With the advent of crossover vehicles this segment has become less defined. Once the domain of work-related heavy-duty pickups, buyers are now demanding that their full-size trucks do double duty. Our Best Buys remain the Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150, and GMC Sierra. These trucks offer a wide range of powertrain combinations, plenty of luxury accommodations, and ample towing power--though the GM twins are the only ones to offer full-time 4WD.

The big-rig-styled Dodge Ram matches the new Ford and GM models feature for feature but can't match their ride comfort or civility. We also like the expensive Toyota Tundra. What it lacks in brute strength, it more than makes up for with refined road manners.

Silverado remains a major money-spinner, typically the nation's number-two-selling vehicle after Ford's light-duty F-Series line. General Motors' says it now leads in big-pickup sales for Silverado and GMC Sierra combined. But only the Chevys are up in the current down market, ahead 2.1 percent year-to-year through the third quarter of 2001. F-Series, by contrast, was off 4.7 percent for the same period.

Light-duty Silverados, and perhaps the brawnier HDs too, will reportedly get a cosmetic freshening for 2003 or '04. We also wouldn't be surprised if Chevy phases out some 2-dr extended-cab models in light of the fast-growing popularity of 4-dr Crew Cabs throughout the pickup market.

GM has already announced an optional hybrid gasoline/electric powertrain for Silverado starting in calendar 2004. Unlike hybrid cars, this system doesn't actually drive the vehicle. Instead, a starter/generator temporarily shuts off the V6 engine on coming to a stop, then provides near-instantaneous restarts on pressing the accelerator; a 42-volt electrical system supplies the juice for restarting and keeps accessories powered while stopped. The result, says GM, is 10-15 percent better fuel economy than for a conventional half-ton V6 Silverado. GM will also offer this system on full-size 2004 SUVs, countering Dodge's planned hybrid Durango.

Silverado may also offer an optional "Displacement on Demand" V8, a new twist on Cadillac's early-1980s "V-8-6-4" engine. The idea in each case involves using an engine computer to deactivate cylinders for more economical highway cruising. But where the Cadillac engine suffered poor drivability with the simple, low-power computing technology of the time, the DOD V-8 is said to have 50 times the processing power. Moreover, its computer integrates with electronic transmission controls and a "drive-by-wire" throttle, features that hadn't been invented 20 years ago. One final difference: Whereas the Cadillac engine could run on eight, six or four cylinders depending on need, the DOD runs on four or eight. Sources say GM plans to sell about 150,000 DOD Silverados and GMC Sierras starting in 2004, going to around 1.5 million per year by 2007. Against today's regular 5.3 V8, the DOD is said get 8-25 percent better mileage or about 1-3 mpg.