With leather upholstery, heated power adjustable front bucket seats and dual-zone climate control all standard, the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ trim level remains the flagship of the 1500 fleet. This half-ton almost-luxury pickup can be purchased in either the Extended cab version with rear-opening back doors or in the Crew cab trim with 4 independently opening doors. Extended cab trims offer seating for 5 and either a 6.6- or 8.2-foot bed, while the 5-passenger Crew cab variants carry only the 5.8-foot short bed. On-demand 4-wheel drive (4WD) is available to the LTZ, but rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard.
Look for such standard appearance and performance goodies as heated, power adjustable, reverse-tilt outside mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels, an auxiliary transmission fluid cooler and a trailer hitch and wiring. Inside, expect remote power door locks, power windows, cruise control, tilt-wheel steering, driver memory settings, simulated alloy and leather cabin accents and Bluetooth hands-free communications to add to the posh ambiance, with a 6-speaker, single-CD player helping immensely. Finally, standard Bluetooth/OnStar hands-free communications and driving directions, as well as a USB port are tossed in for good measure.
A hard-drive-based navigation system is optional in the 2012 Silverado 1500 LTZ, as are a 6-CD changer, cooled front seats, a power sunroof, rear-view camera and a power-sliding rear window. The Z71 Appearance Package and the Z71 Off-Road Package are also optional, with both packages featuring skid plates, joust bumpers, upgraded shock absorbers and wheels, as well as some added exterior chrome. The Chrome Essentials Package, meantime, tacks on even more chrome exterior accents, including chrome step bars, while the Max Trailering Package tosses in heavy-duty cooling systems and an auto-locking heavy-duty rear differential.
The high-end 2012 Silverado 1500 LTZ comes standard with a 5.3-liter Flex Fuel (FFV) V8 powerplant that combines with the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission for 315 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque. All this power translates into 9,600 pounds of towing capacity, with the proper equipment, while mileage, with variable valve timing (VVT), is estimated at some 15 mpg city/22 highway in RWD configurations, 15/21 in 4WD trims.
The trailer-toting 6.2-liter FFV V8, also with VVT, is additionally available to the top-shelf LTZ. This big V8 comes with the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic and puts out 403 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. When properly equipped, this monster can tow up to 10,700 pounds of trailer without breaking a sweat, but mileage drops to 13/18 in RWD versions and 12/19 in 4WD editions.
Finally, the on-demand 4WD system features electronic hi-lo gear selection, auto-locking hubs and Autotrac, a driver-selectable setting that automatically shifts into 4WD when wheel slippage is noted. An auto-locking rear differential and mechanical center differential combine to manage all this added traction.
Safety-wise, besides its sheer size, the 2012 Silverado 1500 LTZ offers 4-wheel antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags and front side-mounted airbags. Further standard safety equipment includes daytime running lights, a remote antitheft alarm, turn-signal-integrated mirrors, OnStar emergency services, a post-collision safety system and front fog/driving lights.
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