads with standard equipment are comparable to Toyota and better than Chevy and Dodge:
Ford - 1560 lbs.
Toyota - 1495 lbs. to 1585 lbs. (depending on model selected)
Chevy - 1336 lbs.
Dodge - 1330 lbs. to 1430 lbs. (depending on model selected)
Given similar option weights, which would be expected, the competition would have similar payloads. A Silverado Crew Cab 4x4 with maximum options shows a 640 lb payload based on the weight calculator on their website. However, we have no way to verify that this is what would be shown on their Tread Act Label.
*minimum payloads based on F150 option weight content for competitor models due to unavailability of competitor OEM data.
The competition does not offer 157" wheelbase vehicles. However, in the 145" crew cab variant of a 5.4 4x4, payloads with standard equipment are comparable to Toyota and better than Chevy and Dodge:
Ford - 1560 lbs.
Toyota - 1495 lbs. to 1585 lbs. (depending on model selected)
Chevy - 1336 lbs.
Dodge - 1330 lbs. to 1430 lbs. (depending on model selected)
Given similar option weights, which would be expected, the competition would have similar payloads. A Silverado Crew Cab 4x4 with maximum options shows a 640 lb payload based on the weight calculator on their website. However, we have no way to verify that this is what would be shown on their Tread Act Label.
*minimum payloads based on F150 option weight content for competitor models due to unavailability of competitor OEM data.
Fix the 1980's front end on it and it would be a good looking truck, they should stick the front end from the avalanch on it.
POS, Ford owns, these arent good work trucks, my 1995 F-150 can carry more weight than that 1900 pound POs
Just to clear up something about the contents of the review:
Do not blame or criticize Mike or Pickuptrucks.com for the review. It was done by Thom Blackett, who is a freelance automotive journalist. He doesn't have anything to do with PUTC.com personally -- his review is available to any sites that want it.
@ Kevin
The Tundra is a safer truck than the Chevy. It is the first pickup ever to receive the IIHS top safety pick (2008) and the IIHS is a more stringent, realistic test than the NHTSA (who even admitted this themselves). For 2009 the Tundra, F-150, and Ridgeline made the list. As for your "homework" comment - back to school Kevin...
Folks, there isn't a "bad" truck on the market - it's all a matter of preference. All the manufacturing know-how is out there for anyone to utilize; domestics don't have a lock on truck building. They never did. Give the specs to Hyundai and they could make a truck that would equal any of the others in capability. Toyota makes a good truck. Is it the best? No. I'd go with the F-150 on that but this constant domestic vs. foreign thing is beyond old. It's a global market folks and a truck is a truck - buy the one that will handle your needs.
@ ANON, I agree with you!! Thanks for Sharing... My point is all Truck are Good, You buy what you like and fit your needs... They will all improve over the YEARS... No Hard Feeling Kevin....
@ Jeff, It would be a Killer with that Avalanch Front End.. Why did they Copy the Nissan Side Body Style? It just hasn't grown in me Yet. I love my 99 new body style then this one..But we all have different Tastes!!! Hopfully by 2012 it will change up from Ground up....Needs a better Turn by Turn ratio too. Like the Tundra 144 turn. Have the Tahoe Front enf and Turn by turn ratio!!!
This is a great looking pick up truck - i like the newest Silverado model line! It has also good V8 engine option to choose, but the only problem is, that the don't have a diesel...
@Anon and Ryan, um how can you guys say that Kevin needs to go back to school when he posted a link that clearly backs what he said and you two are just pulling stuff out of thin air with no proof of any of it. Ryan are you writing in some code because I have no idea what you are talking about at all. When it comes to safety the frame has everything to do with it and it even said that in the article Kevin linked to which by what you said in your next comment you must not have even read it. If the IIHS was a much better test than why do they put the results from the NHTSA on the window sticker which shows one less star on all aspects than the Silverado and F-150 have and BTW both have fully boxed frames. There is such a thing as a bad truck and it IS the Tundra due to them cutting corners on important equipment. Not saying that the Tundra is a horrible truck or that it is necessarily unsafe, just don’t go on about this or that when you don’t have any proof of what you are saying. Their suspension components are a lot smaller and weaker than the F-150s and I have verified this by looking under my 06 F-150 and under a new Tundra and it is very true and scary, I welcome you to check it out for yourself. Teacher my homework is done can I go out and play now?
@ Daniel, Anon and Ryan. Man it's almost as if you read my mind Daniel, thanks for your post. I'm glad some one out there can click on a link and actually read it. Anon and Ryan if you guys can show me some proof about what ya'll are saying then I will read it. These posting areas are all about arguing facts, which I have provided and you have not. Well gotta go the teacher just called us in from recess, back to hittin the books!
@ Daniel,
So now we're going the "qualify your remarks" route...
Ryan posted a link that backed up what he said. You're right. Problem was, he looked no further into the matter, posted the link, and made his comments as if they were the 11th commandment. Case closed, done deal. The NHTSA gave it 4 stars so it's not safe. So he cites one source, closes the book, and accuses someone else of not doing their homework. Now, I've been out of school for some time but I can say that I don't recall ever being able to cite one single source on any paper I wrote and have that fly with a teacher. I digress. I didn't provide a link to my comments because I trust we're all adults and my logic says that if an individual has the know-how to locate an old autoblog post then they have the capability to go straight to the IIHS website to confirm what I've said. They should also have the capability to Google the differences between the two tests (NHTSA and IIHS) and verify which is in fact the tougher or more realistic test. I stand behind my comment that the Tundra is safer than the Silverado. For what it's worth I also think the Silverado is a fantastic truck. Now, you want to have comments qualified? You cite the Tundra as being a bad truck because they cut corners on important equipment. What equipment? Is this your opinion or a fact resulting from some test somewhere? I've read just about every review from every major publication for the Tundra and can't find a single one that says "the Tundra is just a bad truck". And as for your comment:
"Not saying that the Tundra is a horrible truck or that it is necessarily unsafe, just don’t go on about this or that when you don’t have any proof of what you are saying. Their suspension components are a lot smaller and weaker than the F-150s and I have verified this by looking under my 06 F-150 and under a new Tundra and it is very true and scary"
Wow. Just wow. Really? You looked under both vehicles and definitively determined something that even a trained, seasoned mechanic could only speculate about. Every automotive reviewer out there should consult with you and those special eyes of yours if you can determine that much with just a look. Again, there are no bad trucks. Like it or not.
@ ANON & Ryan LOL You better watch out got a new SHERIFF in Town (DANIEL) Hey Daniel, you can't always believe what article say all the time. Now PickupTrucks.com showed the rating of crash saying that Ford 150 is the saftey, but Chevy, Dodge and Nissan is Acceptable. I wish who ever writing these Articles would get there STORY straight!!!
@ Anon, Ryan and Daniel. Man it's almost like I wrote your post myself Daniel, nice. It great when someone can click on a link and actually read and interpret what it says. Anon and Ryan, if you can provide any information or links refering to what you are claiming then please do so. These posting areas are about arguing facts, which I have provided and you haven't, so far. Well gotta go the teacher just called us back in from recess, back to hitting the books.
I would have to agree that "doing one's homework" is important. This is rarely done when it comes to pick-ups because most men are "brand" loyal and logic goes out the window. Consumer report ratings on the 1/2 ton 4X4's were as follows: Ford, GMC, Chev, and Toyota(Tundra) as being average. These trucks made their "recommended" list. The Dodge Ram and Nissan 1/2 tons were rated below average and did not get a consumer report recommendation. The only 2 pickups that we rated above average where the Toyota Tacoma and the Honda Ridgeline(yes...I know that most truck guys think the Ridgeline isn't a pickup!!!). I wouldn' t consider the Toyota Tundra a "bad" truck. It has it's strenghts and weaknesses as do the other 1/2 tons. Toyota had alot of "teething" problems with the Tundra when it first came out. These issues with the exception of a very flimsy tailgate have been corrected. The only truck I wouldn't buy would be the Dodge Ram. I love the looks of it but Dodge/Chrysler's quality and reliability is the poorest in the industry. This is true of virtually all of their products. ( I'll bet I'll get alot of hate mail for that comment). The biggest problem with any automotive test is that it's short term. I'd rather read about quality, reliability, durability, and residual(resale) value. The media has been a poor source for this information. I know if I was given free vehicles to drive around in I'd be relucatant to bite the hand that feeds me.
One must do their homework when it comes to buying a truck. The media in general is not a good source of information for quality, reliability, and durability. I would suspect that this is true for 2 reasons. 1 - tests/reviews are short term in nature. 2 - If I made a living driving vehicles that were given to me for free I'd be reluctant to bite the hand that feeds me. The internet is often a poor source of information as well because most men are very brand loyal and logic rarely enters the picture. One can't tell if one truck is better built than another by the size of the components. The type of metal, the way it was formed, the shape of the item all come into play in determining it's strength. I don't think the Toyota Tundra is a "bad" truck. It had quite a few "teething" problems when it first came out. The've been rectified except for a very flimsy tailgate. Consumer Report's ratings of the 1/2 ton 4x4's were as follows: Average - Ford, GMC, Chev, and Toyota(tundra). Below average - Dodge , and Nissan. The only pick-ups with above average ratings were the Totota Tacoma and Honda Ridgeline.(Yes... I know... most truck guys don't consider the Ridgeline a pickup!!). The only truck I would not buy is the Dodge Ram. I love the looks of the Dodge Ram but Dodge/Chrysler has the poorest quality and reliability ratings of any of the manufacturers. This is true for most of their product line. I bet I'll get alot of hate mail for that but it's true.
I would agree that one must do their homework when buying a vehicle. You can not tell the strength of a component by it's size. Smaller is not neccesarily weaker. The type of metal, the way the metal is formed, the shape of the component all come into play. I would not consider the Toyota Tundra a bad truck. It had "teething" problems when it first came out but most of those issues have been corrected. If you do some research into quality, reliability and durability the only truck that rates poorly is the Dodge. The Ford,GMC, Chev, and Toyota all rate farely close to each other. The challenge when doing any research is finding unbiased sources. The GMC Sierra is my favorite when it comes to looks. The 5.3 litre engine is the best compromise between performance and economy.I don't see a need for a 6.2 litre engine. If you are pulling heavy loads for long periods of time a 3/4 ton or 1 ton deisel pickup is a better choice.
1-2 upshift is with an overrunning clutch.
3.73 axle ratio means speed! 3.42 should be more than capable.
I would like to see anybody tow 10,000+ pounds with a 1/2 ton pickup. These over-inflated tow ratings are a joke.
Daniel, if you really think NHTSA is better than IIHS than you are beyond ignorant. What Ryan and Anon were talking about is the fact the new Ram, Silverado, and Titan scored very low in side impact crash test. Since you are too clueless to look up information yourself, I’ll post the link for you.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/3-big-trucks-crash-hard-in-iihs-tests/
Not to mention the Tundra, Ford, and Honda Ridgeline scored the top “Good” across the board. The Dodge, and GM did not do so well.
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/summary.aspx?class=70
So to answer your question, no Daniel you cannot go out and play, you FAILED! The only weakness here is you. The Tundra is far from a weak truck and here in the mountains of Wyoming, more and more people are going to the Tundra. Drive a Ford up the mountain and the engine pings. And since you are busy casting votes in favor of which is better, and criticizing others for not posting links please post a link showing that NHTSA is better than IIHS. Back to school now Daniel, you have a lot of learning to do.
Funny, you read this article by truck trend and they state the reason ford took first place was solely based on Fords longevity in building trucks. The Tundra out performed the F-150 in every test. So Daniel I guess the Tundra is a not as “bad” as you imply.
http://www.trucktrend.com/roadtests/pickup/163_0907_2009_ford_f150_toyota_tundra_comparison/index.html
Thanks for sharing but i like 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, is well styled with sleeker and strong looking body. Let's check out it's features such as 18/ 20 inch chrome clad wheel designs, XM Satellite Radio with new Nav Traffic feature, Bluetooth phone connectivity and OnStar 8.0 with Turn-by-Turn navigation and Destination Download. What i like is they offer comfortable ride on all road types and offers most confident turns in comparison to any other full size pick up vehicle and provides basic safety features like antilock brakes, and StabiliTrak. For more details refer http://www.automotivecraze.com/2009-chevrolet-silverado1500-review/
ok first some of u people r stupid
> Ford f150 does not pull 11,300 go to there website and look up the REAL towing #s and the break down from the different #s of trucks and none of them go over 10,650 so ford proves their lying for u and i've owned fords driven fords have friends with fords yes they are good trucks BUT while they last they cant stay out of the shop and i have diven from the weigh station in a ford and chevy with around the same lbs and the ford seems to struggle up hills and has a harder time shifting and it was a 2009 f150 super poopy with only wait get this 8000lbs omg ur saying its not true but its fact but dont get me wrong i dont hate fords as much as i sound
> next the tundra is a joke thats it its ugly slow and just sucks my sister owns one its been in the shop 6 times in the last year
> dodge ram yes there pretty strong but dont let it get passed 100000 miles or it will die on u to many problems to type
> the chevy is and always will be the strongest truck around and yes u r gonna say well chevy aint gonna be no more cause there going out of business well for starts i dont blame them for going to the gov. i mean its there falt and the its the falt of people buying craping imports well next u will say imports r mobile reliable WRONG american products r just at strong my dad had a bel air a long time ago last 300000 mile no problems my friend has a astro 450000 miles still running (astros strongest vans ever) my papa has a silverado 1500 1992 249000 still going i have 2 chevys a 98 and 08 the 98 has 350000 and the 08 has 92000 havent had any problems
fact is not just chevy but most american trucks are better but as for all trucks in comparison chevy winns THEY ARE THE LONGEST LASTING TRUCKS
@Brian K: Check Ford's website again. 145-inch Reg Cab w/5.4L, 163-inch SuperCab w/5.4L and 145-inch & 157-inch SuperCrew w/5.4L are all rated to tow up to 11,300 lbs with the HD Payload Package option.
I just bought a 2009 Chevy silverado 1500 WT regular cab with 6 1/2 bed, V-6. I've tried to find out how much weight I can pull just usilng a ball on the rear bumper. Two dealers have not been able to tell me. Does anyone know? I want to haul a 5X8 trailer with an ATV weighing 650 pounds and don't want to mount a frame hitch. Thanks
ok the problem is you cant find one with the 6.2 liter engine here in toronto , maybe i have to go to the states and find one . i love this truck one hundred percent no matter what ford, dodge and the japs say and do .
I own a '09 Silverado Z71. I LOVE it. I'm not a huge fan of Fords, but that is me. I feel they are overpriced and the interiors are cheaply made. I also think the Chevy has a more comfortable ride. Once again my opinion. I would NEVER consider sending my money across the pond for a jap ride either. I buy American. Doesn't really matter. I think this review is WAY to in depth. Most people see a car they like, test drive it, and then buy it. I can see farmers or businesses who need vehicles for SPECIFIC reasons, would actually do their homework. I think the most annoying thing about this review is how they say they LOVED to exploit the Chevy's power, but then ding them on fuel economy. Keep your foot out of it. Drive it normal and then give a GOOD report of your findings. Sorry just talking away....
Ford=trash I have a 03 silverado 2500 HD deisel. The thing is a monster. The thing never breaks. I have a 40 ft fifth wheel trailer and it's About 12500 lbs and she pulls it ip mts like it's nothing. I pass fords all the time with it. Seems like the fords are going backwards. And no I did not chip it. Chevys will always be the best!
i would like to buy something you cannot find but wished they built would be a 5.3 automatic 3:73 gears with 16 in. wheels and lt245/75-16 tires and a 1/2 truck with towing packing don't need all the bells and whistles when you pay for a truck you should have more options like in the olden times
I have friend who is a mechanic and a Ford man through and through, when I was going to purchase a new truck I asked him what he recommended. He said in a half ton the only truck to buy is the Chevy/GMC. In his words "I have to work on all of these vehicles , every brand and I know what they are made of and if you want one to last and better fuel mileage buy the Chevy, don't even think about anything else" . WOW this from a guy who owns a Ford pickup , Dodge Durango and an old Toyota, that was not the answer I expected but I beleive he is right.
Who cares what the tow rating and payload ratings are, is that really stopping anyone. If you wanna see which one hauls better hook them up and pull something, chevy offers some of the best transmissions built for towing on the market hands down. I have hauled over 15,000 lbs with my 5.3, and ya its a good load for it, but im sure the 6.2 would be a stud.
just bought a 2009 chev silverado ltz love it , my preference
my boss has a toyota full size truck 65k price tag only 2
years old and RUSTING .
I have a 2012 GMC, with the 6.2, and I must say, it's a very smooth riding and great handling and very powerful truck. And I readily disagree with this review. I tow a 5000lb travel trailer (not much at all for this truck) and if I don't stay on top of it while towing, it will easily creep past 75MPH. I had a 94' GMC Z71 prior to this one, with 150K miles on it and the only thing that went wrong with it was a burned out light bulb. GM makes a great truck and their capabilities and reliabilities’ are astonishing! I spent time in Alaska at remote radar sites and when winter time came around, the GMs were the only trucks that would run. The Fords and Dodges had to wait until the spring thaw before they would even start.
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