2000 chevrolet silverado 1500 extended cab 4x4

The way things are going we’ll soon need a new designation for trucks. It used to be when someone said pickup truck you thought of a rough, cloth bench seat, a banged up body, primitive controls and a ride like a tank.

Nowadays, trucks are more like limousines. The 2000 Chevy Silverado LT is a case in point. It rides like a Cadillac, handles like a Cadillac and is equipped like a Cadillac. All it’s missing is the Cadillac name. Of course, what most city folk don’t realize is that outside of urban centres a loaded pickup is every bit a status symbol as a Caddy.

The Silverado’s ride is as smooth as a sedan’s. Unlike most cars, however, the big truck doesn’t lose its composure on rough road surfaces. The Silverado is as sedate on blacktop as it is on rutted gravel roads, which conveys a sense of security hard to find in most vehicles. The elevated ride height of the four-wheel-drive-equipped truck adds to its fortress-like impression. Engaged via dash-mounted push buttons, the transfer case shifts are imperceptible, save for the reassuring rumble of four-wheel power. The 4X4 Chevy also includes an automatic 4WD mode that transfers power between the front and rear wheels when the system detects rear-wheel slippage.

The tester’s 285-horsepower V8 is likely too much engine for everyday use– the tires squawk and spin with little provocation. But if trailering is your thing, the truck’s 8,500-lb. towing capacity can haul just about anything you want. The Silverado also offers an innovative tow/haul mode (most trucks make do with an overdrive lock-out function) that shifts gears more aggressively to enhance trailering performance. With 325 lb.-ft. of available torque, there aren’t a lot of loads that will slow it down.

Speaking of slowing down, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS are standard on all Silverados. The truck also makes use of a system called Dynamic Rear Proportioning, which employs a computer chip to sense minute changes to wheel speed and modulate pressure applied to the rear brakes. The system is meant to spread braking power to all four wheels, thereby maximizing brake performance and minimizing wear.

Chevrolet boasts that the Silverado’s three-piece modular frame is the most rigid it has ever built. Only time will tell if that means less body rattles and squeaks, but the immediate benefit can be felt in an improved road sense, less body flex and more responsive handling. The stiffer frame ultimately makes the pickup seem smaller than it is. And it is big.

The Silverado’s size is most apparent in the city, where finding a parking spot and then manoeuvring into it is like docking an ocean liner. Also, piloting the Chevy down narrow city streets with parked cars on both sides is as nerve-racking as negotiating a china shop in a golf cart.

Even the most gentrified city-slicker, however, would appreciate the Silverado’s civilized touches. The tester was the top-of-the-line LT version, which would make more sense as a “TL” as in “totally loaded.” There isn’t a convenience item missing from its impressive list of standard features, which includes air conditioning, power locks, mirrors and windows, leather upholstery, heated, six-way power front seats, and a six-speaker stereo system with cassette and CD. The leather seats, however, were a little too slick to be luxurious.

The extended cab test truck was equipped with four doors, which is new for the Silverado this year. The rear doors open backward to reveal a cavernous opening, making ingress and egress a breeze. While the rear seats are a little too shallow for long-distance comfort, the rear passenger area offers the most head, hip and legroom – and consequently comfort – of any other full-size pickup.

On the outside, the Silverado is a handsome devil. Chevy redesigned the pickup only last year with a sleek, modern profile. The tester was finished in a bright green Chevy calls meadow green metallic. In a sea of similar colours offered on most pickups, the distinctive shade is a refreshing and energetic change. The LT’s standard 16-inch aluminum rims finish off the truck’s appealing image with a solid, sporty look.

With all this glitz and comfort it’s easy to forget there’s a bed at the rear of the truck. Although the extended cab gets a short box, the bed is still ready for work. Tie down brackets are conveniently located on the side of the bed for easy access. A plastic cover protects the tailgate top and adds some pizzazz to the rear profile, but the top of the bed’s sides are unprotected, leaving that beautiful paint vulnerable to dings and scrapes.

So, what about a more appropriate name for the new luxurious breed of pickup Silverado represents? How about carryall cruiser, LWV (luxury work vehicle) or labourer’s limousine? Well, I’m sure someone in marketing will come up with a perfect name. They almost always do.

Type of vehicle: Four-wheel drive, full size pickup truck Engine: 5300 Vortec V8. 285 hp @5200 rpm; 325 ft-lb of torque @ 4000 rpm. Transmission: Four-speed automatic with overdrive Brakes: Four-wheel disc, four-wheel ABS Tires: P245/75R16 all-terrain tires Price, as tested: $43,620 Base price: $29,830 Major equipment: Dual front airbags, leather seating with dual front six-way power adjustment, heated seats, air conditioning, cruise control, six-speaker AM/FM cassette with CD audio system, tilt steering, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and outside temperature guage, tinted windows, dual power heated mirrors, fog lights, and 16-inch aluminum wheels. Optional equipment: Vortec 5300 V8 engine, adjustable ride control, trailer package. Fuel economy, L/100 km (mpg): City – 16.2L (17 ); Hwy. – 12.3 (23) Consumer reports predicted reliability: No data available – new model Basic warranty (yr./km): 3/60,000 Powertrain warranty (yr./km): 3/60,000 (gas engines) Seats: 5

Sign up to receive Driving.ca's Blind-Spot Monitor newsletter on Wednesdays and Saturdays

By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

Thanks for signing up!

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Driving.ca's Blind-Spot Monitor will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again