2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 - Styling Review

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Shopping for a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500? MSRP: $20,850 - $41,775

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The Silverado is a handsome truck, with a little less obvious flair than the full-sizers from Toyota, Nissan, and Dodge.

Back in 2007, GM completely renovated the Chevy Silverado to great effect. The body design was simplified and cleaned up, and a larger bowtie grille was fitted to the front end, which incorporates "vertically-stacked headlamp elements, heavily flared front fenders, and the largest Bowtie badge that we've ever seen on a Chevrolet," according to Autoblog. It's still a good-looking truck, though it's not as distinctive as the Dodge Ram-or as controversial as the Toyota Tundra or the Nissan Titan. It's also quite similar to its corporate cousin, the GMC Sierra: "To our eye, the GMC looks stockier and brawnier than in the past, the Chevy perhaps a bit sleeker and aerodynamic," says Four Wheeler. The look is aging well, and this year there are no cosmetic changes save for some revised door-panel trim. Hybrid trucks have only minor differences; Car and Driver states the Silverado Hybrid is "available only in crew-cab body style in the Pure Pickup trim level." The Detroit News points out the "strong front end with big grille shows off Silverado's power without hindering its capabilities."

In the cabin, the Silverado wears two looks; "pure pickup" versions have a high dash with low-gloss black plastic and no center console, for three-across seating. Upscale LTZ versions get a wide console, bands of wood grain trim, and metallic-painted pieces that look far richer and more appealing. It's almost carlike compared to the more upright design on base versions, which also get larger door handles and controls to make operation easier for big hands with gloves. Both interiors share large, clearly marked gauges and soft blue backlighting, a meaty steering wheel, and humongous cup holders tucked either into the dash or the fold-down armrest or molded into the console. ConsumerGuide sums up the difference: "The Pure Pickup interior places radio and climate controls high on the dashboard, just out of easy reach. The available luxury interior mimics that of Chevy's Tahoe and Suburban large SUVs, with controls mounted lower but in easy reach."