By Len Ingrassia
Automotive columnist

Second place finishers try hard to overcome obstacles in their way and so it is with the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado – a rugged pickup that can be outfitted with a plethora of configurations and engine choices to suit most budgets.

Silverado has been around for a quarter-century and sold 549,945 copies last year compared with Ram at 439,039 and Tundra at 159,528. Ford F150’s toppled them all with 765,649 sales. Easy to see why U.S. full size pickup truck sales are unequalled around the globe.

Trim levels are numerous starting with the base Work Truck, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, LT, RST, LT Trail Boss, LTZ, High Country and ZR2. Entry prices range from $37-$70

thousand with available options reaching six figures for the ZR2.

A variety of engines are available to suit your pocketbook and penchant for power. Entry level trucks come with a turbocharged four-cylinder (310hp). From there you can choose from a pair of V-8’s, a Duramax diesel 3.0-liter inline six (277 hp), 6.2-liter V8 with 420 ponies or you can chuck all of the above in favor of a gas-less EV.

Three bed lengths are available – 5’8” short bed, standard 6’6” and long bed at 8 feet. Each has rear bumper bed steps and a six-mode tailgate that collapses for easy access.

Our Crew LT Trail Boss tester was equipped with the big V8. It features a 2-inch lift kit, monotube shocks, large skid plates and Bridgestone Dueler all-terrain paws with 20-inch, high gloss black painted aluminum wheels.

A trailering package with hitch guidance will handle construction projects as well as tow trailers, boats and other toys. Towing capacity is 13,300 pounds, more than Ram 1500 but trailing F150s. Payload is 1,870 to 2,200 pounds.

With all this versatility, our tester was outfitted for performance, heavy off-road duty and gussied up with luxurious appointments throughout its cabin.

On open pavement, shifting the 10-speed automatic transmission was smooth with lots of torque when needed for downshifts. We found steering precise with little body roll. Brakes were strong. In highway travel, the Silverado absorbs most road imperfections.

Inside the fourth generation Crew Cab is a nice place to enjoy lengthy trips without tiring. Fill-ups will be more frequent with EPA combined 15 miles per gallon. With our sometimes-aggressive testing maneuvers, we recorded 12.4 mpg. Cabin noise is kept to a minimum unless you stomp on the gas pedal.

Whether heating or cooling, the Silverado system does so quickly. Numerous toggle switches line the center console controlling cabin environment, entertainment and navigation. A 13.4-inch center touchscreen makes adjustments simple while a driver mounted 12.3-inch digital screen monitors engine vitals.

Driver assist features are standard on upper trims and include emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning which was useful with its behemoth size, HD surround vision, rear cross traffic braking, blind spot monitors, available adaptive cruise control and perimeter lighting. Gross vehicle weight is 3½ ton.

The new Silverado is mostly a carryover from last year’s model. Cypress Gray and Riptide Blue Metallic are new colors.

(Contact independent automotive columnist Len Ingrassia at editor@ptd.net)

What was reviewed:

2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew LT Trail Boss 4WD

Engine: 6.2-liter V8 420 horsepower – 460 lb.-ft. of torque

MSRP/as tested: $58,800 / $72,395

EPA mileage: 15 city, 20 highway, 15 combined.

Assembled: The 2025 Silverado is assembled at GMC facilities in Silao, GJ Mexico. U.S. /Canadian parts content -37 percent. Major source of foreign parts, Mexico – 37 percent. Country of origin – engine and transmission – U.S.

Crash test ratings: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Silverado an overall safety rating of five stars out of a possible five; five stars in side crash protection and in driver seat with four stars for front passenger and rollover protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in updated testing, gave the Silverado its third best rating of “Marginal” in small overlap front and “Poor” in moderate overlap front and “Acceptable” in side crash worthiness

Warranty: 3-year/36,000-mile bumper to bumper; 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain. First maintenance visit.