Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reviews

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Interior Features

The Silverado WT, LS and LT come with what Chevrolet calls the pure pickup interior while the LTZ features a more luxurious interior.

The pure pickup interior is more driver and work oriented, includes two glove boxes in the dashboard, one of them just about the right size to hold a pair of work gloves and a few small items, and a 40/20/40-split front bench seat with the center section of the seat back folding down to form a wide arm rest with lots of storage capacity. This interior features large switchgear controls and interior door handles designed to be easily manipulated even while wearing bulky gloves.

The more luxury-oriented interior includes bucket seats with a permanent center console with 20 liters of storage capacity. The center stack puts ventilation and audio controls within easy site and reach of the front seat passenger. This version has a single glove box in the dash.

Headlights are more or less controlled by twisting a rotary knob on the dash to the left of the steering wheel. An identical knob to the right is used to switch between 2WD and 4WD. We found it's easy to switch to 4WD, while trying to switch off the headlights.

XM Satellite Radio with current traffic conditions and Bluetooth may be ordered, or alternately, OnStar with destination download and turn-by-turn navigation. We like both.

Extended Cab models feature stadium-style seating with an elevated view for those sitting in the second row. Both the Extended Cab and Crew Cab versions offer plenty of rear legroom. The rear-seat bottoms can be easily folded up to provide more room on the floor for cargo. Rear seats are split 60/40 so one side can be folded up for cargo while the other is used for seating.

Chevrolet says the interior of the Silverado is 20 percent quieter than its predecessor (pre-2007 and Silverado Classic models), thanks to enhanced insulation materials, much like those used in the company's sport utility vehicles, and to aerodynamic improvements that reduce wind noise.

Choosing the right cabin configuration depends on how you expect to use the truck and what you expect from it.

An LTZ interior mirrors those of GM's full-size sport-utilities and is modeled more like a big touring sedan than a truck. It's a smooth, cohesive design with a central console that rises to a wall of smallish white-on-black buttons you can't operate with mittens like those on the pure pickup. The navigation system is up high for good viewing, intuitive in operation, and offers many choices in radio station memory. The LTZ cabin is available in three interior colors and, though it will show dirt faster, the lightest color gives the most luxurious impression.

The WT/LT version is a conventional truck with a more open floor area, space for random stuff all over, and no concerns that something might get scratched, scuffed or dirty. Modern electronics suggest hosing out a truck interior isn't a good idea anymore, but a shovel and stiff bristle brush should get it done.