2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Pickup trucks, being the soul of American motoring, enable such individuals to have dependable workhorses that are ready to prowl at any given moment. Chevrolet, being one of the pioneers of the very segment, has therefore bestowed upon the working community the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab. It rivals the likes of the 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab, 2019 Ford-150 Regular Cab, and 2019 RAM 1500 Classic Regular Cab. Is it worthy enough to be called a dependable work truck? Let’s find out.

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab comes in only a singular trim, which is the Work Truck or the WT trim. Yes, it can be altered to a certain degree with some optional packages, with the most notable being the “WT Appearance and WT Convenience” package. With a price tag of $27,895, the Silverado sits right in line with most of its competition and offers plenty of features for the price.

Which Trim should you buy? 

Since there isn’t any choice to choose in the Regular Cab configuration, the Work Truck trim will be the default choice for everyone. Although the other cab types do have some pretty specced up trims available, the Regular Cab WT is an amazing value for the people who want a basic no frill truck that can tackle everything at a job site.

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab WT comes in as standard with a 4.3L V6 engine that churns out an optimum 285 bhp and 305 lb-ft. of torque. There is also a 5.3L V8 on offer for a significant bump in power to 355 hp and 383 lb-ft. of torque. However, the V8 is not offered for the Regular Cab configuration, so you need to change the body style though. For many, the standard V6 would suffice just fine. 

The 4.3L V6 engine comes mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and comes with RWD as standard. It is nothing fancy, much like the rest of the work truck, and therefore suits the assignment. The transmission offers smooth shifts and doesn’t seem to be bothered even when pulling heavy loads. Talking about heavy loads, the Silverado 1500 Regular Cab can tow up to 7,700 pounds, which although is more than enough for most, still trails behind the F-150.

Most people don’t drag race pickup trucks as they are meant for utility rather than podium finishes, but with the fastest 0-60 time and virtually the highest towing capacity, the Ford takes a clean win when it comes to performance. The RAM 1500 Classic has the most power on paper, but it suffers when it comes to torque. Despite its heavyweight, the 2019 RAM 1500 can cover 0-60 MPH in just 6.6 seconds. The GM twins offer the most grunt on paper, but it doesn’t translate well on roads. The RAM is just behind the F-150 by a small margin in terms of performance. 

How well does the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab handle?

Although no one is going to be chucking their work truck into hairpin bends at crazy speeds, it is still refreshing to see the 2019 Silverado handle its bulk rather well. The Silverado 1500 Regular Cab feels very taut to maneuver, and it does manage to mask its huge proportions when you are behind the wheel. Yes, there is more than a noticeable body roll, but why would that even matter to a potential customer?

The ride quality could be deemed to be a little on the stiffer side, which isn’t something we are too fond of, and the fact that a completely unladen Silverado 1500 tends to feel a little floaty is something the Chevy needs to address. All in all, the handling is definitely one of its strong points, even though it definitely has no sports car vibes underneath.

Braking Performance

The brakes on the 2019 Silverado 1500 Regular Cab WT have nothing to rave about, but they get the job done. The pedal feel is progressive, and the stopping distance is more than acceptable. You get standard 13.5-inch front brake rotors and 13.6-inch rear brake rotors which help this 4.5-ton truck to stop from 60 MPH at about 134 feet, which is the worst figure in the competition. 

The RAM 1500 Classic again comes out on top when compared to the rest. It manages to come to a halt in the shortest distance possible of 122 feet despite its heavyweight. Ford F-150 has the largest brake rotors of the lot and it is also the lightest, but still, it takes a longer 129 feet to come to a stop from 60 MPH. For now, the Silverado definitely needs to improve in the braking department.

Most work trucks inherently are gas guzzlers in the archaic sense as they do prioritize mechanical grunt over better efficiency, which can result in some horrific EPA estimates. As the times have progressed though, the work trucks have genuinely advanced in the field of efficiency and now do offer respectable numbers, by WT standards though. The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab manages to offer 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg out on the highway, which is pretty much what we expected from it. However, it does come with a huge 28.3-gallon fuel tank, so you can expect about 480 miles in mixed driving conditions on a full tank.

The Ford F-150 decimates its competition as far as EPA estimates are brought into question. The GM twins offer the least fuel economy as they come with significantly bigger engines. To compensate for that, they come equipped with larger 28-gallon fuel tanks. However, when it comes to driving range, RAM 1500 Classic takes the win as it offers a max driving range of 800 miles on the highway, owing to a huge 32-gallon fuel tank. 

The interior of the 2019 Silverado 1500 Regular Cab WT is a rather neat affair. Even though it lacks cushy features, much like most of the offerings in the segment, it is still a nice place to be in. The seats are adequately bolstered and should be accommodating enough for anyone. The bench seat on offer could be a little uncomfortable for the middle passenger due to the lack of space, but flipping the middle seat down does present one of the most comfortable armrests in the business. 

Being a Regular Cab, it can seat only three people max in the first row. The cabin utilizes a predominant hard plastic construction, but we do believe that it is the right choice for the application. Its rugged nature would prove to keep the truck in a decent-looking condition for a long time even when exposed to the harsh elements that it is destined to work in. As standard, you get vinyl seats along with manual adjustments. When it comes to creature comforts, the full-size steering wheel and clear gauges are also highly appreciated!

One of the only aspects where the Silverado 1500 reigns supreme has got to be the overall space that is available in this pickup. Not only is it the most spacious on the inside, which could be a deal maker for many, but it also is accompanied by the most accommodating cargo bed which is a huge win! The GMC Sierra 1500, being a GM twin, offers similar interior and cargo space. Rivals do come in short bed configurations too, while Chevy offers only long bed configuration for the Regular Cab. Some of the highlights of the interior features are: 

• Vinyl upholstery
• Manually adjustable seats
• Manual windows
• Manual door locks

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Being entertained on the job site is seldom a priority as we would presume that most consumers would find blasting tunes rather distracting on the job. But decent infotainment does come in handy, especially during the lunch breaks! The 2019 Silverado 1500 Regular Cab does come with an impressive 7-inch touchscreen that works on the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system. It is intuitive and smooth in operation. The 2-speaker stereo that the WT comes with as standard is barely decent enough. It should be enough for some casual background tunes, but don’t expect even an ounce of low-end presence in the sound signature. Some of the highlights of the infotainment features are: 

• Chevrolet Infotainment System 3
• 7-inch Touchscreen Display 
• Bluetooth Audio Streaming
• AM/FM Radio
• 2-Speaker Sound System
• WiFi Hotspot

One of the fresh aspects of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular cab has got to be its exterior. For 2019 MY, it showcases a thoroughly redesigned exterior which is rather imposing to look at. At first glance, many might scoff at the in-your-face Chevrolet branded grille, but we might be in the minority as we do like this particular detail.

The fact that the Silverado is also now lighter than its predecessor by almost 450 pounds is also very apparent in its styling. It is much less bulbous than the outgoing model. You get 17-inch steel wheels as standard. However, you can add more exterior features like chrome accents and EZ liftgate through Convenience and Appearance packages. We do understand that the exterior design isn’t a make-or-break decision when shopping for a Regular Cab WT, but everybody likes to roll in a good-looking pickup.

With the highest ground clearance of the lot, the RAM 1500 Classic is definitely the superior choice when looking for a truck that is going to cater to an environment with extremely harsh terrains. Despite having a large wheelbase, RAM 1500 Classic is short on interior and cargo space. The Ford F-150 comes with the second-best ground clearance. The Silverado and Sierra are not far behind and offer very similar ground clearance. Some of the standout exterior features of the 2019 Silverado 1500 WT are:

• Chevrolet graphic grille and tailgate
• Blacked out grille, bumpers
• 17" ultra-silver painted steel wheels
• Chrome accents (Optional)
• EZ Lift power lock and release tailgate (Optional)
• Tailgate and bed rail protection cap

For the most part, safety is one of the departments where the WT’s can be caught slipping as these workhorses are made at a low price point, and excluding active safety features does bring down the price considerably, which is always lucrative for fleet buyers. Chevrolet though has tried to cram in as much safety kit as possible for the price, and we are appreciative of this move. Yes, there aren’t any autonomous aids, but even then for a WT, the Silverado does sport a healthy number of safety features. Some of the standout exterior features of the 2019 Silverado 1500 WT are:

• StabiliTrak- stability control system
• Proactive Roll Avoidance and Traction control
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Rear View Camera
• Front and Rear Park Assist (optional)
• Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert (optional)
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (optional)

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab vs 2019 Ford F-150 Regular Cab

The Ford F-150 has remained the best-selling pickup for decades for a reason, and toppling the king would take more than just a new generation of the Silverado. Even though the Silverado is a very capable vehicle, the F-150 trumps it in almost every domain with the most crucial being the powertrain. The Silverado does offer more space and better cargo volume, but we would still put our money on the vastly superior Ford.

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab vs 2019 RAM 1500 Classic Regular Cab

The RAM is definitely the better choice when it comes to choosing between the two since it is arguably the best in the segment, falling behind only the F-150. The RAM 1500 is powerful, reliable, and fuel-efficient, all aspects which are only triumphed by the Ford. It also offers better ground clearance than the Silverado and offers better braking performance. However, the RAM 1500 comes with a smaller engine and offers less torque which would impact its towing capability to some extent. 

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab vs 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab

The Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are twins from the same corporate brand. They are almost identical in all sections, with the only exception being the appearance and badging. While most of the figures are the same for both the pickups, the price tag of GMC is around 1,500 bucks more than Chevrolet, making it the more expensive option. Between the two, it is a matter of personal preference.

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab is a well-sorted offering from Chevrolet and could prove to be a great option for many fleet buyers. But if we are being completely honest, the Chevy isn’t the best the segment has to offer. With segment leaders in the form of the F-150 and the RAM 1500 offering much better value for money, the Silverado would most probably be reserved for a select few.