ArcaMax

A majority of 2025 model year half-ton trucks no longer even offer a V8 engine. It's almost unimaginable -- but that doesn't make it less true.

The Chevy Silverado is one that offers two.

It is also still available in regular cab (two-door) configuration -- and with an 8-foot bed. Several rivals -- including the Ram 1500, Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra -- come only in crew and quad configurations and (in the case of the Ram) with nothing longer than a 6-foot bed.

The Chevy also can be had with a diesel engine, which several rivals -- including its chief rival, the Ford F-150, as well as the Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan -- do not offer.

What It Is

The Silverado 1500 is Chevy's half-ton pickup. It is available in three different cab configurations -- Regular (two doors), Double (four doors, with smaller rear doors) and Crew (four full-size doors) and with three different-length beds -- 5.8 feet, 6.5 feet and 8 feet.

Prices for the 2025 Silverado start at $37,000 for the base Work truck with a regular cab, the 5.8-foot bed, a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and two-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive bumps the price up to $41,600.

The Double Cab's pricing hierarchy begins at $40,300 for the Work Truck trim, with the same drivetrain as the regular-cab Work truck. From there, you can select from Custom ($43,600 to start), LT ($48,100), LT Fleet ($50,200) and RST ($52,400 trims).

The Crew Cab starts at $42,700 for the Work Truck trim -- once again, equipped with the same drivetrain and features as the Regular and Double Cab versions.

This version of the Silverado is also available in a number of additional trims not offered with the Regular or the Double Cab, including the Custom Trail Boss ($51,800), High Country ($62,700) and the ZR2 ($70,000), which comes with a plethora of off-road upgrades, including 33-inch all-terrain tires, tow hooks, locking front and rear differentials, a full-size spare and upgraded underbody skid plates.

What's New For 2025

The Trail Boss trim now comes standard with the previously optional all-terrain tires, and the 10-speed automatic that was previously standard with most of the Silverado's available engines is now only available with 4WD-equipped models.

What's Good

-- Plethora of cab/bed/drivetrain options.

-- 13,300-pound maximum towing capacity (more than Ram, just a couple hundred pounds shy of class-best Ford F-150).

-- Work Truck version is relatively affordable and comes standard with features such as AC, power window and locks, and cruise control that most people consider essential.

What's Not So Good

-- Most trims come standard with the four-cylinder engine -- and to get either V8 engine, you must buy one of the more expensive trims.

-- Like all current half-ton pickups, the Silverado is so big it just barely fits in the typical supermarket parking lot spot.

-- Like all current half-tons, it's expensive. Even the base Work trim with just 4WD added stickers for just shy of $42,000.

Under the Hood

The Silverado's standard engine is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. It is the smallest engine (and the only four-cylinder engine) available in a current model year half-ton truck. It's turbocharged -- to make up for its small size -- and makes 310 horsepower and 430 foot-pounds of torque.

There are two available V8 engines -- in the higher trims.

The first of the two V8s displaces 5.3 liters and makes 355 horsepower and 383 foot-pounds of torque. The second -- the biggest -- displaces 6.2 liters and makes 420 horsepower and 460 foot-pounds of torque.

There's also a 3.0-liter turbodiesel six that offers about a 5-mpg overall gas mileage advantage versus the V8s.

On the Road

The Silverado is really big.

Of course, that is part of the attraction. But it's also something of a Catch-22 in that many parking lots and even roads aren't sized to accommodate. This is the dilemma of driving any current half-ton truck. It is analogous to being at the wheel of an ocean liner. Once out of the harbor and in the open water, you're king of the world, like Jack at the bow of Titanic.

But when you're trying to angle into a parking spot at Walmart, it can be a challenge to line up straight without some maneuvering. And then backing out (and straightening her out) to be able to get out, when it's time to leave.

On country roads with just one lane in each direction, and those lanes the width of most current cars, a truck this size will use most of the lane, leaving little margin on either side. Which means if another Titanic happens to be steaming at you from the opposite direction, there's less margin for error if either of you wanders a little.

At the Curb

As already mentioned, this is a big truck. How big? More finely -- how long?

Well, the base regular cab Work Truck with the standard short (5-foot) bed is 210.9 inches long. A High Country Crew Cab with a 6-foot bed is 241.4 inches long. To put this length in some perspective, one of the biggest -- longest -- cars you can buy is a BMW 7 Series sedan -- a mere 212.2 inches long. The High Country Chevy is a couple feet longer than that.

Better have a long garage.

Then there is the height -- of the bed walls. Sound the trumpets!

Combine this with the height of the truck relative to the ground, and it can be a challenge to reach into the bed if you are standing on the ground. Even if you stand more than 6 feet tall.

Luckily, there are nooks built into the rear bumper to help you step up. But it's astounding how much higher all current half-tons are versus the half-tons of the past. You used to be able to look down into the bed if you were standing beside it. Now you have to look up -- and over -- the bed walls.

The Rest

The Ford F-150 is the only rival in the class that still offers three cabs, three beds -- and a V8. And the F-150 has an advantage over this Chevy in that you can get the V8 in the lower trims -- even the base XL trim. If you want either of the Silverado's two V8s, you must buy one of the more expensive trims first.

And that gets expensive.

The Bottom Line

America-style size, power and capability are still available.

Just in a different form.

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Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

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