As the new crop of Chevy Silverado 1500s roll into dealership, it’s a good time to take stock of what’s new and what’s the same about this trusted full-size pickup truck. You can get a good deal on a new truck, since the Silverado 1500 starts at just $28,300. But for just a few thousand more, you open up some interesting options. We’ll cover them in this preview guide to the 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500.
Good For the Money
The base Silverado 1500 comes standard with vinyl upholstery, four-way manually adjustable front seats, rearview camera, Teen Driver system, 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system, two-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and USB port. That’s a good collection of technology and features, and explains why the Silverado 1500 WT is a bit more expensive than, say, the base Ford F-150. The base engine is a 4.3-liter V6 generating 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque.
But if you’re willing to spend just $2500 more, your options really start to expand. Because at that price point, you can upgrade the base V6 engine to either a 6.2-liter gas V8 or a 3-liter Duramax diesel inline six. That’s a tough choice. Because with the gas V8 engine, you get a powerhouse delivering 420 horsepower. On the other hand, the diesel engine gets 25 combined miles per gallon. Whether you prioritize power or savings is up to you. Either way, you’re getting a great truck.
Check Out These Numbers
In addition to introducing the all-new diesel engine, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 just pumped up its already impressive towing numbers. In fact, this number has raised the bar for the entire class. The Silverado 1500 can tow a load of up to 13,400 pounds. That makes the Silverado a class leader in towing among full-size pickups. You can get all that power if you spring for the 6.2-liter V8 engine along with the Max Trailering package. Meanwhile, the new turbodiesel engine tows 9,300 pounds maximum. If hauling is more important to you, be sure to get the regular cab with the long box to max out the payload capacity at 2,250 pounds.
What Else Is New?
Chevrolet is rolling out two other improvements for the 2020 model year. This time round, the Silverado 1500 is getting adaptive cruise control, a system that automatically keeps its distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. In addition, there’s a new Advanced Trailering System option that supports up to fifteen camera views. From the screen inside your cabin, you can see your trailer and around it at just about every angle. You can even make the trailer seem to disappear as the cameras’ computer uses overlapping video to show you everything but the trailer. It’s all part of the magic of the 2020 Silverado 1500.