Used 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

Just off a head-to-toe revamp last year, the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado is a competent competitor in the fierce full-size truck segment. Available with a trio of engine choices and a variety of configurations and trims that range from a basic work truck to a leather-embellished upscale hauler, the Silverado can suit a variety of needs and tastes. Chevy’s full-size truck stands out from competitors such as the Ford F-150, Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra with a hushed cabin and a suite of available tech features that includes in-vehicle Wi-Fi, seats that vibrate to alert the driver of danger and the new Siri Eyes Free feature. While the Silverado’s fuel-economy ratings aren’t dazzling, Chevy’s truck satisfies with a blend of capability and civility.

Trucks aren’t usually known for their hushed cabins, but the Chevy Silverado’s engineers put great effort into sound isolation and their work has paid off. Road and wind noise are nicely quelled at highway speeds, while this full-size truck’s suspension soaks up everything short of a sinkhole. Steering is light and precise, with responsiveness that belies the Silverado’s portly dimensions. As the smallest of the Silverado’s engine choices, the base V6 provides only adequate power for acceleration and light-hauling duties. If you tow loads in excess of 5,000 pounds, we recommend the 5.3-liter V8. For even bigger tasks, the 6.2-liter V8 is rated to tow up to 12,000 pounds. The standard 6-speed automatic transmission in V6 and 5.3-liter V8 models does an admirable job of keeping power on tap, especially with the well-calibrated tow/haul mode engaged. Lastly, while the pedal feels a bit spongy, the brakes themselves provide more than enough pucker power.

You don’t need to spend $50,000 on a new Chevy Silverado to appreciate its interior – but if you do, you’re in for a treat. Even lower trims are nicely laid out and offer ample storage. Base versions do have plastic, but it’s well-textured for a better look and feel. Push-button controls handle most functions, and the ergonomic center stack keeps the touch screen within arm’s reach. Passenger capacity ranges from three in regular-cab models to five or six in double cabs and crew cabs. With up to five USB plugs, two 12-volt ports and a 110-volt outlet, the Silverado can juice several devices.

Even with the new looks that came with the Silverado for last year’s revamp, it’s still recognizable as Chevy’s full-size truck thanks to its blocky design. The 2015 Silverado is available as a regular cab with a 6-foot 6-inch or 8-foot bed, a double cab with a 6-foot-6 bed or the larger crew cab with a 5-foot 8-inch or 6-foot-6 bed. As we mentioned, one of our favorite features is the CornerStep bumper that’s standard on all models except the top-line High Country that allows better access to the bed. Available LED bed lighting, meanwhile, helps you work in the dark.

MYLINK INFOTAINMENT
Whether you’re a smartphone aficionado or a rebellious technology holdout, Chevy’s 2nd-generation MyLink system is quite possibly the most rewarding infotainment system money can buy. Features like mobile application support, real-time data widgets and one-shot destination entry (speak an entire address at once) deliver connectivity without complexity.

CORNERSTEP BUMPER
As author William Golding once said, “The greatest ideas are the simplest.” This wisdom holds true in the automotive world, and the Silverado’s new CornerStep bumper is a prime example. The feature allows for easy access to the cargo bed by way of footholds integrated into the rear bumper.

If you spend the least on a base Silverado WT work truck model, you’ll still get basics like air conditioning, power windows, cruise control and AM/FM audio system with 4.2-inch display and inputs for USB, auxiliary jack and SD card. The volume-leading LT adds the EZ-Lift tailgate, cloth seating with locking under-seat storage and 17-inch aluminum wheels. LTZ trims add the 5.3-liter V8 engine, heated leather seats with 10-way driver and outboard passenger adjustment, MyLink infotainment system with 8-inch touch screen with rearview camera, and automatic locking rear differential. All new Silverados also include two years/24,000 miles of complimentary factory-scheduled maintenance.

If you go full-boat on a Silverado High Country model, you’ll be treated to premium leather seats that are heated and ventilated up front, front and rear park assist, Bose premium audio system with navigation, and 20-inch chrome wheels. The Silverado’s options vary by trim and include navigation system, 4-wheel drive, cargo box lighting and the Z71 off-road package. The LT Convenience Package delivers a good balance between necessity and price, offering a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, a 10-way power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control and a rearview camera. Standout safety options on higher trims include forward collision alert and lane-departure warning.

Buyers have a choice of three engines in the 2015 Silverado. Lower models come with GM’s 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6, while the 5.3-liter V8 powers higher trims. For those requiring serious oomph in their half-ton Chevy pickup, there’s the 6.2-liter V8. All the engines can be paired with 4-wheel drive (4WD) in lieu of the standard 2-wheel-drive (2WD) setup. The V6 and 5.3-liter V8 are connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the big 6.2-liter V8 uses a new 8-speed transmission. All three of the engines run on regular unleaded, and the V6 and 5.3-liter V8 are flex-fuel compliant, meaning they can use the E85 ethanol blend.

4.3-liter V6 Flex-Fuel
285 horsepower @ 5,300 rpm
305 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/24 mpg (2WD), 17/22 mpg (4WD)

5.3-liter V8 Flex-Fuel
355 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
383 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23 mpg (2WD), 16/22 mpg (4WD)

6.2-liter V8 Flex-Fuel (4WD only)
420 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 mpg

Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.

We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.

Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.

Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)

We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.