Autoweek Best of the Best/Truck - Chevrolet Silverado

When we first saw the new Chevy Silverado, we thought, “Hmmm, styling's conservative, interior quality looks a bit better … these things better drive well or Chevy's in a heap of trouble.” No doubt, the new Silverado is an outstanding full-size pickup, so much so we put one on our June 24 cover and said that it was “more refined than ever.”And that's really the story here.

In our Best of the Best testing, we found the Silverado to be as quiet, refined and smooth as one could ask from a full-size pickup. Testers also were impressed with the body control (for a large truck) and outstanding ride.

“It's the best non-air suspension truck I've ever driven,” was one logbook comment. Another: “The ride is the best thing about the big Chevy.” And this: “On the freeway, it drives like a luxury car.”The 6.2-liter V8 (420 hp, 460 lb-ft of torque) that we tested offers plenty of power, and shifts from the six-speed transmission are imperceptible.

Josh Scott
The refined, comfortable interior helped push the 2014 Silverado over the top.

The Acura MDX and just-introduced Jeep Cherokee were the other truck finalists. They were mostly capable, solid and enjoyable.

The new MDX finished second to the Chevy, and we found it a terrific all-'rounder. It scored high in balance and handling.

The Jeep stood out for its good-looking and comfortable interior, not to mention its solid structure.

What ultimately pushed the Silverado over the top was that refinement. The cockpit is well built from quality materials, the seats comfortable for long hauls; we literally spent days behind the wheel with nary a complaint. And, of course, the Silverado will haul a ton of stuff.

From the logbook: “If you're in the market for a truck, the question isn't whether you want a Silverado; the question is which one you should get.”

Like the outgoing Silverado, you can configure this one in a virtually infinite number of ways. Rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, V6, V8, crew cab/short box, crew cab/long box, double cab, regular cab … it's mind-boggling.

Really, though, you can't go wrong with any of them.

By Autoweek editors