2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Midyear addition of a 4-wheel steering system makes news for this popular full-size pickup. Silverado shares its design with the GMC Sierra, which also gets a 4-wheel-steer version for '02. Silverado comes in regular-cab, extended-cab, and Crew Cab body styles. Extended cabs have a 3-passenger rear bench seat and two rear-hinged back doors that do not open independently of the front doors. Crew Cabs have a rear bench seat and four conventional front-opening doors. All cab styles are available with front bucket seats or a bench. Regular cabs and extendeds offer Fleetside cargo boxes of 6.5 and 8.1 ft, or a flare-fender Sportside box of 6.5 ft. Crew Cabs use the 6.5-ft Fleetside box. Available on extended-cab 4x4s with the Z71 package is a 6.5-ft Fleetside box of dent- and rust-resistant composite materials.

Regular and extended cabs use a 4.3-liter V6, or V8s of 4.8 and 5.3 liters. Crew Cabs come only with a 6.0-liter V8. Crews and extendeds have standard automatic transmission featuring GM's Tow/Haul mode that adjusts shift points to maximize power under heavy loads. Regulars offer manual or automatic. Silverados are available in rear-wheel drive with optional traction control, 4WD that must be disengaged on dry pavement, or General Motors' Autotrac 4WD that can be left engaged on dry pavement; 4x4s include low-range gearing. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard, and top-line LT models include GM's OnStar assistance system. A rear load-leveling suspension is available.

Introduced to the Silverado line this summer, GM's new Quadrasteer 4-wheel-steering system is designed to provide a tighter turning radius by turning the rear wheels counter to the fronts at low speeds. It's also intended to aid stability by turning the rear wheels in the same direction as the fronts at higher speeds. Quadrasteer is available on extended-cab 2WD and 4WD models and includes a special 6.5-ft box with flared fenders.

COMPETITION

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.