2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2013 Silverado 1500 Regular Cab is offered in two trim levels, namely, Work truck and LT. And two options for the rear box size, standard and the long one, which differ in their cargo-carrying capacity. The work truck being the entry-level trim starts from $23,590, offers some basic features like a 4-speaker audio system, vinyl upholstery, manual controllable A/C, and auto-dimming IRVM. The LT adds some features like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, premium cloth seating, cruise control, satellite radio, and keyless entry, and costs around $30,000 for its 2-WD layout and around $33,000 for 4-WD.

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If you are looking for a work truck then definitely you need it for better utility and practicality rather than a comfortable ride. We recommend you to opt for the base trim because it has most of the features which are required in a utility vehicle. And for better off-roading or tough terrain capabilities, you can go for its 4WD option, which is totally worth the price.

The 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab comes standard with a 4.3L V6 which is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission and is capable of producing 195 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. While the LT features a more powerful 4.8L V8 motor that generates 302 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque, and shares the same 4-speed automatic gearbox. The truck is offered in both 2-WD as well as 4-WD variants, irrespective of the trim levels. The Work Truck with 4WD has a traditional floor-mounted selector for the transfer case. 

It also has an optional Autotrac, which features an automatic setting that shifts into 4WD when wheel slippage is detected. Both the engine options are pretty enthusiastic in terms of performance, especially the V8 motor. The truck touches the 60 mph mark in just 6.7 seconds and a quarter-mile completion time is recorded at 14.7 seconds.

The Silverado and the Sierra have identical engines while the RAM 1500 and F-150 have more powerful engines on offer that, obviously, have superior power outputs. All trucks come in an RWD layout which makes their driving experience and capabilities much better. The RAM 1500 is a little quicker in the competition to achieve 0-60 mph, while the others lag behind with a minor difference. 

Both the engine options you’ll get in the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab are no doubt powerful ones but deliver decent fuel economy. Its 4.3L V6 delivers an economy of 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highways, while the V8 motor is limited to 14 and 19 mpg in the city and the highways respectively. The Silverado is equipped with a tank capacity of 26.0 gallons which is quite good in the segment and it can easily last up to 390 miles in the city and 520 miles on the highways, with the base engine.

The Silverado and Sierra are equally efficient and with the same tank capacity which is pretty good in the segment. The F-150 has the highest mpg figures and the same tank capacity as that of the Silverado. The RAM 1500 is the least efficient truck, but the massive tank capacity of 32 gallons gives a superior driving range in the segment.

The cabin of the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab showcases its ruggedness very well. It offers one of the most simplistic designed interiors with the usage of decent quality materials. The cabin comes in an all-black theme. The dashboard features all hard plastic material and it is quite practical as well. There is lots of storage on the dash on offer which gives you better utility inside the cabin. 

The center area has limited buttons and knobs which make the controls much easier. In lower trims, you’ll get manual AC controls, while the higher trim levels get automatic. It offers single-row seating that can accommodate 3 adults comfortably. The center backrest can be folded down to form an armrest in case only two occupants are there. The base trim gets vinyl upholstery while the LT features premium cloth upholstery.

All the trucks have enough room on offer where you won’t feel cramped even with the three people here. The cabin room is almost the same for all, while the cargo-carrying capacity of the F-150 is maximum. It is to be noted that the trucks in the competition are taken with their standard box only. The Silverado’s interior doesn’t have a lot of tech per se but does have a rugged feel which is further highlighted by:

• Premium cloth upholstery
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• AC
• Power door locks
• Adjustable steering wheel

How intuitive is the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab’s infotainment unit?

The base trim of the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 features a very basic infotainment unit. It comes with a 4-speaker audio system with the CD player, AM/FM. And the features like SiriusXM satellite radio is quite appreciable in the base trim. As one climbs to the higher trims, features like Bluetooth connectivity, Auto-tone control, and radio data system are also added to the system albeit without a display panel with any of the trim levels. That said, some of the standout infotainment features are:

• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 4-speaker audio system
• Bluetooth connectivity
• AM/FM stereo with MP3 compatible CD player

The exterior of the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab got some minor changes which now made it look much more appealing than the outgoing model. The headlamps and the front grille have been given an elegant design and have become larger as well. The headlamps perfectly merge with the front grille and the large boxy design gives it a bold look. 

As with many other work trucks, it got simplistic and bold design elements just to retain its ruggedness. It features 17-inch steel wheels in both trims, which are covered in high-profile tires. It further added muscular looks to it. And you have enough space at the rear to store any kind of luggage comfortably.

The RAM 1500 is bulkier than the Silverado and the Sierra, but it is the quickest in the segment. The ground clearance of all the trucks is pretty good and all can tackle any kind of terrain very smoothly. The Silverado does look good and handles its bulk well with a well balanced chassis and good proportions for a truck this size. Some of the standout exterior features of the Chevy are:

• 17-inch alloys
• Automatic headlamps
• Power-adjustable side mirrors
• Deep tinted windows
• Running boards

The 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab is based upon the GM GMT910 platform which is also being shared with the GMC Sierra. The truck has been well-tested for its crashworthiness by the NHTSA and the IIHS. The NHTSA awarded it four on five stars for its overall safety, while the IIHS rated it as ‘Good’ in the majority of the domains. Considering the segment of pickup trucks, it does not offer many advanced features but has quite good features that can take care of the occupant's safety. These features include:

• Electronic stability control.
• Anti-lock braking system.
• Traction control.
• Tire pressure monitor.

The 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab is one of the best combos of power and tremendous capabilities. The two trim levels on offer suit most of the buyers' needs and offer a punchy engine that can even compete with some performance sedans. The cabin is very much practical rather than fancy design elements and feels quite rugged. The truck has good reliability ratings which stand it a step ahead in the checklist of many buyers.