CLEAN SWEEP
Out with the old, in with the new. That is the focus of GM light-duty truck dealers this month as Chevrolet and GMC delivers the first models of the all-new 2007 Silverados and Sierras. And, if you are thinking of getting in a GM pickup in the ensuing fire-sale of old ’06s, don’t bother, you will want the new ones — they are that much nicer. Wholesale changes to the new generation pickups clearly show GM has been watching the full-size truck competition heat up during the last decade and finally decided it was time to recover a lot of lost ground.
New Bodies, More Room
The exteriors of both brands feature all-new bodies with grilles that extend all the way to the headlights, steeplyraked windshields, and a much tighter fit between body panels. The bodies feature much more refined and sculpted fenders, hoods, bumpers and beds while still retaining the GM truck look of the last decade.
Across the line of the three cab models the GMC pickups have a slightly more muscular look than their Chevy counterparts — and each brand’s body style and very distinctive grilles now differentiate them from each other more than any time in the past.
The doors are larger and no longer stop at the lower rocker panels, and the half-doors on the Extended Cab models now open a full 170-degrees making access to the redesigned rear seats the easiest of any full-size pickup.
Inside, it’s back to the basics — room and comfort. Gone is the dash that intruded on the driver and front-seat passengers and an interior roof that tended to bring on claustrophobia. In their place, two all-new interiors in which the dash sits up to five inches farther away from the occupants than the “old” version, and a headliner that form fits to the roof adding at least two more inches of actual headroom.
The “pure pickup” interior is found in the two lower trim levels of each brand. It features big round gauges in a new instrument panel, redesigned seats, unique door panels, center console and double-stacked glove boxes. Cloth is all you can get on the WT (Work Truck), but leather is available on the LT.
The “luxury-inspired” interior, available only in the high-end Silverado LTZ and Sierra SLT models, features a completely different-looking instrument package, a single glovebox, different door panels, leather seats and an elegant wood trim.
Sitting behind the wheel in either interior is refreshing. Leg and headroom is abundant, and the seats, be they splitbench or bucket, are the best to-date in a GM pickup.
BIG POWER, FINE RIDE
It’s what isn’t readily seen that is going to really seal the deal for buyers stepping out of their old GM pickups and into the ’07s. The new pickups ride on a new chassis like that found under the all-new full-size SUVs; the fully-boxed frame is wider and twice as strong as the previous model, and the track is three-inches wider in front and an inch wider in the rear. GM added a new coil-over front suspension, splayed the rear shocks, and dropped in rack-and-pinion steering.
These huge changes soften the ride and sharpen the handling, no doubt putting the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra at the forefront in the pickup class of 2007 — so will the power and fuel economy. GM offers eight engine choices from a 195hp 4.3L V6 to a 400hp Corvetteinspired all-aluminum 6.2L. But not all models get all engines.
For example, the monster 6.2L is exclusive to the GMC Sierra Denali — the most luxurious of all GM pickups; the all-aluminum, 315hp 5.3L LH6 can only be ordered in Crew Cab 4x4s; and the 367hp 6.0L is limited to LT/LTZ (Chevy) or SLE/SLT (GMC) models with the enhanced towing package.
Iron-block 4.8L (295hp) and 5.3s will probably be the engines of choice for most. All of the 5.3L and 6.0L engines have the Active Fuel Management system that, in some models, achieves industry-leading 22mpg EPA numbers. Transmission choice is limited to 4- speed automatics, except in the Denali, which sports the first GM pickup sixspeed automatic.
When it comes to towing prowess, a couple models top out at 10,500 pounds when using a weight-distribution hitch. Otherwise, trailer towing limits of V8 models range between 8,000-8,900 pounds. Weight-carrying, or “towing on the ball,” is limited to 5,000 pounds across the board, like the previous pickups.
NEW ADDITIONS
If the wide range of cab, engine, interior, two-, four-, and all-wheel-drive, and color choices weren’t enough, the 2007 GM pickups offer other new options and upgrades. Tire and wheel packages range from 17- to 20-inch depending on the model, and you can get both hard and soft tonneau covers now right from GM.
Those who love the outdoors and use their trucks for both work and play will like the sliding bed rail system, diamond-plated storage boxes, and bed racks that are available from GM SPO as dealer or factory installed items. These options are stout and very well-designed.
After kicking tires, slamming doors, opening hoods, and basically crawling in and out of every make and model of the 2007 GM pickup lineup, it’s clear the giant has finally awakened from a long sleep, bringing much needed strength back into both Chevrolet and GMC light-duty trucks. Pricing will be announced just before new trucks hit the dealers. You can count on prices being very competitive against similarly equipped full-size pickup models from Ford, Dodge, Nissan and Toyota.