New 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab Pickup New 2019
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab Pickup

It all starts with the brand-new platform, which is longer and lighter-weight than the one under the previous Silverado. The truck doesn’t lose much capability while adding space inside the cab and helping with fuel efficiency. There are new engine and transmission combinations (including a diesel and a turbocharged gas 4-cylinder), new towing tech and advanced safety features.

We drove Chevrolet Silverados equipped with the 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8s. The 5.3-liter has plenty of power, and as the lighter truck with the same power it had last year makes the Silverado plenty spry. Adding to the power delivery is a transmission that now has much quicker response, a notable upgrade from a previous transmission that would suffer from the occasional slow, clunky shift. Another plus: We couldn’t tell when the fuel-management system was working. The 6.2-liter engine has a rumbling exhaust note and is more powerful than the 5.3-liter, but it’s not as dramatic a difference as you would think. It’s a nice option, but unless you need to tow more than the 11,600 pounds you can pull with the 5.3-liter V8, save your money and stick with the 5.3. The truck feels taut and more accurate, with little body roll. Everything from steering to braking feels natural and linear. And the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado drives smaller than it is, with excellent ride quality. The Silverado had already earned a reputation for its quiet cabins, and as far as we can tell, the 2019 model is even quieter.

Latest driving impressions: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4-cylinder Turbo

TOWING TECH
There’s a handy checklist for connecting a trailer, and you can store five trailer profiles. You can monitor the trailer tires’ pressures, and can test the trailer lights by yourself (usually a 2-person job), all through a cool smartphone app. An available rear camera shows you what’s behind your trailer. In addition, an alarm sounds if the trailer is disconnected while your truck is locked.

10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
While you don’t need to spend the extra money on the 6.2-liter V8, with that investment you get this gem of a transmission. Its quick, smooth shifts make driving the 6.2-equipped Chevrolet Silverado especially satisfying. Hopefully, Chevrolet will expand the 10-speed’s availability in the future.

While the Silverado’s interior is tasteful and attractive, it’s still conservative and not a big evolution from last year’s interior. However, the truck’s longer wheelbase translates into a spacious interior, with a flat floor in the crew-cab’s second row. Silverado interiors were already quiet; this one is even quieter. There are clever storage spaces inside, including nooks in the front of the rear seatbacks and spots under the rear seats. But there’s no power tilt/telescoping steering wheel in any trim level, and the largest touch screen you can get is an 8-inch screen. The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado doesn’t come with adaptive cruise control and, while there are a lot of new advanced safety systems, the blind-spot monitor doesn’t account for a vehicle in your trailer’s blind spot.

Chevy’s Silverado is available in eight trim levels, and the front end of each of them has two body-color tabs that meet a center bar in the grille. Some trim levels use copious amounts of chrome, others focus more on keeping things body-color, and some use black accents, so buyers can choose less or more chrome for their truck. The value trims have “Chevrolet” stamped in the center bar, with a small bow tie below, on the lower right. Higher up the line, the bar has the Chevrolet logo in the center. Opt for the Trail Boss, and the truck sits taller thanks to the lifted suspension, and the blacked-out wheels and door handles give the Silverado attitude.

The Work Truck, the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado’s base model, uses a 4.3-liter V6 engine with Adaptive Fuel Management (GM’s previous-generation fuel-management system), a 6-speed automatic transmission, 4-wheel disc brakes, and 17-inch painted steel wheels. Buyers can get a vinyl or cloth 40/20/40-split-bench seat. The Teen Driver safety suite comes on every Silverado. Chevrolet’s Infotainment 3 system is standard, operated through a 7-inch touch screen. Bluetooth is standard, as is Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, and you get one USB port and one 12-volt outlet. Audio is channeled through a 6-speaker system. Silverados get 12 cargo tie-downs in the bed, plus CornerSteps in the rear bumper. Remote keyless entry, rear-window defogger, cruise control and power mirrors are optional, as is a spray-on bedliner.

You can get the 6.2-liter V8 with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and a max trailering package and Z71 off-road package are offered. Wheels sizes go up to 22 inches. Trailer tech, including the auxiliary trailer camera, is available, as is a power up/down tailgate. Auto stop/start is available with LT and above models. An 8-inch screen and a 7-speaker Bose audio system are offered, as are two 120-volt power outlets, a surround-vision camera setup, rear camera mirror, 15-inch head-up display, heated power side mirrors, front and rear heated leather seats, heated steering wheel, a sunroof, and wireless smartphone charging. The Trail Boss includes a 2-inch suspension lift, locking rear differential, skidplates, off-road tires and Rancho shocks.

2019 Chevrolet Silverados will be available in 2-wheel drive (2WD) and 4-wheel drive (4WD) forms and with a choice of six engine/transmission combinations, including two different versions of GM’s 5.3-liter V8. For 2019, there are two types of cylinder-management systems to improve fuel economy. Active Fuel Economy is the better-known cylinder shut-off system that has helped boost GM truck mpg. New for 2019 is Dynamic Fuel Management, designed to fine-tune the balance between efficiency and power demand. It lets the engine operate anywhere between two and eight cylinders, within 17 different patterns. The new Silverado is initially available with both 5.3-liter V8s, as well as the 6.2-liter, in many of the available trim levels. The 4.3-liter V6, 2.7-liter turbo-4, and an upcoming 3.0-liter turbodiesel/10-speed automatic will follow.

4.3-liter V6 (6-speed automatic)
285 horsepower @ 5,300 rpm
305 lb-ft of torque @ 3,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

2.7-liter turbocharged inline-4 (8-speed automatic)
310 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
348 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

5.3-liter V8 (w/Active Fuel Management and 6-speed automatic: WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss)
355 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
383 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg (2WD), 15/21 mpg (4WD)

5.3-liter V8 (w/Dynamic Fuel Management and 8-speed automatic: LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country)
355 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
383 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg (2WD), 16/22 mpg (4WD), 15/20 mpg (Trail Boss)

6.2-liter V8 (w/Dynamic Fuel Management w/10-speed automatic: optional on LTZ, High Country)
420 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/20 mpg (4WD)

The starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado is $29,795 (including destination), which is comparable to other full-size pickups. If you want to go all-out, the crew-cab-only High Country starts at $54,495, but fully loaded the price nears $70,000. That also isn’t unusual for full-size trucks. If you want many of the same features as the High Country but aren’t as interested in that truck’s model-specific interior, you can get an LTZ, which starts at $46,895 for the crew cab. The Work Truck is the only model offered as a regular cab; the rest, except the High Country, are available as double cabs or crew cabs. The model line includes the Work Truck, Custom ($36,095), Custom Trail Boss ($40,995), LT ($38,395), LT Trail Boss ($47,395), RST ($40,295), LTZ ($44,495), and High Country. Do check KBB.com’s Fair Purchase Prices to see what others in your area are paying for the new Silverado. Prices are running about $2,000-$4,500 below MSRP, depending on trim level.

Did you know? The Chevrolet Silverado is one of the top 10 models that hold their value the best over time.

Bonus Content: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado vs. 2019 Ford F-150

OK, so what's next?
I'm interested in this car. What's for sale near me?
I'm interested in this car, and I'd like to trade in my current car while I'm at it.
Then again, maybe I should be thinking about a used car.