2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

After walking into your nearest Chevrolet dealership for a Silverado, you will find yourself in a bit of a pickle with the numerous trim levels on offer. There are four base trim levels starting with the Work Truck followed by LT, LTZ, and High Country. In these trim levels, there is sort of sub-trim levels that follow a numbered scheme like 1WT, 2WT, etc. The Work Truck 1WT trim is the most basic of all the trims and starts around 25 grand. There are four wheelbase sizes available with the Chevy Silverado. 

The smallest of which is 119” followed by 133”, 143.5” and 154”. Only two (119” & 133”) of these wheelbase sizes are available on the Regular Cab Body style. Upgrading to 133" will cost only $390. The Regular Cab body style is also available only on the two base trims Work Truck and LT. As standard, the 2014 Silverado 1500 comes with an RWD configuration with AWD as an option for almost four grand extra.

Many of the features available on the upper trims are available as options on the lower trims in the form of various packages, or “Groups”. Some of the most popular packages include the Max Trailering package that features an integrated trailer-brake controller, a higher-capacity radiator, and heavier-duty suspension calibration. The Driver Alert package adds various driver-assistance features to the mix as well. 

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If you want the Silverado 1500 Regular Cab, we suggest going with the Work Truck 2WT trim level which combines the thrifty pricing of the base trim with few important features such as an upgraded infotainment system and few styling bits as well. We also suggest getting the 133-inch wheelbase size which boasts an 8 feet bed for maximum practicality. It only costs $390 extra so might as well go for the increased practicality.

For the 2014 Model Year refresh, Chevrolet is offering the Silverado with three new powerhouses. The base engine is the 4.3 L EcoTec3 Naturally Aspirated V6 Engine that is good for 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. Next up is the 5.3 L EcoTec3 Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine that puts out 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. And lastly remains the 6.2 L V8 engine that makes a comfortable 420 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. With increasing engine output, these engines also have increased towing capacity. 

The base engine can tow up to 4,700 pounds; the 5.3 L V8 can pull up to 11,500 pounds and the 6.2 L V8 can haul nearly 12,000 pounds. All of these three engines can run on gasoline as well as ethanol. They also boast cylinder deactivation technology that allows for some cylinders to turn off when coasting or decelerating. Two gearbox choices are available. One is the 6 Speed Automatic Transmission and the next is the 8-speed automatic transmission. The Regular Cab buyers have access only to the 4.3 L V8 and 5.3 L V8 linked to the 6-speed automatic transmission.

Looking at the spec sheet, the 2014 Silverado 1500 is evenly matched to other pickup trucks in this segment. The Silverado puts out the most torque which will surely be appreciated by pickup truck buyers. However, if you want to haul a lot of stuff, you will need the 5.3 L V8 engine at the least.

Thanks to the new engines with cylinder deactivation technology, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado lineup now boasts one of the best fuel economies in this pickup truck segment. EPA estimates put the 4.3 L V6 engine at 18 MPG on city driving, 24 MPG on the highway, and combined it amounts to 20 MPG. These are excellent numbers for the Silverado. This combined with the large 34-gallon fuel tank and Silverado Buyers can expect a combined range of a whopping 680 miles.

The fuel-efficient engines on the Silverado still can't help it avoid the gas guzzler tax, however, they do beat other pickup trucks in the segment. What's even more impressive is that Ford and RAM both have much smaller displacement, yet they can't match Chevy's fuel-efficient engines. General Motors certainly deserves a pat on the back for this one.

With the new generation of the Chevrolet Silverado, the interior has been thoroughly revised and a lot of attention has been paid to the cabin design, seating, and comfort this time around. The Regular Cab comfortably seats two people but when equipped with the central bench, one can squeeze in three people. However, this cab configuration due to its interior cab limitations is the least selling. The Crew Cab and Extended Cab layouts amount to about 90% of all Silverado 1500 sales. There is also a new tailgate with an EZ opening mechanism that allows it to open in a sort of damped fashion. 

GM has also added shear-style mounts between the cab and the base frame that helps suppress noise and vibration in the cabin. Upholstery changes with almost every trim in the Silverado. The Work Trucks get the tough Vinyl trim and higher trims boast supple piped leather. The seats themselves have also been redesigned and now are recontoured for better support over longer distances. The steering wheel also boasts tilting functionality as standard.

On the spec sheet, the Silverado with its redesigned shell dominates the interior room aspect. Even when comparing the Regular Cab trucks, the Silverado offers the most amount of headroom, legroom as well as shoulder room in this segment. And at 61 cubic feet of cargo capacity in its 6.6 feet bed, this Chevy does a decent job at providing practicality as well. Highlighting interior features include:

• Tough Vinyl Upholstery
• Tilting Steering Wheel
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Carpeting
• Rubber floor covering
• 40/20/40-split front bench seat

How intuitive is the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab’s infotainment unit?

The standard infotainment system on the base 2014 Chevrolet Silverado is pretty much redundant and non-existent. Stepping up to the next-in-line 2WT trim will get you the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system with a 4-inch LCD display. Operated with the buttons and traditional knobs, it is dead easy to use unlike the frustrating MyFord Touch system offered by Ford. The 2WT truck will also come with SiriusXM AM / FM / HD / Satellite Seek-Scan Radio. Along with Bluetooth phone & audio connectivity as well as a CD player and voice control functionality. Standard infotainment features include:

• 4-inch LCD display
• AM / FM seek-scan radio
• Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity
• Four Speaker Stereo System
• Satellite radio and HD radio

The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado has been redesigned through and through and now looks even more bolder and aggressive than before. It might be fully redesigned but the traditional Silverado/Sierra shape still remains. With a redesigned front fascia with slitted headlights, the 2014 Silverado Regular Cab aims to look bigger, bolder, and better-looking with every new iteration. 

It almost boasts a big-rig-inspired look which will be appreciated by trucking enthusiasts. Over the hood, you will find dual domes and more chiseled details that run along the sides and the shoulders for a more squared-off look. The Wheel Wells have also been squared off to maintain the overall boxy look.

All of these half-ton pickup trucks are not the most aesthetically pleasing to look at but they have their charm. The Silverado is the most recently redesigned, thus it has an edge over the others with its fresh styling. In the end, however, styling is subjective and we reckon pickup truck buyers don't care about the styling as much as they do about capabilities. Some of the standout exterior features include:

• 17-inch steel wheels
• Chrome bumpers and grille
• Deep-tint glass
• Power/heated mirrors
• E-Z" lift/lower tailgate
• 17-inch alloy wheels

NHTSA awarded the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with five out of five stars combined in the crash tests conducted. These safety scores are one of the highest in the class. This has been a major improvement compared to the last generation GMT900 Pickups. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also gave the Silverado 1500 a rating of ‘Good’ in most categories. Standard features however are limited to StabiliTrak with Trailer Sway Control, plus Hill Start Assist, as well as head-curtain side airbags with rollover protection. Some of the available safety features include:

• Rear Tailgate Camera
• Front and rear park assist
• Anti-lock disc brakes
• Electronic stability control
• Traction control
• Front seat airbags
• Side curtain airbags

The outgoing Chevrolet Silverado 1500 lacked a lot of refinement and standard features that held it back for years. The new K2XX platform is a substantial upgrade and brings in the necessary refinement that was missing for years. This platform has also allowed the 2014 Silverado to have the largest interior cabin in this segment. Lastly, Chevy has also nailed it with the powertrain setup which offers the segment standard output at a much better fuel economy. The new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab seems promising and is all set to take over the half-ton pickup truck segment.