By Tom Crosby
AAA Carolinas

The redesigned 2007 Chevrolet Silverado half-ton pickup truck is longer, wider and more powerful than previous years and still offers more than three-dozen versions that make buying this pickup similar to an artist picking out colors, types of paint, size of canvas, etc.

Buyers lovingly design their own truck, choosing from options such as two- or four-wheel drive; regular, extended or crew cab; bench or bucket seats; short, standard or long truck bed; five suspension systems; three different wheel sizes with dozens of different tire types; nine different colors and three different engines. All this before selecting from half a dozen optional group packages and several individual options, such as leather-appointed seats, sunroof, power sliding rear window, XM satellite radio, etc.

This year Chevrolet is selling its 2006 model as a Silverado Classic, still using the 1999 truck design that helped make it General Motors’ best-selling vehicle. Our test drive was the 2007 Silverado 1500 two-wheel drive Crew Cab with the LT2 Equipment Package, plus $4,944 in additional options. The 5.3 liter engine came with 20 more horsepower and Active Fuel Management, designed to reduce cylinder use from 8 to 4 cylinders when less power is needed; however, miles per gallon, as measured by Silverado’s information feedback graphics, averaged less than 18 mph.

The rear-wheel drive Silverado uses the same all-new, full-size General Motors truck platform as GMC’s Sierra, with both trucks three inches longer and 1.5 inches wider than previous models. Our Z85 suspension produced a comfortable and quiet ride; although there was noticeable lean in turns and curves at higher speeds. Truck bounce was minimized with mono-tube front and rear shocks for trailer towing (maximum 7,600 lbs.) and a coil-over shock front suspension design and rack-and-pinion steering.

This year standard features on all models include anti-lock brakes, OnStar assistance (free for 1 year), Stabiltrak (providing traction/anti-skid control) and optional head curtain side air bags on some models. Safety options include remote start (warm or cool the cockpit before you get behind the wheel) rear parking assist and a revised tire pressure monitoring system.

Outside, a bigger front grille marks the 2007 front end and the truck bed has sliding tie-down hooks just beneath the bed rim. Except for no grab handle for the driver, entry inside front or back is easy with wide-opening doors. The bench rear seat 60/40 fold down is easy; seats materials are more supportive and rear-riding space is ample, with slightly angled seat backs (but not adjustable).  Dashboard gauges tilt slightly upward and speed/rpm gauges are readable with sunglasses on.

GM’s pure pickup interior provides larger controls and door handles with audio/climate controls now higher on the dashboard and fairly easy to reach (requires some driver bending). Interior materials provide an upscale ambiance and generous front seat space is helped by an over/under glove compartment and a center spine with several storage bins. It’s a cockpit you want to show off to your friends.