2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Fresh front-end styling, a DVD video option, and a sporty midyear model are 2003 updates to these full-size pickups. This report covers the half-ton 1500-series Silverados, which offer regular, extended, and Crew Cab body styles. Extendeds have rear-hinged back doors that don't open independently of the fronts. Crew Cabs have four conventional doors. Both include a 3-person rear bench seat. All but regular cabs offer front bucket seats vs. a bench. Regulars and extendeds are available with conventional 6.5- and 8.1-ft Fleetside cargo beds or a 6.5-ft flare-fender Sportside box. Crew Cabs come only with the short Fleetside; a Fleetside box of plasticlike material is available with the extended cab.

Regulars and extendeds have a 4.3-liter V6 and offer 4.8- and 5.3-liter V8 options. Crew Cabs use a 6.0-liter V8. Crews and extendeds include automatic transmission with GM's Tow/Haul mode. Regulars offer manual or optional automatic. Rear-wheel-drive versions offer optional traction control. Two 4WD systems are available. The base setup must be disengaged on dry pavement. General Motors' Autotrac 4WD can be left engaged on dry pavement. All 4x4s include low-range gearing. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard. The Ride Control Suspension option offers two levels of shock-absorber firmness to suit road or load. Optional for extendeds and Crew Cabs is GM Quadrasteer 4-wheel steering. It tightens the turning radius at low speeds by moving the rear wheels counter to the fronts. At higher speeds, it's designed to improve stability by turning all wheels in the same direction. A special flare-fender short box is included.

For 2003, Silverados get a revised grille among other cosmetic changes. Dual-zone climate control is newly standard. Crew Cabs add optional rear DVD entertainment, and XM satellite radio is newly available for most models. Top-line LT versions include OnStar assistance. Added midyear, the Silverado SS is a short-bed extended cab with a 345-hp 6.0 V8, all-wheel drive, 20-inch wheels, performance tires, and special trim. Silverados share a basic design with GMC Sierras, which include the luxury-oriented AWD Denali with standard Quadrasteer.

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 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 and convenient 4-wheel steering.

Big-rig-styled Dodge Ram matches the new Ford and GM models in most aspects 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.