Silverado Wins Top Prize!

The Silverado HD beat out Ford and the GMC Sierra to take Motor Trends top honor as Truck of the Year. The 2011 model received some important changes from the previous model year. These changes included:

Fully Boxed Frames
Additional Crossmemebers
Hydroformed front frame segments
Redesigned independendent front suspension
Reduced NOx emissions on diesel models
Increased horsepower and torque on 6.6 liter V-8 models

The redesigned independent front suspension improves the Silverado’s ride and handling. It also helped the front axle weight rating, reduced noise, and allows for a snowplow attachment on four wheel drive models. An improved emissions system reduced NOx emissions by 63% over the 2010 model year.

Chevrolet increased the 6.6 liter engine’s horsepower to 397 and increased torque to 765. (Just ask our guys in Oklahoma City's Chevy service department about this!) Shortly after the increased horsepower and torque numbers were released Ford reprogrammed the engine on the Super Duty. This may look good on paper but the Silverado still comes out ahead. Both Super Duty models, gas and diesel, weigh more than the Silverado. Ford’s diesel Super Duty model outweighs the Silverado by 800 pounds. The Super Duty’s increased weight gives Silverado the better weight- to-power ratio. Silverado HD is able to deliver torque smoothly throughout the entire band.

The Silverado HD drives like a much smaller truck. This allows the Silverado to increase spend faster-important for merging especially while towing a large load. The diesel HD model was the fastest truck with or without payload. The Silverado also had the shortest stopping distance from 60 miles per hour.

Motor Trend testers preferred the smoothness of the Silverado’s shifting over the Super Duty on both gas and diesel models. The Silverado also offered the best ride comfort in the group.