In two weeks we will take a turn behind the wheel of a Chevrolet big work HD offering. Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Oct. 25, 2015 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Standard Cab Work Truck with the $8,395 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel upgrade - $42,570 to start. $3,500+ off for a new 2016 and over $6k off for a 2015. We have driven the 2011 Ford F-250 4X4 with the 6.7L Power Stroke and 2014 RAM 3500 HD 4X4 Dually with the 6.7L Cummins pickup trucks with both providing eye opening results - 28 mpg cross country and 30 mpg between LA and San Diego and back respectively - when equipped with their respective Power Stroke and Cummins 6.7L Super Diesels. What we have not driven is a GM three-quarter or one-ton HD pickup truck with the 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel which is soon to be remedied. Just like its competitors, the Chevrolet Silverado HD trucks are engineered tough. New for 2016 is an integrated cruise control, grade and diesel exhaust braking, an all-new Hydraulic/Electronic EPS with variable speed assist, steering wheel return to center assist and pull compensation assist on sloped roads – finally! – on some Double and Crew cabs. There’s also a Gooseneck/5th Wheel Trailering Prep Package, spray-in bedliner, a frame-mounted hitch platform and tray that accommodates a gooseneck ball hitch or fifth wheel hitch mounting brackets, as well as a cargo bed-mounted trailer harness. Silverado HD’s MyLink systems have been upgraded with HD radio, 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, faster processer and low and behold, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An 8-inch system with Apple CarPlay now and Android Auto later is also available. Wireless Qi smartphone charging, remote locking tailgate and three exterior new colors are also new for the 2016 MY. 2016 Silverado HD Base Work Specs (SAE J2807 compliant) Maximum 2500HD conventional trailering rating of 14,500 pounds Maximum 2500HD fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailering rating of 18,000 pounds The maximum ratings are achieved with the e Duramax 6.6L TD mated to the Allison 6-speed AT. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD Configurations Regular, Double and Crew cabs are available in the 2500 HDs lineup. Double and Crew cab models are available with either 6’6” or 8’ boxes capable of handling a 4x8” sheet of plywood lying flat on the load floor. Trim levels include Work Truck (WT), LT, LTZ and High Country. The LTZ trim is offered on Double and Crew cabs while the High Country is offered exclusively as a Crew. Special-edition models and equipment packages include the Custom for WTs, the Custom Sport Edition on LT and LTZ and the Midnight Edition offered on LT. The Z71 Off-Road package is available on LT and LTZ 4WD models. It can be purchased as a Regular cab with 8’ box, Double cab with 6’-6” or 8’ box, Crew cab with 6’-6” or 8’ box. LED cargo box lighting is optional on all models and the new remote locking tailgate is available on the base model. I am going to forgo discussion of the gas models as that is such a waste of fuel and work truck reliability. The Duramax has been engineered to operate for at least 200,000 miles on a rough-duty cycle without the need for a major overhaul. Additional standard features include: CornerStep rear bumper <-- The Silverado’s best work truck feature imho. EZ Lift and Lower tailgate (standard on LT, LTZ and High Country) <-- Another great feature Locking tailgate Upper tie-downs and other features that make cargo handling easier StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control on all models All models are backed by a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado High Country The High Country HD provides a chrome grille with horizontal slats, body-color front and rear bumpers, 6-inch tubular chrome assist steps, spray-in bedliner, High Country badges on the doors and tailgate and High Country logos on brushed metal door sill plates. It also features unique 20-inch chrome alloys. Inside, Silverado High Country HD features a saddle brown interior. Heated and vented perforated premium leather front bucket seats with High Country logos on the headrests are standard, along with Chevrolet MyLink connectivity with an 8” touch screen, Bose premium audio and Front and Rear Park Assist. Options include a sunroof, NAVI and a rear-seat entertainment system with a BluRay/DVD player. A High Country Premium Package adds a heated wheel, Driver Alert Package – with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Safety Alert Seat – and power adjustable pedals. Other Optional 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD Packages Silverado HD Custom – Available on 2500HD WT Double cab includes 20” polished alloys, deep-tinted glass, 110V power outlet, remote keyless entry, remote locking tailgate, Rear Vision camera, heated and power-adjustable outside mirrors, Z82 trailering package, spray-on bedliner, Chevrolet MyLink with 7-inch-diagonal radio, OnStar, chrome door handles and mirror caps, and trailer brake controller. Custom Sport Edition – Available on 2500HD LT and LTZ crew cab includes Front and Rear Park Assist, body-color grille with chrome bars, body-color front and rear bumpers and spray-on bedliner. The LT trim adds foglamps, chrome body-side moldings and chrome door handles and 20-inch polished alloys. Midnight Edition – Available on LT 4WD Crew cab and includes the Z71 Off Road package, Front and Rear Park Assist, body-color grille with chrome slats, body-color front and rear bumpers, black front and rear bowtie emblems, projector-beam headlamps with body-color bezels, foglamps, spray-on bedliner, heated/power-adjustable outside trailering mirrors and black, 18-inch alloys with off-road tread tires. Z71 Off Road – Available on LT and LTZ and features Rancho twin-tube shocks, Hill Descent Control, underbody shield, bushed metal Z71-logo door sill plates, Z71-specific gauge cluster, unique interior trim, unique lower bumper appearance, unique grille design with Z71 bade and Z71-logo pickup box identification. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD Exterior Design The Silverado HDs grille was designed to deliver more efficient airflow to the cooling system and air intake in the most adverse conditions. The large Duramax dual domed hood leads into a wide vertical chrome surround grille with a single wide chrome horizontal trim piece splitting the upper and lower halogen projector headlamps to the sides. A large centered bowtie finishes off the upper grille opening. Beneath is a large chrome bumper fascia with square foglamp cutouts and beneath is a lower black plastic diffuser. From the profile, Silverado HD cabs all feature black trimmed DLOs smooth door to body seams, embossed front and rear fender flares and a minor lower door feature lines. Double cabs feature front-hinged rear doors with outside pull handles at the rear. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD Interior Design In our drives of the ½-tons with the 4.3L, 5.3L and 6.2L gas engines, one thing was immediately noticeable. That being how quiet they all were. The HD std. cabs use a shear-style body mount to tune out 3 dimensional movement for a quieter ride. The Double and Crew cabs like the ½ tons we have driven have a set of hydraulic body mounts to further isolate the cabs. The instrument panel has an intuitive 6-gauge cluster. Standard models include a 3.5” driver information and a 4.2-inch color central display(s) on LT, LTZ and High Country. Both are too small imho. Ambient lighting vs. backlighting highlights all functional areas, such as the “4x4” and headlamp switches, as well as the radio, for easier viewing at night. Someday GMs full sized pickups will catch up to the standard backlit switches and switchgear in something as simple as the Hyundai Accent. The large locking center console within vehicles with front bucket seats are almost 1 cu. ft. in volume and large enough to swallow a laptop. This is a lot handier in a true work truck then you may have first believed. Additionally, the locking console accommodates hanging files for owners who use their truck as an office, as well as controls for overhead ambient lighting, map pockets along the side, movable cup holders and reconfigurable compartments. It also includes USB ports, two 12-volt power points, a 110-volt outlet and a cord management system. The fold-down center armrest on standard Cab models and other models equipped with the 40/20/40-split bench seat offers covered storage and connectivity, with USB ports and two 12-volt power points. New wireless Qi phone charging allows compatible phones to be charged without having to connect or disconnect wires or cables. It is available on LT and LTZ double cab and crew cab models with standard bucket seats; and it is standard on High Country. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD front seating configurations WT – Standard 40/20/40-split vinyl bench seat with fold-down armrest, covered storage, and three integrated cup holders. Cloth seating is available. LT – Standard 40/20/40-split cloth bench seat with fold-down armrest, covered storage, and three integrated cup holders. A heated, leather-trimmed bench seat available and heated, cloth front bucket seats are available. LTZ – Standard leather-trimmed 40/20/40-split bench seat with fold-down armrest, covered storage, and three integrated cup holders, lockable under-seat storage compartment. Heated, leather front bucket seats are available. High Country – Full-feature leather-appointed, heated and vented front bucket seats with 12-way power driver and passenger seats, including four-way power lumbar control and two-position driver memory. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD Packages WT Convenience Package adds heated, power-adjustable outside mirrors, remote keyless entry, Rear Vision camera, tinted windows, 110-volt AC power outlet and remote locking tailgate. Power windows are included on Regular cab models; they are standard on Double and Crew cabs. LT Convenience Package includes 10-way power driver’s seat adjuster (with bench seat), remote vehicle starter, Rear Vision camera, rear-window defogger, manual tilting/telescoping steering column, 110V power outlet and foglamps. Double cab and crew cab models also include dual-zone climate control. LT Plus Package on Double and Crew cabs includes power-adjustable pedals, Rear Park Assist, Universal Home Remote, rear sliding power window and rear-window defogger. LTZ Plus Package adds power-adjustable pedals, Bose premium audio system and Front and Rear Park Assist. Driver Alert Package is available on LT, LTZ and High Country, and includes Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Safety Alert Seat and Front and Rear Park Assist. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD Infotainment Details Connectivity includes MyLink with new phone integration technology and OnStar 4G LTE with a Wi-Fi hotspot. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot supports up to seven mobile devices and is on whenever the vehicle is on. It comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial. It is available on the 1SA and standard on SLE, SLT and Denali models. Six months of an OnStar Guidance plan includes all of OnStar’s advisor-based safety and security features, including Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Assistance, as well as turn-by-turn navigation. Five years of a subscription-free OnStar Basic Plan includes RemoteLink Key Fob Services, allowing owners to remotely start and lock/unlock a car (if properly equipped), and activate the horn and lights from anywhere with a data connection. It also includes OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, which runs monthly checks of a vehicle’s engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes and more, and Dealer Maintenance Notification, which sends a diagnostic report directly to a preferred dealer to simplify service scheduling. The available Rear Vision camera system with dynamic guidelines (standard on LTZ and High Country and included with the Sport Appearance Package and Midnight Edition) provides a view of items behind the vehicle. It can also assist with lining up in front of a trailer. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD 6.6L Duramax Turbo-Diesel and 6-speed Allison AT The 397 hp and 765 lb-ft of torque Duramax 6.6L TD with aluminum heads and a six-bolts-per-cylinder design is available across the lineup. It is built around a rigid cast-iron block with induction-hardened cylinder bores; four-bolt, cross-drilled main bearing caps; forged steel, nitride-hardened crankshaft; aluminum pistons with jet-spray oil cooling; aluminum cylinder heads with four valves per cylinder; water-cooled turbocharger; integrated oil cooler and a charge-cooled turbocharging system. The Duramax’s variable vane geometry turbocharger includes an integrated exhaust brake. Matched with the Allison 1000 6-speed AT, it creates added backpressure in the exhaust, resulting in negative torque during deceleration and downhill driving prolonging brake pad life. The Duramax also provides outstanding cold-weather performance, with microprocessor-controlled glow plugs capable of gas engine-like start performance in less than three seconds in temperatures as low as -20 degrees F without a block heater. NOx emissions are controlled via a Selective Catalyst Reduction after treatment system that uses urea-based Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) contained in a 5.3-gallon onboard tank and needs to be replenished about every 5,000 miles. Electrically heated lines feed the DEF to the emission system to ensure adequate delivery in cold weather. The system also incorporates GM’s second-generation diesel particulate filter (DPF). The Duramax regenerates its diesel particulate filter using a downstream injection of diesel fuel directly into the exhaust stream and can travel up to 700 miles between regenerations. The use of downstream injection improve engine life by eliminating diesel fuel contamination/dilution of the engine oil. The Allison 1000 6-speed AT features a class-first range selection function, which allows the driver to easily select the desired gears to match driving conditions, such as towing a trailer on a steep grade. The Allison 1000’s includes fifth and sixth overdrives gears (turning slower than engine speed), with a sixth-gear ratio of 0.62:1. A lower cruising rpm also contributes to a quieter interior on the highway. A 250 lb-ft of torque Power Take Off (PTO) can be connected from both the right- and left sides of the transmission. A Driver Shift Control allows the driver to manually select and hold a gear to satisfy a variety of driving scenarios. The easy tap-up/tap-down shift control holds the desired gear, but also protects the engine by inhibiting downshifts when the engine speed is above allowable rpm limits. You know what I will be using that feature for. Tow/haul mode changes the shift schedules so that the system locks the torque converter earlier to minimize heat gain and to take greater advantage of engine braking when vehicle is traveling downhill. In low temps, a Cab warm-up mode (elevated idle) allows the engine RPM to rise while the transmission increases engine load allowing the engine to produce heat quicker and warm up the truck’s interior faster. The idle speed varies with the engine coolant temperature and the normal idle resumes when it reaches 154 degrees F. The feature is also enabled when the engine is started via remote starting. Both sound like a large waste of fuel to me. The Allison 1000 6-speed AT has an easily removable, spin-on filter with a long, 60,000-mile change interval. Another internal filter is rated for the life of the transmission. The integrated, driver-selectable exhaust brake uses the compression power of the Duramax engine to improve vehicle control and reduce brake pad wear. When the exhaust brake is engaged in cruise mode, exhaust cruise grade braking will help the cruise control system maintain the desired vehicle speed when travelling downhill, keeping the driver from having to apply the brakes and exit cruise control to maintain speed. When the exhaust brake is engaged in non-cruise mode, the transmission and the exhaust brake deliver the correct amount of braking to assist in vehicle control, regardless of vehicle load. The system provides more engine braking with this feature for a heavier vehicle. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD Chassis All Silverado HD models feature fully boxed frame assemblies. A short-long arm/torsion bar front suspension features forged steel upper control arms and precision-machined cast iron lower control arms. Five different torsion bar rates support five different front gross axle weight ratings to help stabilize the range of trim heights of various models under load – including snow plows – while enhancing appearance, handling, durability, tire wear and alignment. At the rear, an asymmetrical leaf-spring design minimizes axle hop and enhances traction control efficiency. A two-stage leaf-spring design is used on 2500HD models. Silverado HD’s advanced vehicle control technologies are designed to make heavy workloads more manageable. StabiliTrak electronic stability control is standard on all 2500 HDs and incorporates trailer sway control and hill start assist. Silverado HD pickups are assembled in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Flint, Michigan. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD Early Conclusions This is a full work truck meant for farmers, ranchers, over the road tow loads and real work with PTO attachments. While the $8k Duramax and Allison AT option seems steep, it will easily save that upcharge in fuel costs over the life of the vehicle. In addition, resale of a Duramax equipped Silverado will recover much of this upfront cost as well. Looking at TrueCar pricing, $3k off new 16 Chevrolet Silverado HD and $6k+ off 15 Chevrolet Silverado HDs are currently available. The interior is a mix of hard truck touchpoints and soft car amenities with a balance that many Chevrolet Truck buyers believe is a good mix given Silverado sales over the past year are up significantly. GM September 2015 Sales Up 12.5% with 251,310 Vehicles Sold with YTD Silverado sales of 440,904 up 15.4 percent over the 382,153 sold through the same period of 2014. By comparison, RAM sales of 330,643 pickups are up 3.4 percent over the 319,868 sold through the same period of 2014 and Ford F-Series sales of 564,451 pickups are up just 1.3 percent over the 557,037 sold through the same period of 2014. Chevrolet must be doing something right although I do not have a breakout for HDs vs. the LD ½ ton lineup in any of the above comparisons. Now let us hope the LA Press Fleet Duramax equipped 2016 Silverado HD has a 3.73 rear end vs. the 4.10 that could be in there?
Hi e90diesel: Me too! Worried it will be a High Country with the 20s and a 4.10 out back but we shall see. Wayne
Hi All: Will have more later but am heading out to complete some pics and video. Here are the broken out highlights of this High Country Trimmed 2500 HD Chevrolet has us in this week. The 397 hp and 765 lb-ft. of torque 6.6L Duramax V8 Turbo Diesel is mated to the Allison 6-speed AT. Emissions wise, the 6.6L incorporates an SCR with DEF with electrically heated lines to ensure cold weather operation. GM’s second-gen diesel particulate filter (DPF) receives its fuel for regeneration downstream removing any crank case oil dilution issue. The Truck can travel up to 700 miles between regeneration. When they arrive, the efficiency can be degraded for over 20 miles as we experienced late last week. As a 4X4 with its std. 3.73 rear end, it can tow up 13,000 lbs (SAE J2807) At 60 mph, the tach indicated 1,475 vs. the SG-IIs 1,445 and 1,410 calculated. At just under 7,400 pounds, it is not a lightweight but built to do real work as noted. The 4.3L V6 almost 300 hp in a similar 4X4 configuration weighs 1,900 pounds less and has a tow rating of almost 3,200 pounds. If you tow less, buy less. Crew Cab Turning Diameter? Our 6’6” box had a 51.5' turning diameter. This is not a city truck for that reason. The even larger 8’ box has a monster truck 56.1' turning diameter. You remember our experiences with the RAM 3500 including 3 point turns in parking lots and such. 6'-6" box has a cargo volume of 61 cu. ft. New Digital Steering Assist power steering offers improved steering feel and by a lot. Considering the F-250/350/450s with their up to 4 degrees of steering slop, the Silverado HD is far easier to drive. Silverado High Country HD features saddle brown leather interior with Heated and vented perforated premium leather front bucket seats with High Country logos on the headrests. Both driver and passenger power seats are 12-way adjustable with two-position driver memory. Chevrolet MyLink connectivity with an 8-inch touch screen, Bose premium audio and Front and Rear Park Assist. Sounds good but I had an issue where it locked out screen controls on the first drive. A glitch for sure.The second item I have seen with other makes ans well. If you plug in a smartphone via USB and are BT Audio streaming from another, it will not allow Pandora to launch. You have to disconnect the USB phone, launch your apps and then plug in the secondary phone into the USB port. IIRC, older Honda's and Nissans have this glitch as well? This truck also included navigation and the High Country Premium Package with a heated steering wheel, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Safety Alert Seat plus power adjustable pedals in lieu of a telescopic wheel. That safety alert seat is "Da Bomb"! Get close to something when parking front or back or if it thinks you are going to collide with something ahead at speed, it vibrates the seat adn gets your attention right damn now. Torsion Beam up front and a two stage Leaf spring out back. Flat ride and only a little stiff. Wish it had a RAM air suspension option but reliability with that system would have been reduced. Wayne
Hi All: Here is the full length 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 4X4 video review. I am rendering the short version now and should have it up within an hour. Wayne
Hi All: Tonight's ride is courtesy of Tom Wilkinson and the General Motors Corporation in the form of a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD. It is the fully equipped #High Country trim and lists for $66,425. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Monroney The preview of this big beautiful beast is above and so far it is everything and a lot more. As in the 397 hp and 765 lb-ft of torque 6.6L V8 Duramax mated to the 6-speed Allison AT and a 3.73 rear end. All the right specs in my book. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD A late evening shot of the Heavy Duty in High Country Trim. Given California diesel fuel prices have been less than gasoline for over a year, it sure is nice to be back in a turbo diesel. LAX Shell - $2.54 for diesel, $2.88 for gasoline. While parked at this Shell to top off the monster - over 45-minutes and I have only added $9.00 of fuel so far, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a new 15 Audi A3 owner both commented on how nice this High Country trimmed Silverado HD in black looks. For me it is all about its efficiency over the 6.2L V8 gas engine let alone the ability to tow an 18,000 lb. 5th wheel if needed. This is knock down your house and tow it away type power in case you are not familiar with the Duramax Super Diesel. Over the last 400 miles it has only provided the Press Fleet handlers and maybe one or two journalists or outlets 15.5 mpg on a truck with just over 750 miles. We will see what we can do about that. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Previous driver(s). If you look at the rear end shot, notice those integrated steps into the rear bumper. I cannot tell you how many times I have stepped on the Rangers rear bumper in muddy boots and slipped off banging my shin over the years. This feature alone is one of the best things coming out of the truck segment in quite some time and I am surprised that no one copies it. I also believe the USB ports are 2 amp units as they are bringing my LG G4 up a heck of a lot faster than those airport USB ports I have been plugging into all day. Another cool feature... When topping off, I do a start and accel a few feet with a hard brake, do the same in reverse, forward and reverse again to begin the refueling process. With a car behind, the seats vibrate along with the dash warnings to let you know someone is back there. Good stuff. A ton more to talk about but I have a 100+ mile calibration drive to complete and time is a wasting. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Topped off and ready to roll. Great to be back in a premiere Turbo Diesel again. Oh wait, I typed that up already. Wayne
Hi All: Coming into the 23rd hour of work today and I still have a little left... Stopped at a Shell on the 5 and Via De LA Valle in Del Mar to complete the calibration drive. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Diesel is $0.40 less per gallon at this station. First things first, DPF regens appear to last over 25 miles as the instantaneous was in the teens to low 20s when it should have been running in the mid-20s to lower 30s on the 405 early this morning. I reset trip B at the 31 mile mark once the regen was over. 26.3 mpg is a bit better. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD And of course whoever had the truck previously curbed it. Kind of sucks to see a brand new truck with flashy chrome blinged 20s with scrapes. With the 750+ mile odometer regen allowing just 23.2 indicated - 23.4 mpg actual, the 4.3L V6 gas engine would rip up on the monster. It can only tow a fraction of the big boy but I was not expecting the 4.3L to best the Duramax tonight. Rarely do they beat the TDs. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Calibration drive with DPF Regen result. In any case, the Silverado HD indicated 105.0 miles traveled - Trip A - vs 104.1 miles actual on the Garmin. She consumed 4.442 gallons hard top off to hard top off for a 23.4 mpg actual result. Using the Manual mode will not get the HD into 6 any earlier. Breach 55 mph and you can see 6th via the tach and when shifting between D and M. In M, you can tap it up to 6 at 5 mph and nothing is going to happen. Lane Departure Warning via the seat vibration is aggressive. The display locked itself out while moving and I had to use the wheel vol. and tune to previous presets to hear music. Maybe a glitch as I do not see a menu blocking out the touchscreen at speed? Comfortable for an HD as the seats are soft and ergonomics are good. Quiet too although you can hear diesel clatter when accelerating from a stop. Power pedals on the High Country and there are two separate levers to adjust the tilt and telescopic function. No proximity key seems to be a miscue for a truck at this price point. Time to get back home and call it a day.
Hi All: Working out the efficiency issues experienced the other night in the 16 Silverado HD with the 6.6L Duramax. Took a trip of more than 40 miles out to see my son and back with quite a few climbs between 775' and 30' ASL. In heavy traffic the big truck gets taken to the woodshed but once above the 55 mph 6th gear minimum, I suspect the torque converter is not locking up fully until holding speeds of 60 or so possibly? Something Southern California traffic rarely allows. Even with the heavy elevation deltas and stop and go heading out, she finished up much higher than the 23.2 mpg - 23.4 mpg actual - achieved on the 104.1 mile LAX to Del Mar, Calif. calibration drive loop the other night. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Late evening drive. Tomorrow I will head out and perform a lengthy limited traffic drive and see how it turns out as the RAM 3500 with the 6.7L Cummins and Ford F-250 with the 6.7L Power Stroke owned the Silverado HD with the Duramax in Southern California. Until tonight. Nice-Ons above ~ 40 mph do not work as the ECU will rev match the V8 to the Allison. Marian is in the passenger seat and says, "What is the idea behind all of those gauges and switches. It looks like a spaceship!" I smiled. I had her look in the center console storage area and she said, "My purse can fit in there!" It did too as the volume is larger than most 12 V battery boxes. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Largest center console I have ever seen. I asked for her thoughts about the two smallish glove boxes and she said, "Who cares when you have such a large center console storage box." Never under estimate the female perspective as she made a good point. She liked the back and lower cushion seat heater too. We figured out how to get the Qi wireless charger to charge up my Samsung S5 worked. It is all in the placement and the phone did not get hot either. Good stuff and beats Toyota/Lexus Qi chargers hands down. The HDs are a bitch to park in Southern Calif. as expected. Probably a 40+ ' turning radius. I wish Chevrolet would include a Proximity Key with Push Button start on this $66k truck. When I work around the Ranger, having to pull my gloves off and screw with pulling a key out to open a door and start the truck is a PIA. This Silverado HD has the same problem and competitors have it all over them because if it. Infotainment screen lockup the other night was a glitch of some sort. Have not experienced it in 7 starts since the first drive. Finally Southern California drivers are notorious for being some of the rudest jack @$$es behind the wheel anywhere. When you drive a HD Pickup whose bed rail is taller than Marian is tall, drivers get the message to allow the big boy to merge and change lanes without hassle for fear of being run over. Wayne
Hi All: 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD Pickup with the 6.6L Duramax Turbo Diesel update. Of the big 5 - F-Series, #Ram, Silverado, Titan and Tundra, the Silverado has the best looking "Tough Truck" exterior. Especially in Black. The High Country's interior is just a scosche behind the RAM. The built in rear bumper step(s) and damped locking tailgate add to its everyday utility and capability. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD But damn is it up in the air. Marian cannot even peak over the side rails.
Hi All: Closest I could get to the Pacific after today's 65+ mile highway run in the 16 Chevrolet Silverado HD 4X4 with the 6.6L Duramax. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD The Silverado HD performed better in lighter traffic than the other night but still could not quite match our 30 - 31 mpg experiences in either the Ford F-250 4X with the 6.7L Power Stroke or Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 4Xs with the 6.7L Cummins on the efficiency front. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD 28.6 mpg indicated - 28.8 mpg actual - on a 65.9 mile - 65.3 miles actual on a RT drive loop. Last 50 miles - 28.6 with a 29.0 mpg best - 28.8 mpg with a 29.3 mpg best actual. Climbs and any city slowdowns really take the truck to the woodshed. To the tune of another 5 to 7% or so at the pump when running empty vs its direct competitors. The High Country trim and those 20" chromes did not help matters in this regard. Wayne
Hi All: Southern California Parking lots are not made for Super Trucks. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Chevrolet Silverado HDs 239.4 inches front bumper edge to rear bumper edge is long and this is the 6'-6" short bed! Any of you remember the three point turns we had to perform to make simple turns in these same lots when in the 14 RAM 3500 with duallies and the 8' bed! Wayne
Hi All: Another highlight of the 16 Chevrolet Silverado HD. Power folding trailering mirrors are a godsend when parking is a wee bit tight as it was at Tower 13 in Cardiff tonight. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Wayne
Hi All: The witching hour arrived and it was time for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD with the Bad@$$ 397 hp and 765 lb-ft of torque monster 6.6L called the Duramax turbo diesel to prove its prowess. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD At Vons after midnight. The aFCD offset was calculated during the calibration run the other day and now it is time for some very early morning Interstate Steady States. A fresh 2L of Pepsi, a notepad ready for data, Pandora on an unlimited music streaming T-Mobile acct., and a super truck. Always interesting and you never know what the results will be until they are complete a few hours later... Wayne
Hi All: And the results completed in temps from 52 to 54 degrees F with winds of 5 to 10 mph out of the West on the North/South average runs. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Speed vs FE From the graph, a 68 to 70 mph crossover occurs at ~ 19.6 to 19.2 mpg so 19 mpg would more than likely be its highway rating "if it were EPA highway rated." RPM@60 mph = 1,440 RPM - from the ScanGauge-II - vs. 1,412 and 1,408 RPM calculated with the 20's and 18s respectively. Tach was indicating more along the lines of 1,475 RPM but with no demarcations at that resolution, it is a best guess anyway. CC and the Garmin at 60 mph actual = 61 mph on the speedometer. At 70 mph actual (Garmin), the CC and Speedometer are both set and read 71 mph. Wayne
Hi All: Out shooting the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD on Sunday morning. Ten non-rolling 0 to 60 runs yielded a very acceptable 8.7 sec. avg. with a .4 second spread. TC will kick in around 30 mph at WOT for maybe 250 ms. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Performance Although I only have it for another day plus, along with the built in step bumper, damped tailgate, OEM spray-in-bedliner and close to ready for prime time Bose Audio system, the Chevrolet Truck Product Planners did a great job. Material selection and appointments that perform as they were intended to perform - wireless charger that really works, this High Country is really really well thought out. Inside the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD [/ce High Country trim. A few of those extras include: Soft touch window sill AND armrests Backlit and auto up/down window controls More power options - triple USB ports, quad 12V ports and one 120V outlet - than you could possibly use One touch stow up/down rear 60/40 split rear seats 12-way Heated and ventilated leather seats Tilt and telescopic wheel - why two separate levers??? - and Power Pedals The infotainment needs a little more stability programming and a cloth textured A-Pillar would have pushed it over the top. Android Auto cannot get here soon enough. On the Ride and Handling front, the dual rate suspenders despite being Torsion beam up front and Leafs out back do not beat you up entirely and provide minimum body roll. It is rougher than the air suspended RAM HDs but acceptable for an unloaded HD Pickup on pavement. Off-road and you are going to get bounced big time. 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD The new electro-hydraulic steering assist is very helpful from parking lot speeds up to high speed Interstates. I bet it helps ease the stress of hauling loads as well. Far less slop compared to Ford's Super Duty’s from years gone by... Wayne
Hi All: I took the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD High Country to the Pacific for some shots in very harsh back light. How are these with a little lens flare thrown in? 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 4X4 HD Wayne
Which is why it needs this: Chevrolet themselves introduced the concept on the Avalanche a decade ago, then dropped it. But seriously, why are all the new trucks SOOO tall?!! I'm 6'2" and I can't reach into the bed over the side to pick up something. I have to climb up the "handy integrated bumper steps" into the bed instead. Why?
It's a macho thing, so owners can feel superior to their neighbors in lower trucks---not to mention worms down in mere cars.
