2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado is well liked by many people. This full sized pick up truck handled well and has an array of above average but not luxurious features.

Reviewers appreciated the Silverado’s mighty towing abilities and handling and the ride, though comfortable, wasn’t as gentle as the other pick-ups in the same segment. The Silverado is for those who want a Chevy full sized pickup.

Specifications

General Info
Vehicle Type: Truck Base Price: $22,195.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 26 gallons (98l) MPG: 15 city / 20 hwy
Dimensions
Length: 205.6 in. (522.2 cm) Wheel Base: 119 in. (302.2 cm)
Height: 73.6 in. (186.9 cm) Width: 79.9 in. (202.9 cm)
Curb Weight: 4460 lbs (2023 kg) Ground Clearance: 13.1 in. rear (33.2 cm)
Luggage Capacity: 60.7 cu ft Maximum Seating: 3 people
Performance
Engine: Vortec V6 MFI 2WD Displacement: 4.3 Liter
Horsepower: 195 HP Max RPM: 4600 RPM
Torque: 260 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic
Max Towing Capacity: 4800 lbs (2177 kgs) Maximum Speed: NA
Available Trims & Engine
Option:Regular Cab WT AWD MSRP: $25,635; MPG: 14 city / 18 hwy
Option:Ext. Cab WT FWD 5.3L V8 MSRP: $26,340; MPG: 15 city / 20 hwy
Option:Ext. Cab WT AWD 5.3L V8 MSRP: $26145; MPG: 14 city / 18 hwy
Option:Crew Cab WT FWD 4.8L V8 MSRP: $30,320; MPG: 14 city / 19 hwy
Option:Crew Cab WT AWD MSRP: $33,470; MPG: 14 city / 19 hwy

Trims

The Silverado comes in many trims, including the Work Truck, LS, LT, XFE and LTZ with different types of cabs, beds, drive and engines. It also has a hybrid form and can be ordered in a Custom Sport Truck package.

The XFE is noted for its superior fuel economy and aerodynamics, the LTZ has heated and cooled seats and the 2012 LS and LT trims now have prettier grilles.

Engine

The Silverado has engine options to choose from. You can pick the base V6 trim or the V8 engine with 6.2 liters. The V6 provides 195 horsepower. There are three levels on the V8 engine, a 4.8 liter with 302 horsepower, the 5.3 liter with 315 horsepower, and the top of the line, and a 6.2 liter that has 403 horsepower as well as 417 lbs/ft of torque.

The V6 engine gets the best mileage at 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. The 6.2 liter engine only gets 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway if it comes in a two wheel drive version. The four wheel driver version gets slightly fewer miles per gallon in the city.

Performance

The 2012 Silverado is sprightlier than other trucks like it handles quite well and is a good truck for every day use. It’s also serviceable off road and can be equipped with skid plates and a locking rear differential.

The towing capabilities depend on the trim. A Silverado with a regular cab can tow only 1,794 pounds, while the crew cab can haul almost a ton. A Silverado that is wholly equipped for towing can tow over five tons.

Exterior

Some thought the exterior of the truck tasteful, they also found the sheer quantity of trims and styles offered quite overwhelming.

Interior

The interior is roomy and sturdy enough. Some find the basic interior to be just a little boring and not nearly as sexy as the above mentioned Ram or Ford trucks. The Silverado 1500 has room for three to six people, depending on the trim.

People find the seating comfortable, though there is ample legroom in the rear. The seats are either bucket or bench type. Cargo space, like everything else, depends on the type of trim you want. When it comes to interior storage space, most reviewers thought the crew cab was superior since the back seats fold up.

Safety

The government gave the Silverado a four out of five stars overall rating. It performed especially well in the side crash tests, receiving five stars. However, the truck didn’t do as well when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested it.

All of the trims come with four wheel anti-lock brakes, front and side airbags and OnStar.

Reliability

J.D. Power gave the 2012 Silverado 1500 a three and a half out of five reliability score. It comes with a three year or 36,000 mile warranty and a five year or 100,000 mile powertrain warranty that’s also transferable.

Pros

Test drivers and reviewers found the truck easy to handle and liked its towing capacity.

Cons

Most reviewers, while finding the truck well-mannered, they also found it stodgy.

The Silverado was consistently outclassed by other trucks like the Ford F-150 (MSRP $23,500; 17 city / 23 hwy), Toyota Tundra (MSRP $25,155; 16 city / 20 hwy), and the Ram 1500 (MSRP $22,570; 14 city / 20 hwy), both of which have been upgraded.

Overall Rating
69 out of 100

What others say:

“It could use more comfortable rear seats, but space abounds inside the bigger versions of the 2012 Chevy Silverado.”Car Connection

“With the base suspension, Silverado handles similarly to other large pickups, with noticeable body lean in fast turns. The Z71 suspension improves handling slightly. The steering is nicely weighted, if a bit numb. The brakes are responsive, though one test example suffered from slightly spongy pedal action.”Consumer Guide

“The crew cab is roomy, with easy access. A six-speed automatic slightly improves fuel economy and acceleration with the tested 5.3-liter V8.”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports

“With its numerous possible configurations, the 2012 Chevy Silverado half-ton pickup will please all but the chronically indecisive. From cab configurations to bed lengths to trim and option packages, the Silverado is the half-ton jack of all trades, including models that can run on E85.”KBB

“Smooth and quiet ride; comfortable seats; powerful V8 options… Large turning circle; weak V6 engine; bland interior design on base trim; limited cabin storage.”Edmunds

->