Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
MSRP: $38,340
Estimated MPG: 21 city / 22 highway
Class: Full-size pickup truck
The Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid inherits the improved gasoline / electric system that was installed in the Chevrolet Tahoe a few years before. The fact that the Silverado Hybrid uses a V8 engine is of considerable importance due to pickup truck market, where there is little tolerance of a loss of capability simply to save a few miles per gallon.
That the Tahoe and the Silverado share so many chassis and drivetrain components already was a bonus for parent company General Motors, who were able to shoehorn in their two-mode hybrid motor and transmission with few changes. Although the Silverado was the first vehicle in the GM lineup to make use of any type of hybrid propulsion, that original version of the hybrid truck that debuted in 2005 was not nearly as sophisticated as what the vehicle now has to offer. A 6.0 liter V8 engine shares space with two electric motors in order to provide 332 horsepower (379 peak power according to Chevrolet). An electronically-variable, 4-speed automatic transmission sends that grunt to either the rear or all four wheels, giving buyers the option of a little off-road prowess should they need it. Fuel economy delivers to the tune of a 40 percent consumption reduction compared to a gasoline-powered Silverado in city driving – 21 miles per gallon – along with a fairly standard 22 miles per gallon on the highway. The nickel-metal hydride battery pack is mounted unobtrusively under the truck’s bed, so as not to interfere with hauling, and the truck can drive at speeds up to 29 miles per hour on electrical power alone.
The Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid can only be ordered in a four-door body style, which might be a bit off-putting for buyers not interested in quite that much truck. However, it does provide comfortable accommodations inside for 4 passengers, with a fifth being able to squeeze across the rear bench seat if required. Automatic dual-zone climate control, leather tri, and GM’s OnStar vehicle communications system come free of charge with the truck. Ordering luxury features such as heated mirrors, a navigation system and a solid tonneau cover can seriously ratchet up the Silverado’s price.