Crew Cab Pickups: A Versatile and Family-Friendly Option

Crew cab pickups often serve a number of roles, not only do they haul cargo and pull trailers but they're also used as family transportation. The Chevrolet Silverado and its GMC Sierra twin are both capable trucks that are also very easy to live with. One reason for this is that the Silverado sits lower than most full-sized four-wheel drive pickup trucks, making cabin access easier because there isn't a big climb in to step over. Additionally, it's much easier to load cargo into the back of the bed over the fenders.

Crew cab models have a split folding seat raising it exposes a flat load floor, which makes it really easy to carry cargo such as boxes and luggage that are items you probably wouldn't want to leave exposed in the cargo bed. GM offers two interiors with the Silverado; most models come with a work-centric one that's more about function than style, still it's pretty well put together for people who are looking for a little more glitz than function. There's also a stylish upmarket interior available as well, it has wood look trim and some silver accents, and it looks like something that you'd find in a Cadillac, not a pickup truck.

Unfortunately, the steering will only adjust in height in coarse steps and doesn't telescope at all, which might be an issue for shorter drivers. On the other hand, one option that might help is the power adjustable pedals. Both Silverado interiors have big gauges and nice controls that are easy to reach, some features like the climate control however have very small buttons. If you opt for the individual bucket seats in the Silverado, you get a large useful center storage cubby, even the bench seats in the Silverado are supportive which is a far cry from the previous generation.

One nice optional feature in the Silverado is the backup camera; it's mounted up in the rear view mirror because pickup trucks have a real big blind zone, it's nice to know that you can get this safety feature without having to opt for a navigation system. The rear seats are roomy enough for three adults but the seat back is too upright for comfort, the Ford and Dodge pickup trucks are much roomier while the Silverado isn't a sports car, it does handle reasonably well.

The steering is responsive and gives decent feedback, one negative however is the 50 foot turning circle. Emergency handling is secure with electronic stability control standard across the line. The Silverado has a comfortable ride particularly if you opt for the Z85 trailer tow package. The popular Z71 off-road package has a stiffer ride but it still isn't too bad whether or not the Silverado had the off-road suspension, it still did a pretty good job climbing our rock hill.

One great feature in the Silverado is the available full-time automatic four-wheel drive system; it automatically switches between two and four-wheel drive and can be used on any surface that's great because you don't have to remember to turn it on when needed. The Silverado is reasonably quiet but it's not exactly hushed in the cabin, the 5.3 liter V8 engine performs well.

The addition of a six-speed automatic transmission improved both fuel economy and acceleration; this powertrain did a good job of towing our test trailer and payload capacities are generous, you can also opt for a larger V8 or a hybrid version all in all. The Chevrolet Silverado does a really good job of balancing the work that a truck is expected to do with family livability that most buyers are looking for.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: encrew cab pickups often serve a number of roles not only do they haul cargo and pull trailers but they're also used as family transportation the chevrolet silverado and its gmc sierra twin are both capable trucks that are also very easy to live with one reason is that the silverado sits lower than most full-sized four-wheel drive pickup trucks and that makes cabin access easier because there isn't a big climb in to step over in addition it's much easier to load cargo into the back of the bed over the fenders crew cab models have a split folding seat raising it exposes a flat load floor this makes it really easy to carry cargo such as boxes and luggage which are items you probably wouldn't want to leave exposed in the cargo bed gm offers two interiors with the silverado most models come with a work centric one that's more about function than style still it's pretty well put together for people who are looking for a little more glitz than function there's a stylish upmarket interior available as well it has wood look trim and some silver accents and it looks like something that you'd find in a cadillac not a pickup truck unfortunately the steering will only adjust in height in coarse steps and doesn't telescope at all one option that might help shorter drivers the power adjustable pedals both silverado interiors have big gauges and nice controls that are easy to reach some features like the climate control however have very small buttons if you opt for the individual bucket seats in the silverado you get a large useful center storage cubby even the bench seats in the silverado are supportive which is a far cry from the previous generation one nice optional feature in the silverado is the backup camera it's mounted up in the rear view mirror because pickup trucks have a real big blind zone it's nice to know that you can get this safety feature without having to opt for a navigation system the rear seats roomy enough for three adults but the seat back is too upright for comfort the ford and dodge pickup trucks are much roomier while the silverado isn't a sports car it does handle reasonably well the steering is responsive and gives decent feedback one negative however is the 50 foot turning circle emergency handling is secure with electronic stability control standard across the line the silverado has a comfortable ride particularly if you opt for the z85 trailer tow package the popular z71 off-road package has a stiffer ride but it still isn't too bad whether or not the silverado had the off-road suspension it still did a pretty good job climbing our rock hill one great feature in the silverado is the available full-time automatic four-wheel drive system it automatically switches between two and four-wheel drive and can be used on any surface that's great because you don't have to remember to turn it on when needed the silverado is reasonably quiet but it's not exactly hushed in the cabin the 5.3 liter v8 engine performs well the addition of a six-speed automatic transmission improved both fuel economy and acceleration this powertrain did a good job of towing our test trailer and payload capacities generous you can also opt for a larger v8 or a hybrid version all in all the chevrolet silverado does a really good job of balancing the work that a truck is expected to do with the family livability that most buyers are looking for youcrew cab pickups often serve a number of roles not only do they haul cargo and pull trailers but they're also used as family transportation the chevrolet silverado and its gmc sierra twin are both capable trucks that are also very easy to live with one reason is that the silverado sits lower than most full-sized four-wheel drive pickup trucks and that makes cabin access easier because there isn't a big climb in to step over in addition it's much easier to load cargo into the back of the bed over the fenders crew cab models have a split folding seat raising it exposes a flat load floor this makes it really easy to carry cargo such as boxes and luggage which are items you probably wouldn't want to leave exposed in the cargo bed gm offers two interiors with the silverado most models come with a work centric one that's more about function than style still it's pretty well put together for people who are looking for a little more glitz than function there's a stylish upmarket interior available as well it has wood look trim and some silver accents and it looks like something that you'd find in a cadillac not a pickup truck unfortunately the steering will only adjust in height in coarse steps and doesn't telescope at all one option that might help shorter drivers the power adjustable pedals both silverado interiors have big gauges and nice controls that are easy to reach some features like the climate control however have very small buttons if you opt for the individual bucket seats in the silverado you get a large useful center storage cubby even the bench seats in the silverado are supportive which is a far cry from the previous generation one nice optional feature in the silverado is the backup camera it's mounted up in the rear view mirror because pickup trucks have a real big blind zone it's nice to know that you can get this safety feature without having to opt for a navigation system the rear seats roomy enough for three adults but the seat back is too upright for comfort the ford and dodge pickup trucks are much roomier while the silverado isn't a sports car it does handle reasonably well the steering is responsive and gives decent feedback one negative however is the 50 foot turning circle emergency handling is secure with electronic stability control standard across the line the silverado has a comfortable ride particularly if you opt for the z85 trailer tow package the popular z71 off-road package has a stiffer ride but it still isn't too bad whether or not the silverado had the off-road suspension it still did a pretty good job climbing our rock hill one great feature in the silverado is the available full-time automatic four-wheel drive system it automatically switches between two and four-wheel drive and can be used on any surface that's great because you don't have to remember to turn it on when needed the silverado is reasonably quiet but it's not exactly hushed in the cabin the 5.3 liter v8 engine performs well the addition of a six-speed automatic transmission improved both fuel economy and acceleration this powertrain did a good job of towing our test trailer and payload capacities generous you can also opt for a larger v8 or a hybrid version all in all the chevrolet silverado does a really good job of balancing the work that a truck is expected to do with the family livability that most buyers are looking for you\n"