The 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 is entering into its fourth generation, so naturally, there are some big changes. Generally, when a pickup truck has a generation switch it is a good thing. That is especially true for this year’s Chevy Silverado 1500. The most notable things to look for are the engine options, the interior space, and the all-new trailering system.
The 2018 Chevy Silverado was a perfectly fine vehicle, but every automotive engineer will tell you there is always room for improvement, especially if you are going into a new generation. A new generation of a vehicle allows for major changes in all areas, including mechanical, aesthetics, technology and, in the case of a pickup truck, utility. Take a look at how Chevy improved on the 2019 Silverado 1500 below, and see if you like the changes that were made.
Engines
Nothing is more important in a truck than its engine. They have to have powerful engines to not only move but to get the jobs done that are expected of pickup trucks like the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500. The 2018 model had three engines. The first was a 4.3L V6 with 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque. It could tow up to 7,600 pounds. The second was a 5.3L V8 that got 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque and was capable of towing 11,100 pounds. The biggest of the bunch was a 6.2L V8 with a whopping 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. This engine had a towing capacity of 12,500 pounds.
Chevy brought back all three of those engines for 2019 and added a fourth – a 2.7L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder with 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque. Of the four engines, this one has the best fuel efficiency, rated at 20 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway. Chevy had also announced a 3.0L inline 6-cylinder diesel engine that got 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Although this engine would have bested the diesel engine offered by Ford on the 2019 F-150, Chevy decided to hold off on it until the 2020 model year. So Ford has a few months to try to crank out a little more horsepower and torque for next year.
Any time you can get a pickup truck that has four engine options to choose from is great. When those four engines are as powerful and efficient as the ones offered on the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500, that is fantastic.
Interior Space
Not much changed between the 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 and the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 on an initial glance. The dashboard remains the same, and the gauges are still the same as ever. But the 2019 Chevy Silverado became more family-friendly with the back seat.
More and more people are moving to trucks as family vehicles. This makes sense because the size of trucks like the Silverado makes larger pickup trucks inherently safer than cars or small SUVs. The added bonus of better visibility for the driver gives an advantage in a possible accident. So it would make sense that Chevy would want to add to the comfort level of a truck that can be used as a family vehicle.
To that end, they increased the back seat of the four-door crew cab, expanding the legroom from 40.9 inches to 43.8 inches. That three inches is much more than what it sounds like, especially if you are the one who always has to sit in the back seat. And if you have kids in car seats, that extra space is useful in maneuvering them into the car seats. It also gives them more room to throw their toys and snacks on the floor. It is a win/win for everyone.
The 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 also added more interior storage space in the form of two cargo bins underneath the rear seats and extra cubby holes for placing anything you or your kids can fit into them. If you have a family that likes to travel, the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 has all the interior room you need (and we won’t even get into the greatly expanded truck bed).
Trailering
In days of old, like last year, if you wanted to hitch a trailer to your Chevy Silverado, you would need a buddy to help you line up the trailer with your truck. He would stand behind the truck and motion to you to slowly reverse until the hitch was just right. He might frantically put up his palm as you strained to see him through your side mirror. He might even slap the truck to tell you that you were good. Well, not anymore.
The 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 comes with General Motors’ all new Advanced Trailering System. Among the things this system can help you do is use the Rear View Camera to perfectly align your truck hitch with the trailer. It also can light up the trailering area, in case you are trying to do that at night. The system also will also automatically set your parking brake, to avoid your truck moving involuntarily and messing up your perfect alignment job. And if you are concerned about the air pressure on your trailer’s tires, the Advanced Trailering System has that covered, too.
All of the features of the Advanced Trailering System are available on an app that can be accessed through the Silverado’s infotainment center or your smartphone. The smartphone app tracks things like mileage and fuel efficiency. We recommend you not engage the smartphone app while driving, though, because that is illegal.
There are many applications to trailering on a truck like the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500. You could use it for work or to take camping equipment on a family vacation. Either way, the Advanced Trailering System has made trailering safer, faster, and more efficient than ever. That is sure to be a major selling point to a lot of buyers, not just now, but for years to come.
We could get into much more that is new about the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500, like how it is 450 pounds lighter, even though it is stronger than the 2018 model, thanks to some really clever engineering and the use of lightweight steel. We mentioned in passing the expanded truck bed, but we didn’t go into detail about how it is seven inches wider than last year, or that it has an available power tailgate and twelve cargo tie-downs.
2018 vs 2019 Chevy Silverado
We won’t even mention how the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 is virtually the same price as the 2018 Silverado, even starting out below where the 2018 did on some trim levels. And we definitely won’t tell you about the four different grille choices that come on different trim levels. We have to keep a little mystery.
Any fan of the pickup truck will love the 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500, and Chevy fans, in particular, will absolutely adore it. It retains some of the classic Chevy look, both on the inside and the outside while offering radically new and improved features. After all, what is a new generation for if it can’t improve upon the old one?
