2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

There are few vehicle classes quite as competitive as the full-size pickup truck market in the US, with the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 being one of the segment's most important entrants. Manufacturers are constantly trying to one-up each other in terms of performance, practicality, and pricing, and with key competitors like the Ram 1500 and the ever-popular Ford F-150, it's a battle for the ages, every year. The Silverado 1500 is an aggressively styled truck, offered with several powerful motors, including a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft. 2020 sees the Silverado 1500 gain modern tech such as adaptive cruise control and advanced trailering cameras in a bid to bolster its safety rating, but is this enough to take the fight to Ford and Ram? Let's find out in our 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 review.

There's tons of power and performance on offer for 2020 with no fewer than five engines and three transmissions available. The base engine is a naturally-aspirated 4.3-liter V6 motor that produces 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque and sends its power to the wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. As is standard with these trucks, 2-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive systems are available, the latter with a low-range transfer case for decent off-road capabilities. The dynamic fuel version of this 6-cylinder engine is offered with an eight- or ten-speed automatic gearbox.

Next up is a turbocharged 2.7-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 310 hp and 348 lb-ft. The most powerful engine on offer is the 6.2-liter V8 that spits out 420 hp and 460 lb-ft. The 3.0-liter 6-cylinder turbo diesel engine offers 277 hp and 460 lb-ft. The base engine feels up to the task around town, but if you're after some off-road action, we'd recommend the diesel engine. The V8 Silverado 1500 truck will manage the 0-60 sprint in 5.4 seconds, and in the right configuration, the Silverado 1500 can tow up to 13,400 lbs with the V8. Max payload capacity is 2,250 lbs in the 2WD Regular Cab.

In this segment of the car market, it would be suicide to sell a truck with glaring faults; that's why the Silverado, along with the F-150 and Ram 1500, is so good. The 2020 Silverado 1500 is one of the best-looking trucks out there, and while it's far from being a luxury vehicle, it offers more than enough comfort and can be turned into something rather premium with enough optional extras added. Under the hood, Chevrolet offers a brilliant range of engines and transmissions with both gas and diesel options to broaden the number of available configurations. The Silverado is as capable as any off-road but can feel a bit bumpy on the road. All available bed sizes hold an impressive amount of cargo for their size, and the Silverado's payload and towing capacity is up there with what's required from a full-size truck. It might not be as polished as an F-150, but it's a solid, straightforward pickup that does everything well and has decent reliability, too.

With so many trim and engine options available, and the availability of both 2-door and 4-door cab variants, it is tough to pinpoint our favorite choice and almost impossible to tell you which model to get with your money. The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck has a price starting at under $30k and can soar up to around $60k if you want to go all out, so the sky's the limit. We'd suggest going with the 4WD Trail Boss for a more lifestyle-focused trim, which looks mean and includes the off-road package. If you're more laid back and enjoy some comfort, anything from the LT trim and above will do. Skip the petrol V6 and go for the diesel or V8.