Specifications of Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab IV Long Box 5.3 EcoTec3 V8 (355 HP) Automatic

General characteristics of Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab IV Long Box 5.3 EcoTec3 V8 (355 HP) Automatic

With three bed sizes and three body styles, the Silverado's dimensions differ widely across the range. Overall length varies from 229.5 inches for the Regular Cab with the eight-foot box, to 241.21 inches for the Crew Cab with the 6' 6" box. There are multiple wheelbase lengths, starting with the Regular Cab's 139.56-inch version and going up to 157.53 inches for the Crew Cab in Trail Boss trim and with the 6' 6" box. Width varies between 81,14 and 81.24 inches (excluding the mirrors), while height varies between 75.35 and 78.5 inches. Maximum ground clearance varies between 7.8 and 10.9 inches, depending on trim.

Cargo boxes are either 5' 8", 6' 6", or eight feet in length - the Regular Cab can only be hard with the long bed, which isn't available on the Double and Crew Cabs. The cargo box width at the wheel housings is 50.63 inches and the width at the floor is 71.4 inches. The lightest Silverado in the range is the Regular Cab 2WD with a curb weight of 4,369 pounds, while the heaviest is the Crew Cab 4WD with the 6' 6" box in High Country trim, which weighs 5,279 lbs.

There is an engine choice for every need within the Silverado range, beginning with the 4.3-liter V6, which is exclusively paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine generates 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. Next is a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 hp/383 lb-ft - this engine uses a six-speed automatic and active fuel management by default, but a version with dynamic fuel management can be paired with either an eight- or ten-speed automatic gearbox. The dynamic fuel management system increases the engine's cylinder deactivation abilities, with the dual benefit of improving performance and fuel efficiency. The only four-cylinder in the range - a 2.7-liter turbo - is paired with an eight-speed automatic and produces 310 hp and 348 lb-ft. The most powerful engine is the 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft, paired exclusively with a ten-speed automatic. Finally, there is a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel with a ten-speed automatic and outputs of 277 hp and 460 lb-ft.

All of the engines are powerful enough to make easy work of daily driving and lighter loads, with only the smaller V6 showing some notable strain when fully loaded or towing a heavy rig. In our test of the LT Trail Boss with the 5.3-liter V8, we found the engine to offer adequate power around town and on the highway and smooth shifts from the eight-speed 'box, although the pushrod 6.2-liter V8 does feel appreciably more muscular. The latter's ten-speed gearbox has reasonably quick shifts, but it's not as polished as the ten-speeder in the Ford F-150.

Unsurprisingly, the turbodiesel is the most fuel-efficient model in the range, returning EPA estimates of 23/33/27 mpg city/highway/combined in 2WD guise, which is an improvement on the Ford F-150 turbodiesel's best numbers of 20/27/23 mpg. The 2.7-liter turbocharged four-pot is the next most efficient engine, managing a best of 20/23/21 mpg in 2WD guise. Economy predictably dips for the V8s, but surprisingly, the V6 model is no better, as both have combined consumption of as low as 15 mpg depending on the drivetrain and trim. The worst-performing single model is the 5.3-liter V8 4WD when running on E85 gas, which manages a meager 11/13/12 mpg.

There are three gas tank sizes depending on the model: the Regular Cab has a 28-gallon tank, the Double/Crew Cabs have a 24-gallon tank, but all models have a 22-gallon tank when equipped with 2WD and the diesel engine. Based on this, a range of around 594 miles is achievable in diesel-equipped models with 2WD and the 22-gallon gas tank. The 4WD diesel is marginally heavier on fuel, but due to its bigger 24-gallon tank, it can manage a range of 600 miles. At the other end of the scale, the 5.3-liter V8 4WD has a much poorer range of 288 miles when running on E85 fuel.

Depending on the body style and trim, the Silverado 1500 seats either three, five, or six occupants. Basic vinyl or cloth upholstery makes way for smart leather upholstery on higher-spec variants. The Regular Cab has a 40/20/40-split bench seat for three, with covered armrest storage. On more expensive Double and Crew Cab versions, the front bench seat is replaced with two separate chairs, decreasing overall capacity to five occupants. All models besides the Regular Cab have a standard rear bench seat. The seats offer good comfort and are spacious; the Crew Cab has especially abundant legroom for those seated at the back. The driving position is good, with power-adjustable front seats on higher trims. Visibility isn't perfect, though, because the A-pillars are quite large and the tall hood hampers the front view out to an extent. Assist handles make it easier to enter the big truck, but it would have been helpful if the rear doors opened a bit more widely than they do.

With three bed sizes, the Silverado can cater to a wider variety of cargo-hauling needs. The short five-foot-eight bed measures 62.9 cubic feet, increasing to 71.7 cubes for the standard bed (6' 6") and a massive 89.1 cubes for the long bed (eight-foot). The Silverado's short, standard, and long beds provide a good amount of extra cargo storage than the Ford's equivalents. The high-strength steel floor can handle heavy loads, while 12 standard tie-downs are useful for securing various items. On higher-spec models, the power-up/power-down tailgate makes it more convenient to access the bed area.

In the cabin, there is a large reconfigurable center console storage compartment and well-sized door pockets. The cliff-like dashboard is big enough to accommodate two gloveboxes on the passenger side. Some versions with the front bench have a fold-down armrest/storage compartment in front, while the 60/40-split-folding rear bench seat (Double Cab and Crew Cab only) can fold up on one or both sides to increase interior storage space. An Uplevel Rear Seat with Storage Package (Crew Cab only) features rear under-seat storage and is standard on the LTZ and High Country, but optional on most other trims; this upgrade includes a rear center fold-out armrest with cupholders.