The hybrid system also includes a two-mode electronic-ratio select transmission and regenerative antilock brakes, which charge the 300-volt battery pack when the brakes are applied. Faux wood trim has its supporters and its critics, but in our eyes, it works quite well here by creating an upscale atmosphere befitting the Silverado's price of admission. These tires are specifically selected for your car to provide an optimal driving experience. Both of the larger V-8s have the capability to run on regular gasoline or E85. It is close to the Durango in length, but is wider and taller. Though its structure isn't quite as solid as the F-150's, the Silverado feels pretty much on par with the Ram. With both rows stowed, maximum cargo volume is 108.
Safety features include four-wheel antilock brakes and head-curtain side-impact airbags for all outboard seats. It can be easily folded up with one hand, without using a release handle, to provide an uninterrupted load floor. Why you would buy it: Towing, towing, towing. A power dome hood rises from the front end, alluding to the workhorse power plant beneath it. The OnStar service includes the General Motors Advanced Crash Response System, making crash data available to emergency services to potentially dispatch the appropriate life-saving personnel and equipment to crash scenes faster.
Extended cab and crew cab Silverados now come with the option of a rearview camera system regardless of whether the truck has a nav system -- the display is on the rearview mirror. It's a design that will age well, even if it's a little conservative for some buyers today. . But if January and February sales figures are any indication, neither the Ram nor the F-150 will have quite what it takes to unseat the Silverado and Sierra combination. The Goodyear tires mounted on the 20s did offer reasonable traction.
Locked into four-wheel-drive a flexible automatic all-wheel-drive-style mode is available here, unlike the F-150 , the Silverado shrugged off any obstacles on our slippery off road course. Silverado buyers who check the box for OnStar 8. For the second mode, which takes over primarily at highway speeds, the Hybrid operates on gas power assisted by the electric motor. Fortunately, drivers will have plenty of opportunities to talk to other pickup drivers at gas stations as this most powerful Silverado is rated at a painful 12 mpg around town. Optional on two-wheel-drive Tahoes and standard on four-wheel-drive versions is a 5.
Daytime Running Lamps, with automatic exterior lamp control Air bags, frontal, driver and right-front passenger with. Tire Pressure Monitoring System does not apply to spare tire. Trailering The maximum trailering package combines a heavy-duty 9. Two rows of seats hold up to six occupants, with a third row increasing total seating capacity to nine. The V8 is as smooth as we've come to expect from General Motors; if there's one thing the Detroit automaker knows how to do, it's create a smooth and powerful V8. In addition, the V8 engine comes equipped with an Active Fuel Management system, which shuts down four of the engine's eight cylinders when they're not required to further improve fuel economy.
On the lower end of the Silverado family, a vehicle stability enhancement system is now standard on all models except those equipped with the 4. In the second mode, used primarily at highway speeds, the electric motor assists the gas engine to help conserve fuel. Materials generally best the F-150 by a wide margin, though a hard upper dash means the Silverado doesn't quite match the Ram for overall ambience. The availability of a snazzy chrome wheel option start to make more sense when you climb inside the Silverado which needs a grab handle on the A-pillar, by the way. When properly configured, the Tahoe can tow up to 8,400 pounds. The second-row seats fold either manually or with an optional power-operated mechanism, but they must be raised manually.
Only minor body drumming is evident over pockmarked pavement and over undulating terrain, the cabin emitted not a squeak or groan, even in our fairly high-mileage press fleet vehicle. We've stressed our dislike for the dubs that the Silverado wears, but nowhere is their pointlessness more evident than in the ride. Silverado feels a bit outdated when it comes to tugging the steering wheel. Because I didn't know the individual, I thought it was spam and didn't open the messages right away. Power-adjustable pedals, heated outside mirrors, and 18-inch wheels also come standard.
The Tahoe is also available as a hybrid model, which is covered separately in the Cars. Or, either section of the split seat can be stowed independently, allowing room for both cargo and a rear-seat passenger. New for 2009 The Tahoe gets an optional 6. In addition, an Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist system alerts drivers via beeps and flashing lights when there's a stationary object behind the vehicle. A Hotchkiss-type rear suspension provides superior isolation and ride with a splayed arrangement for the shock absorbers. The front suspension consists of a coil-over-shock design that delivers linear, solid and unwavering ride-and-handling characteristics on all road surfaces.
Other standard features include a remote start system, power-adjustable pedals, heated exterior mirrors, and lightweight 18-inch wheels. On the highway, we saw as high as 20 mpg, but around town we couldn't keep the Silverado above 12 mpg. There's a simple elegance to the Silverado's cleanly-chisled lines. Please see the separate Silverado Hybrid release for complete details and specifications. The popular Z71 Off Road package offers unique body side identification.