Mixing power with refinement for heavy-duty excellence.
Our initial drive took place in the mountains above Phoenix, Arizona. The Silverado’s snappier sibling, the 2015 GMC Sierra HD,
was along for the ride. But don’t be fooled by the General’s
commercials and the GMC’s added tinsel. The two trucks are the same
brutes underneath, with mechanicals largely unchanged from those of the
previous models, which triumphed in Chevy form in our last comparison test of diesel workhorses. (For our 2015 Silverado HD debut story with a full breakdown of what did actually change)
A Gentle GiantSpecifications >
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear- or rear-/4-wheel-drive, 3-6-passenger, 2- or 4-door truckBASE PRICE: 2500 HD, $32,405-$39,340; 3500 HD, $34,680-$42,140
ENGINES: pushrod 16-valve 6.0-liter V-8, 360 hp, 322 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled pushrod 32-valve 6.6-liter diesel V-8, 397 hp, 765 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION: six-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 133.6-167.7 in
Length: 224.4-258.4 in
Width: 80.1-80.5 in Height: 77.7-78.0 in
Curb weight (C/D est): 6000-8000 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 7.0-7.6 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.6-16.1 sec
Top speed: 95 mph
The new Chevy has the chiseled profile of a classic pickup, with a blocky grille and sheetmetal reminiscent of GM’s iconic C/K pickups of the 1980s. Yet the on-road behavior of the four-door, four-wheel-drive models we drove was anything but old school. The independent torsion-bar front suspension is still exclusive to the segment, and when paired with the relatively quick and accurate steering, it lends a connected and confidence-inspiring feel to the helm. That’s important when you’re towing up to 19,600 pounds with the conventional hitch.
|
Most impressive, though, is the ride quality, which is now nearly as
plush and controlled as the lighter 1500’s. We’re anxious to experience
the Silverado HD on Michigan’s cratered roads, but the long-wheelbase
rigs floated over Arizona tarmac without any of the bucking and hopping
normally associated with unladen heavy-duty pickups.
There is a multitude of cab and chassis combinations available, as well as a standard 360-hp, 6.0-liter gas V-8, but our seat time was limited to the volume models: 2500-series 4x4s with the 6.6-liter DuraMax V-8 diesel and excellent Allison 1000 six-speed automatic transmission. It’s an $8585 setup with 397 horsepower and 765 lb-ft of torque. GM’s carefully controlled exercises with similar competitive trucks surely were devised in the Silverado’s favor. But there’s no denying the Chevy had the measure of the more powerful Ford and Ram pickups, accelerating stronger uphill with a five-ton trailer and controlling its speed more effectively on descents with integrated exhaust and transmission braking.
The big trucks’ updated cabin is equally strong and addresses the
primary shortcomings of the previous model. It’s also pretty much the
same interior as the light-duty Silverado’s, which is to say it’s
attractive, comfortable, and functional. It takes less of a leap to get
inside, and once you’re seated, the position feels lower and more
enveloping. Greater sound insulation means the Silverado is eerily quiet
on the highway for a truck, with the Duramax and road noise but distant
murmurs. The Chevy’s trappings look rather basic alongside the fancier
Sierra, but the Silverado can be fitted with similar luxuries, including
heated-and-cooled leather seats and lane-departure warning. Most of the new Silverado HD’s myriad configurations carry prices similar to those of their 2014 analogs, with greater levels of equipment accounting for modest increases. Expect to pay nearly $50,000 for a mid-level four-door, four-wheel-drive 2500 with the gas V-8, with maxed-out 3500 diesels topping $65,000. Watch this space as we hook up our instruments to the various models once we get a closer look on familiar turf, but our first experience shows that the 2015 Silverado HD redefines how a heavy-duty truck does its job.
0 komentar:
Post a Comment