The drop in gas prices has helped spur sales of full-size pickup trucks, but Chevy is looking to carve out a niche in the segment – nice, but not too nice – with its new Silverado Custom introduced at the Chicago Auto Show.
“The economic recovery has led to booming sales of high-end pickups like the Silverado High Country,” said Sandor Piszar, marketing director for Chevy Trucks, in a release. “But there are also millions of customers in the heart of the market who want a great looking, well-equipped truck at an affordable price. The Silverado Custom is a truck they can be proud to own and proud to drive.”
Based on the popular double-cab Silverado LS, the Custom package adds 20-inch aluminum wheels, chrome bumpers, a body-colored top cap above the front bumper, and chrome mirror caps and door handles. It also features four full doors for easier access to the front and rear seats, a 40/20/40 cloth front seat, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, power windows and door locks, and Chevy MyLink with 4G LTE WiFi.
While making the truck more convenient on the inside has been the trend for the better part of the last decade, the heart of any truck is still the engine and Chevy gives Silverado Custom buyers are couple of options.
Chevy claims most buyers will select the 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 that puts out 355 horsepower and gets 23 mpg on the freeway: the best in its class, the automaker says. The other option is the smaller 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6. Both engines use direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management, which enable four-cylinder operation during light-load driving for improved efficiency.
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The Custom is all about producing the right mix of price and comforts for people who want to buy a truck and keep it for a while. Priorities of these heart-of-the-market customers play to the Silverado Custom’s strength. According to Chevrolet research, these customers:
- Expect to keep their trucks for a long time.
- Want a truck that is as dependable as they are.
- Prefer a stylish exterior and a clean, functional interior.
- Want a vehicle that will be easy to maintain and inexpensive to repair.
“These men and women rely on their trucks every day, and they value things that are tried and true,” said Piszar. “The Silverado Custom is from the most dependable, longest-lasting family of full-size pickups on the road, and we think it is a great choice for hard-working truck customers.”
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When equipped with the available 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8 and color-keyed carpeting, both expected to be popular choices, a two-wheel drive Silverado Custom starts at $33,820. A similarly equipped 4×4 starts at $37,800. Dealers can order Silverado Customs starting this month.
