10 Things We Love about the Chevy Silverado
Is there any other vehicle that embodies the American spirit better than the Chevy Silverado? As your Chevy Silverado dealership, we can’t think of one. The Silverado is an integral part of America’s automotive landscape, from its debut as a trim in the 1970s to earning a lineup of its own in 1999. It’s the embodiment of Chevrolet’s ability to meet the evolving needs of Americans while ushering us into a realm of greater innovation, capability, and reliability. It’s an American workhorse that’s near and dear to our hearts, and here’s why.
#10 - A Legacy on Wheels
The Silverado name was first introduced as a top-tier trim on Chevy’s popular C/K truck in the 1970s and eventually made its way to the Suburban and Tahoe lineups. By 1999, the Silverado earned a lineup of its own and ushered the Chevy truck lineup into a more modern era with its innovative transmission and four-wheel-drive system, many available powertrains, and options for configuration. This ignited a trend with the Silverado that continues today with the fourth-generation road warrior.
#9 - Innovative Trailering Technology
The first-generation Silverado pioneered the segment in terms of towing as the first truck to feature an automatic transmission equipped with Tow/Haul mode that delivered better capability and control. Today, the 2022 Silverado leads the segment with the first-ever Advanced Trailering System that allows you to create custom trailer profiles. With the tool, you can complete your pre-departure checklists, view trailer lighting diagnostics, and stay informed on the trailer’s tire pressure and temperature.
#8 - Views from Every Angle
While rearview cameras are standard across the industry today, Chevrolet sets a new benchmark in the segment with the Silverado. The 2022 Silverado features a system of eight cameras that deliver the most views of any truck in the segment. These 15 available camera views give you a clear view around the Silverado and its accompanying trailer, whether you’re cruising along I-44 to Tulsa, backing into a parking space, or exploring the off-road trails over at MidAmerica Outdoors.
#7 - Built to Last
Continuing its reign as one of America’s favorite and most reliable workhorses, the 2022 Silverado offers the most functional bed in the segment. The Durabed offers a best-in-class standard cargo volume of 89.1 cubic feet, which gives you plenty of room to haul everything from lumber and mulch to heavy equipment, furniture, camping gear, and beyond. With 12 standard tie-downs, securing your cargo is easier, while the industry’s first-ever power-up and power-down tailgate make accessing that cargo easy and efficient.
#6 - Work Smarter, Not Harder
Since its debut in 1999, the Silverado has vowed to help you work smarter, not harder. The newest Silverado in the fleet builds on that legacy with the exclusive Multi-Flex tailgate that offers six unique functions to make accessing the bed of the truck easier and more convenient. The primary gate works like a traditional tailgate and features a primary gate load stop that keeps longer items from sliding out of the bed. The inner gate gives you easier access to the bed with its available full-width step, while the inner gate load stop keeps items in place. You even have a place to work with the inner gate’s available work surface.
#5 - Next-Level Ruggedness
Chevrolet is attuned to the needs of its customers, as we saw firsthand when the Silverado debuted as a modern replacement for the C/K in 1999. Today, Chevy answers a new demand from drivers looking for a versatile workhorse with a sense of adventure. Those needs are met in the first-ever Silverado ZR2, a Silverado destined for the trail with its exclusive off-road chassis and suspension, Multimatic dampers, high-approach steel front bumper, and 33-inch off-road MT tires. The ZR2 is the epitome of the “work hard, play hard” mantra.
#4 - Legendary Power
Chevrolet distinguished itself in the American automotive industry by delivering high-performance vehicles that were both reliable and affordable. To do this, Chevrolet built its engines in-house and pioneered the industry with designs like its small-block V8. Today, this legacy continues with the 2022 Silverado’s proven powertrains, which include a 2.7-liter turbo high-output engine with its best-in-class 420 lb-ft of torque and a 3.0-liter Duramax Turbo-Diesel that pushes the Silverado to a maximum towing capacity of 13,300 pounds. The Silverado’s 5.3-liter V8 is impressive with its Dynamic Fuel Management technology, while the 6.2-liter V8 is the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 in the segment, making it a top choice in the fleet and a reflection of Chevy’s exceptional engineering.
#3 - Customizable to Your Needs
Just as Chevrolet designed the Silverado to satisfy the needs of its customers, it also knows the power of choice. The first-generation Silverado and every subsequent generation have offered a variety of options, conveniences, and packages that allow drivers to customize the truck to their style, driving, and capability needs. The redesigned 2022 Silverado is no different and offers plenty of choices and upgrades from cab configuration, bed length, and powertrain to upholstery, design details, accessories, and industry-first conveniences like rear seatback storage.
#2 - Intuitive Technology at Your Fingertips
The 1999 Silverado was modern for the era with its AM-FM stereo, cassette player, and optional CD player. Today, the Silverado’s technology looks vastly different for 2022 and starts with an expansive 13.4-inch touchscreen display that’s home to the Chevrolet Infotainment System. The system gives you access to your smartphone via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an available WiFi hotspot, navigation, the Advanced Trailering System, and more. This puts all the information you need at your fingertips, allowing you to keep your focus and your eyes on the road ahead.
#1 - Hands-Free Cruising
There’s a lot to love about the Silverado, but nothing quite reflects Chevrolet’s commitment to innovation like the Silverado’s Super Cruise technology. The industry’s first true hands-free driver-assist technology, Super Cruise works on over 200,000 miles of compatible roadways throughout the United States and Canada. This includes I-44 right in front of our dealership, giving you the chance to try it out during a test drive. For 2022, Super Cruise even works when trailering, automatically monitoring for additional drag from the trailer and increasing braking distance as needed. So, how exactly does the technology work?
Super Cruise relies on LiDAR map data to determine the Silverado’s location on a compatible roadway. When engaged, it uses a Driver Attention System with a small camera mounted in the steering column to monitor your gaze. As long as you’re watching the road, Super Cruise will navigate for you by steering, accelerating, and braking. If you look away for too long, the system will alert you with a light bar in the steering wheel and progressive audible alerts should you fail to respond.
It’s Time to Pick Your Favorite
In the early 1900s, racecar driver Louis Chevrolet and General Motors founder William C. Durant were determined to build high-performance vehicles that were reliable, affordable, and capable. That vision continues to unfold with trucks like the Silverado that reflect Chevrolet’s ingenuity and its position as a pioneer in the American automotive industry. There’s no other truck that reflects the American spirit quite like the Silverado, and every Chevy fan knows it.
What’s your favorite feature of the Silverado? Whether you’re a long-time Silverado driver or you’re shopping for your first model, the Silverado has so much to offer the Oklahoma driver. Affordable, reliable, capable, and innovative, the Silverado is an integral part of the American bloodline. It’s a living legend that’s shaped America’s past, continues to shape its present, and will undeniably shape its future with its remarkable ingenuity and pioneering spirit.