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Caraganza Review 2025 Chevy Silverado 1500: More American Than a Bald Eagle in a Cowboy Hat

I learned early in life that I was not blessed with the hands of a craftsperson. As a teenager, I spent a long, grueling summer working as a mason’s helper, a job that consisted of mixing cement, hauling concrete blocks, and clambering up scaffolding in sweltering heat. That was the summer I confirmed what I already suspected: manual labor and I were never meant to be.

To this day, the only thing I do with my hands that remotely resembles hard work is writing a check to someone else to do it. And perhaps that’s why I’ve never felt the pull to own a pickup truck.

Trucks, after all, are tools for the blue-collar gods—the ranchers, the builders, the craftsmen. Or, occasionally, for a guy named Joe who lives in a single-wide trailer deep in the woods of Georgia, compensating for… let’s just say “other” shortcomings by blasting Free Bird from his lifted, coal-rolling monstrosity.

Another reason I’ve never owned a truck? I’m not a particularly altruistic person. If you’re moving, call U-Haul. I’m not interested in spending my Saturday hauling your second-hand IKEA furniture across town.

But that’s not to say I hate pickups. In fact, after spending a week with the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss recently, I have to admit—trucks have changed. No longer are they crude, vinyl-seated workhorses with cabins that resemble a 1970s basement paneled in dark wood. Today’s pickups are loaded with tech, luxury, and—dare I say it—style.

The 2025 Silverado 1500 sits squarely in the middle of Chevy’s truck lineup, between the smaller Colorado and the brawny heavy-duty Silverados. And unlike its all-electric Silverado EV cousin, this one still drinks good old-fashioned fuel. It comes in a variety of trims, from basic work trucks to high-end luxury barges with enough leather to make a Bentley blush.

My tester for the week was the LT Trail Boss—a name that makes it sound like it should come with a free cowboy hat and a herd of cattle. And in fairness, with its factory 2-inch lift, knobby off-road tires, and aggressive stance, it looks like it could tackle the roughest Texas terrain on a cattle drive with ease.

The Silverado doesn’t just rely on old-school toughness; it’s got brains too. The available 13.4-inch touchscreen is crisp, responsive, and finally large enough that you don’t need the eyesight of a fighter pilot to read it. Chevy has also leaned into Google-based voice recognition, which means you can talk to your truck like it’s your personal assistant—except unlike some assistants, it actually listens and understands.

Towing is easier too, thanks to features like trailer tire pressure sensors and extra rearview cameras that eliminate the guesswork. And for the laziest of drivers, GM’s Super Cruise allows for hands-free driving on the highway—meaning you can sit back and contemplate your life choices while the truck does the work for you. The only other truck offering this level of automation is the Ford F-150, so the Silverado isn’t just playing catch-up—it’s leading the charge.

Chevy offers a range of engines to fit any job, ego, or gas station loyalty program. There’s a turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder making 310 horsepower for those who want a truck but still pretend they care about fuel economy. A 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower, the middle child that tries to please everyone. A 3.0-liter Duramax diesel making 277 horsepower, because diesel guys exist and they must be catered to. And finally, a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower—because America.

Despite its size, the Silverado doesn’t drive like an unwieldy battleship. Handling is surprisingly agile, and the brakes inspire confidence rather than terror. The Trail Boss, in particular, is perfect for those who want an off-road-ready truck without needing to install a lift kit themselves (which, let’s be honest, would only end in disaster for people like me).

So, did a week with the Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss turn me into a pickup truck convert? No. I still have no desire to own one, nor do I want to be on speed dial for every friend who needs to haul a couch.

But I do get it now. Trucks aren’t just tools for the working man anymore—they’ve evolved. They’re tech-packed, comfortable, and in the case of the Silverado Trail Boss, genuinely fun to drive.

Would I buy one? No. But if I had to own a truck, I’d want it to be something like this—capable, modern, and surprisingly refined. Besides, if I rolled up to Joe’s place in this thing, even he might have to admit it’s cooler than his lifted, rusted-out coal-roller. Not that he’d ever say so. He’d just crank up Free Bird and rev his engine in protest.

The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss LT
MSRP: $58,800
MSRP(as tested): $72,359
Engine: 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 (355 hp @ 5600 rpm, 383 lb-ft of torque @ 4100 rpm)
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Fuel mileage (EPA): 15 city, 20 highway, 17 combined
Fuel mileage (as tested, mixed conditions): 18 mpg
Base curb weight: 5,070 pounds.

Exterior Dimensions

Length: 242.4 inches
Overall width: 81.2 inches
Height: 78.2 inches
Wheelbase: 157.0 inches
Bed length: 79.4 in.
Ground clearance:10.7 in.

Interior Dimensions

Front headroom: 43.0 inches
Front legroom: 44.5 inches
Front shoulder room: 66.0 inches
Rear headroom: 40.1 inches
Rear legroom: 43.4 inches
Rear shoulder room: 65.2 inches
Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 62.9 cubic feet
Maximum cargo capacity: 89.1 cubic feet
Max Payload Capacity: 1,900 lbs.
Max Towing Capacity: 9,200 lbs.

Warranty

Basic: 3 years/36,000 miles
Drivetrain: 5 years/60,000 miles
Rust: 6 years/100,000 miles
Roadside assistance: 5 years/60,000 miles

Greg Engle
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