2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Chevrolet offers this vehicle with three engine options, a standard 4.3-L V6 gas, a 5.3-L V8 gas, and the most powerful one the 6.2-L V8 gas. The former two are mated with a 6-speed automatic while the latter 6.2-L is combined with the 8-speed automatic. This truck can tow anywhere from 6200 to 11,500 pounds depending upon the engine choice. 

The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab is available in a total of three trim levels and two-bed lengths- a 6.5-foot and the 8.2-footbed, which does give a decent level of customization options to the potential customer even though it is a Regular Cab Setup. The trims namely, the WT, the LS, and the LT are all fairly priced and do add value to the truck as you climb the trim ladder. Starting at $29,765, the Silverado 1500 Regular Cab can very well be a great fleet vehicle for many and we certainly expect it to do some great numbers.

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Keeping in mind that the Regular Cab segment is primarily focused on attracting fleet buyers and site workers, cost efficiency trumps luxury big time. Due to this very reason, it would be the wisest decision to opt for the base WT trim as it manages to get you a strong mechanical truck that is devoid of any plush materials or features which could prove to be a challenge to maintain in the long run.

The 4.3 L V6 that develops a healthy 285 bhp and 305 lbs. ft. of torque is the sole engine choice available in the Regular cab variant of the Chevrolet Silverado and it delivers decently impressive performance. When being driven around in a sedate manner, the truck appears to be plenty powerful with the overall NVH levels being average. Since most people would use this Regular Cab on job sites instead of out on the highways, the Silverado is strong enough to haul some loads and with a payload capacity of 1950 lbs and a towing capacity of 6100 lbs, it certainly delivers.

The 6-speed automatic gearbox is the standard gearbox across the range and it does deliver in terms of refinement as well as robustness. Even when put under load, the transmission provides smooth gearshifts. Yes, if you do stomp on the gas pedal, the gearbox could appear to be a little hesitant at times, but for its nature of the operation, it more than does the job.

The Silverado and Sierra get the second most powerful engine that generates 285 hp just after the Ram 1500, which produces an awesome 305 hp, and to complement that power only Ram is mated with 8-speed automatic transmission. While Chevy, Ford, and GMC can haul max up to 1950 pounds whereas Ram is the only one with the lowest payload capacity of 1520 pounds. Silverado and Sierra get into a neck-to-neck fight with their corresponding 6100 pounds of towing capability but the other two, the Ford F-150 & Ram 1500 fall behind by at least 1000 lbs. 

The 2015 Silverado Reg Cab is somewhat economical than its rivals. The 4.3-L V6 engine and the 6-speed automatic combination behave efficiently while cruising on the high speeds, If we are to go by the EPA estimates, the Silverado manages a segment average of 18 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg in the combined conditions. For the most part, these figures are identical to its competition and the big 26-gallon fuel tank does provide it with a pretty healthy range.

While looking at the data given above, we can say that all the vehicles claim almost identical fuel efficiency but the Ram 1500 is just behind by 1 mpg in the city driving conditions. With the bigger 26-gallon fuel tanks and a segment average fuel economy, both the Chevy and GMC manage to offer great numbers for the long-distance tank to tank range. There is nothing much to utter about driving under combined conditions as with the efficiency of 20 mpg, every truck arrives on the same page. 

As is the case with most Regular Cab configurations of full-size pick-ups, the Silverado also misses out on a ton of convenience upgrades that are present in its other variants. Although when we did glance at the cabin with its price tag and purpose of use in mind, we were certainly impressed with the level of fit and finish on offer and most evidently space. The 40:20:40 split front bench is a common occurrence in most work trucks to accommodate an extra passenger to lug around the job site but for the major chunk of time, one would prefer using it as a pretty huge flip-down armrest that is extremely comfortable.

The overall comfort of the bench seat is decent although we would have preferred better lateral support. The updated dashboard design on the Silverado is an eye-catcher but the heavy plastic construction of the cabin wouldn’t fool anybody into thinking that you are driving an exorbitantly expensive truck. It’s disappointing to see that Chevy does forget to integrate heated and ventilated seats in their Regular Cab trims.

Although the Ford F-150 pulls ahead of a Chevy Silverado when it comes to Bed Volume, both the Chevy and GMC Sierra 1500 offer significantly bigger cabins than their peers which is a great plus. Either of the options has particularly impressive cabins in their Regular Cab configurations, but the rugged nature of the Chevy and the Ram especially does mean that they might outlast the rest. The cargo capacity of every other truck is practically the same besides the Ram 1500, that just a couple of cu-ft behind. Some of the notable interior features include:

• 40/20/40 split-bench w/10-way power driver seat adjuster
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Remote Keyless Entry
• 4.2-inch Driver Information Center
• Electronic Cruise Control
• Heated Mirrors

2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab Infotainment System

The 4.2 Inch MyLink Touch Screen is the only infotainment option available in the 2015 Silverado Regular Cab and offers a lukewarm experience. Yes, we do agree that an infotainment system isn’t on the priority list when cross-shopping work trucks, but we would have still appreciated it if the overall interface was a tad bit more polished. The lag can be excruciating at times and navigating can be a task in itself.

The four speakers that come in as standard are just about okay at their job but this is a similar story throughout the segment. The overall clarity is fine but the bass is severely lacking and as expected the concept of sound separation or sound stage is completely absent. The 6 speaker setup on the higher trims does improve the overall experience substantially and if one does want to drown out job site noises, maybe splurging isn’t a bad call. All standard, upper trim, and optional entertainment-related features are mentioned below:

• Four-speaker AM/FM sound system
• USB & AUX audio input
• Bluetooth phone & audio connectivity (on LS trim)
• OnStar with 4G LTE WiFi (on LS trim)
• MyLink audio system (on LS trim)
• 4.2-inch color display (on LS trim)
• Satellite & pandora radio (on LS trim)
• CD-player & voice control feature (on LS trim)
• Steering mounted audio controls (on LT trim)
• Six-Speaker audio system (on LT trim)

The exterior design could be the least of one’s concerns when looking for a fleet vehicle, but the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab is definitely a smart-looking truck. With an imposing silhouette that comprises a bold front end that has been recently redesigned to include a dominating front grille and the distinctive bow tie logo, the Chevy definitely looks the part. Yes, the higher trim iterations do make the truck look leaps and bounds better, but even in its regular cab configurations, the Silverado does have a strong road presence and certainly demands respect.

Chevy and GMC lead the table with the highest curb weight while Ford has kept its F-150 lighter than its rivals. As per the outer dimensions of Chevy and GMC, it doesn’t matter which vehicle you pick as they both have the same dimensions. Silverado would be easy to turn on sharp corners due to its shorter wheelbase, whereas the ground clearance of 8.2 inches is the least when compared to its rivals. Some of the more noticeable exterior features are as follows:

• Halogen reflector headlamps and fog lamps
• Chrome Grille surround and front and rear bumper
• EZ-Lift and Lower Tailgate
• CornerStep rear bumper
• 17-inch bright machined aluminum wheels

Being built to a price does come with its own caveats and the entire Work Truck segment can sometimes be seen struggling in the Safety department due to this. Although many of the Silverado’s rivals do lack required safety features, the Silverado manages to score a perfect 5-star rating from the NHTSA and does feature some solid safety tech on-board. Yes, the Chevrolet Silverado doesn’t have the latest and greatest in terms of active safety tech, it still manages to be one of the safer options in its segment. Some Notable Safety Features are as follows:

• StabiliTrak stability control system w/Proactive Roll Avoidance
• Traction control w/electronic trailer sway control and hill start assist
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• OnStar Directions and Connections plan for 6 months w/Automatic Crash Response, Stolen Vehicle Assistance & Roadside Assistance
• Dual-stage frontal airbags for driver and front passenger, seat-mounted side-impact airbags for driver and front outboard passenger, and head-curtain side-impact airbags

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab proves to be an amazing bargain in the work truck category as it offers great interior space, robust mechanical prowess, acceptable safety features, and an imposing exterior profile. Nit Picking proves to be highly difficult when talking about the Chevy which does mean that recommending such a vehicle to potential buyers proves to be a cakewalk.