2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Again ready to take on Ford and Ram in the U.S. full-size truck market, Chevrolet’s 2016 Silverado 1500 pickup gets a new, more muscular...

Again ready to take on Ford and Ram in the U.S. full-size truck market, Chevrolet’s 2016 Silverado 1500 pickup gets a new, more muscular look, added technology options, and more of its trims will be available with the popular 8-speed automatic transmission. A rugged and practical workhorse, the Silverado is available in 3 cab configurations: the 3-seat, 2-door Regular Cab, the 5-/6-seat, 4-door Double Cab, and the roomy 5-/6-seat, 4-door Crew Cab.

There are 6 trim levels, starting with the base Work Truck, then the LS, Custom, LT, LTZ, and the flagship High Country. The LTZ and High Country trims are only offered in Double Cab and Crew Cab configurations. The various cab configurations also include 3 bed lengths, with an 8.2-foot bed found only on Regular cab editions, a 6.6-foot bed available on all cab choices, and a 5.8-foot cargo box that comes solely on Crew Cabs.

The 2016 Silverado includes a redesigned front end, with rumors of a tweak or two in the rear, along with updated MyLink infotainment features such as Android Auto smartphone apps and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Additions to the Silverado's safety technology are also slated.

All 2016 Silverado 1500 versions will come with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD), while a 4-wheel drivetrain (4WD), boasting a 2-speed transfer case and auto-locking hubs, remains optional in all trim levels. Standard aboard all 2016 Silverado 1500's except the LTZ and High Country variants is a 4.3-liter Flex-Fuel V6 engine that’s good for 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. As noted, Chevy has decided to offer the 8-speed automatic transmission in more trims, but the V6 will likely remain under the management of the 6-speed shiftable automatic (allowing you to tow up to 7,600 pounds when properly equipped). Look for EPA-estimated mileage with the V6 to return at 18 mpg city/24 highway/20 combined in RWD editions, and 17/22/19 with 4WD variants, assuming the 6-speed automatic remains standard.

The 2016 Silverado LTZ and High Country offer a standard 5.3-liter V8 powerplant that’s now expected to mate with the 8-speed shiftable automatic, and will be optional on all other trims. Expect 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque from this up-fitted drivetrain, with current gas mileage and towing figures to be suitably improved with the upgraded gearbox. Also available for the 2016 Silverado 1500 LTZ and High Country editions is a potent 6.2-liter V8 mill that again combines with the 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission for 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Look for this hefty V8’s mileage to be estimated at 15/21/17 in both RWD and 4WD configurations, with a towing capacity of 12,000 pounds.

Off-road and hauling upgrades such as locking rear differentials, hill descent control, a heavy-duty towing package, and various rear axle ratios also remain available on certain trims.

Lower Silverado trim levels will sport 17-inch steel or alloy wheels, with higher trim levels boasting 18- or 20-inch alloy wheels. Further exterior features include heated power-adjustable and power-folding mirrors, unique (and now updated) grille designs and chrome adornments, a power-sliding rear window, a spray-in bed-liner, and an E-Z lift tailgate.

Inside features include vinyl, cloth, or leather-trimmed upholstery, heated, power-adjustable front bucket seats, full power accessories, cruise control, and either tilt-only or telescoping tilt-wheel steering. Lower trim levels offer manual air conditioning, higher trims dual-zone automatic climate control.

Upper-level 2016 Silverado 1500 iterations include an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, memory for driver settings, remote engine start, and ventilated front seats. Look for costlier trims to sport the improved MyLink infotainment technology, with Bluetooth-interfaced telematics and an 8-inch touchscreen, as well as Siri Eyes Free technology, text-message alerts, and 4G LTE WiFi hotspot capability (much of which was brand new for the 2015 model year).

The base Work Truck trim is expected to carry an AM/FM stereo with 4 speakers, a memory card slot, and an auxiliary audio input, while higher trim levels add satellite radio and additional speakers. The 2016 Silverado High Country offers a standard 6-speaker Bose premium audio system. Various Silverado trim levels also offer extras like as GPS navigation, a power sunroof, rear-seat Blu-ray DVD entertainment, and side steps. The optional Z71 package also returns, with beefed-up suspension and cooling systems for the LT and LTZ trim levels, and All Star Edition, Texas Edition, and Custom Sport packages add extras like upgraded wheels and exterior trim pieces.

Standard safety equipment aboard the 2016 Silverado 1500 lineup includes 4-wheel antilock braking (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, daytime running lights, and a post-collision safety system. All trims other than the Work Truck sport standard front fog/driving lights, OnStar/MyLink emergency alerts and communications, and a remote antitheft alarm. And an upgraded optional Driver Alert package offers lane-departure warnings, forward collision alerts, and a safety alert driver’s seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives this full-size Chevy truck its best 5-star rating for overall crashworthiness, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the current Silverado 1500 high marks in all tests except ease of use for child seat anchors (latches), which were given a lowest-rated score of Poor.