The Ford F-150 is currently the best-selling pickup on the market, but it’s not the only good option. Because of the growing demand for pickup trucks, the competition is getting fiercer each year. The F-150’s two main competitors are the Ram 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado. All of these trucks have considerable towing power, useful technology, and capable V8 engines.

For 2019, the Silverado was completely redesigned. It got more cabin space, a larger truck bed, and two more engine options. Here’s what Car and Driver had to say about the newest Silverado after the first test drive.

Exterior changes

The latest Silverado is lighter compared to its rivals. The hood, doors, and tailgate are now made from aluminum instead of steel. This gives the truck more refined driving manners and the capability to make more precise movements. It’s also able to tow more than it could in previous years.

Despite its redesign, the face of the Silverado remains largely unchanged. The truck looks basically the same as before, except now the hood is slightly less boxy. It’s fine for now, but a stale design could impact the truck’s sales in the future.

Engine and transmission options

Last year’s Silverado had three different engine options. The base engine returns for the 2019 model year, a 4.3-liter V6 capable of 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. It comes with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Two new engines were also made available this year. The first one is 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 310 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque, paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The second is a powerful turbodiesel engine capable of 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. This engine gets an impressive fuel economy rating of 33 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg on city roads.

Acceleration power

Thanks to its lighter body structure, the Silverado shaved a whole second off its 0-60 acceleration time. In the 1500 RST Crew Cab with the smaller V8 engine, the truck reached 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. This is still not as fast as the F-150 Limited, but it’s still impressive for a large truck.

Over rough terrain, reviewers found that the truck was a little wobbly, probably due to the new aluminum components. Additionally, the eight-speed transmission failed to deliver sufficient power when tackling hills. However, the Silverado had improved stopping power compared to the F-150. It could go from 70-0 in just under 170 feet.

Technical features

The reviewers noted that the interior of the Silverado wasn’t as impressive as the rest of the truck. It costs nearly as much as the Ram 1500, but it’s made with less cozy materials. The cabin is filled with hard plastics and the seats don’t offer a lot of support.

However, you can still get heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control to make the drive more pleasant. Standard infotainment offerings include Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and a rear-view camera. There’s also a good selection of add-on safety features like blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, and parking sensors.

Towing power

For the 2019 Silverado, three cargo bed sizes are available: a 6-foot-7-inch, an 8-foot-2-inch, and a 5-foot-ten-inch. Inside the beds, Chevrolet added locking bins and more tie-downs, as well as a power tailgate. It has a maximum payload of 2,250 pounds.

The towing capacity hasn’t changed from last year’s model, an impressive 12,500 pounds. However, you’ll need something higher than the base V6 engine to haul that much. It does come with some new trailer safety features, including a set of hitch-view cameras.