The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration puts vehicles through several thorough tests, but can it replicate the disastrous impact of a tornado? In a miraculous turn of events, a red pickup truck fought a tornado and won…or at least lived to tell the tale.

Chevy Silverado vs. tornado

A tornado devastated Elgin, Texas on March 22nd, 2022. The terrifying natural disaster forced many Texans to flee and search for shelter. One pickup driver could not avoid the tornado’s wrath so it experienced gusts of winds so strong that the half-ton pickup was flipped like a pancake.

According to Road and Track, the red pickup truck appears to be a first-generation Chevy Silverado 1500. The Silverado took a licking from the powerful gusts of wind then drove right off away from the storm.

Did the durable pickup truck withstand the disaster because of its build? Was it luck? Though little can be confirmed about the circumstances of this miracle, one thing is certain. Chevy is going to have a tough time creating an ad that’s as great of a testament to the toughness of its full-size pickup truck.

Is the Chevy Silverado 1500 a safe pickup truck?

One important thing to note about the Silverado in the clip above is that the truck is clearly an older model. Today’s pickup trucks undoubtedly come with more safety features, but are they built as tough? Toyota no longer produces trucks as tough as the OG Toyota Pickup. The model year of the Silverado in the video could be a contributing factor as to why it was able to drive away from the encounter with the tornado in one piece.

Even first-gen Silverados don’t have Consumer Reports’ stamp of approval. Silverados aren’t particularly safer than other trucks in their vehicle segment. That being said, newer models aren’t notably unsafe either. The 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 received a 3/5 score for emergency handling from Consumer Reports.

Chevy’s full-size pickup truck may not be a paragon of safety, but its early iterations can clearly endure rough conditions. Is its toughness enough of a selling point to woo consumers?

Should you buy a Chevy Silverado 1500?

Chevy half-ton pickup trucks have great qualities, but competitors rule the full-size pickup vehicle segment. The Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 have been the undisputed kings of the hill for years. When it comes to value, Ford and Ram have Chevy beat. The Ford F-150 is America’s favorite pickup truck. The Ram 1500 is considered to be the best option on the market according to experts and consumers because of how comfortable it is.

The Chevy Silverado 1500 offers great engine options and driving dynamics, but it isn’t the best in its class. While many consumers will be in awe of the pickup’s resilience in the clip, it’s doubtful that this miracle will drive sales for Chevrolet.