Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD LTZ Crew

Chevy’s Silverado, the perennial second-best-selling vehicle behind Ford’s F-150, is largely unchanged for 2018, as it was for 2017. Although its arch-rival went high tech, with weight-saving aluminum bodywork and powerful turbo V6 engines, the Silverado remains a tried-and-true pickup, with a steel body and an emphasis on big, honkin’ V8s (though a V6 is standard on base models). 

Equipped with a V8, the Silverado 1500 can tow the Queen Mary—well, not quite, but it is tow-rated at an impressive 11,000 pounds with a 5.3-liter V8 and 12,500 pounds with a 6.2-liter V8. The 5.3-liter Silverado feels powerful as it charges through the gears of an 8-speed transmission, but its fuel economy—or lack thereof—will put a smile on an oil baron’s face. 

The Silverado’s roomy cabin remains pleasingly quiet. The driver sits high in the saddle, with great visibility, aided by large side mirrors and a rearview camera (standard for 2018). Though the suspension negotiates potholes with ease, the Silverado sometimes pitches and dips like a rowboat on the ocean. Steering is responsive, but the big truck’s turning circle extends nearly into the next county.

Like other pickup makers, Chevy offers a multitude of cab, bed, and trim options. Base prices range from about $33,000 for a WT (work truck) to $57,000 for a High Country edition loaded with decidedly non-work-truck-like luxury features.

Crash-test ratings: NHTSA: 5 stars overall; IIHS: good, except marginal small front overlap

Spare tire: Full-size spare

Final assembly: U.S., Mexico

Basic warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles

Compare similar trucks: Ford F-150 Raptor 4WD Supercab and Nissan Titan 4WD SV Crew Cab.