CHEVY SILVERADO 1500

TThis pickup’s sporty styling, blacked-out bow-tie Chevy logos, 22-inch-tall wheels and low-profile tires belie its 9,100-pound tow rating. The four-wheel-drive 2018 model also offers a high-performance suspension for street handling when not towing.

But it’s trailering that matters here, and based on our evaluation with a 6,500-pound boat/trailer, this 2018 model matches its styling with strong towing capabilities.

A 5.3L EcoTec3 delivered 355 hp and plenty of grunt for quick acceleration while towing and blistering hole shots when not. The Silverado’s eight-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode and a 3.42 axle ratio kept the engine revving in its power band while towing up grades, and it provides engine braking when descending.

The StabiliTrak with trailer-sway control ensures that the truck and trailer stay aligned, even when pushed sideways by gusty winds or passing big rigs. The fourwheel-drive function offers high and low gearing, and this came in handy while retrieving our boat/trailer on a slick launch ramp at low tide. Even though the tires were lowprofile, they featured an allterrain tread pattern.

Chevy half-ton trucks tend to have a softer, looser feel to the suspension and steering than comparable pickups from other brands, and this truck was no exception. While that can improve ride comfort, it also adds a certain wiggle factor to the towing experience.

We recorded fuel economy of 8.9 mpg while towing and 20.2 mpg without a boat/trailer — among the best of the gas engines in this group.

Technology is becoming more prevalent in today’s pickups, as exemplified by this truck’s optional OnStar communication service, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and SiriusXM service. The audio system keeps everyone entertained during road trips. At $48,685 MSRP, this Chevy Silverado 1500 represented the most affordably priced half-ton pickup in our test group.