2007 Chevrolet Silverado First Drive

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Outside

One look and one can see the difference a complete redesign makes: more pronounced fender blisters front and back, a new grille and headlight casings that make the Silverado more muscular. Gone is the Chevy face up front, replaced by a more chiseled front assembly that looks as if it’s been carved into the truck. To be sure, the 2007 model exhibits more flair than the ’06 version; even the greenhouse has been caressed for a more modern look. The most significant changes made, however, are harder to detect but speak of GM’s renewed mandate of quality construction: exterior gaps on the new model, especially between the cab and the bed, have been significantly reduced, and the hood now fits flush inside the fenders instead of capping fender and grille.

Inside

What’s new about the inside of the Silverado depends on which truck you buy: the LTZ trim gets the same interior as the SUVs, while WT and LT trims feature a “Pure Pickup” interior. The Pure Pickup variant seems more able to hide scuffs and dirt than the LTZ trim and offers bigger control switches, door handles and a dual glove box. Other additions include a lockable in-seat storage bin built into the 40/20/40-split bench. All Silverado models enjoy more room inside, including more storage capacity. Design changes include what GM refers to as a “low and forward” instrument panel, which really did improve visibility and usability during our test drive. In back, there’s plenty of legroom with a new, stadium-style rear seat with a 60/40-split design and folding center armrest. Entry to the rear seat/storage area of extended cab models is eased with rear doors that open 170 degrees.