2003 Chevrolet Silverado LT 2500 HD

If a heavy-duty full-size pickup is what you need, Chevy's Silverado might be the one. Handsome and rugged as it is agreeable, it's easily as good as any, and better than most. For one thing, though the competition is increasingly tough, Silverado HD pickups boast the segment's most powerful engine lineup—your choice of a 300-hp 6.0-liter Vortec V-8, a 340-hp 8.1-liter big-block Vortec V-8, or the widely acclaimed 300-hp 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V-8. Peak torque ratings for this muscular trio—more important for trucks than power, since torque is what gets your payload moving and accelerates it to speed—are 370, 455 and a stump-pulling 520 lb.-ft., respectively. Alternative fuel fanciers will also appreciate that the 6-liter V-8 (with hardened upgraded valves and seats to withstand CNG's lack of lubricity and cooling effects) can run on CNG/gasoline bi-fuel systems or dedicated CNG (compressed natural gas).

Silverado HD's share the same clean and handsome updated styling of Chevy's half-ton models.

Available transmissions outnumber the engines: a standard 5-speed manual, optional ZF 6-speed manual and smooth, close-ratio 4-speed and 5-speed automatics. Our test truck boasted the top-of-the-line combo of the Duramax diesel coupled to the 5-speed automatic. This power team is outstanding, provided you like and/or need the diesel and you see its cost as more than worth its higher torque, significantly better fuel economy, lower maintenance and (potentially) longer service life relative to gas engines. Monetarily speaking, the Duramax diesel (designed and developed by GM partner and diesel expert Isuzu) adds a whopping $5,010 and the 5-speed gearbox another $1,200 to the LT 2500 HD extended cab's $37,285 starting price.


One nice touch with the 6-speed manual's shift lever is that it moves forward for First and straight back for Reverse for easy low-speed maneuvering; you don't have to go across the shift pattern for reverse. Also, First gear can be used as a "creeper gear," while Second can be used for launching when lightly loaded. The Allison 5-speed automatic has full electronic control with two operating modes, normal and "Tow/Haul," plus helical planetary gear-sets for low-noise operation. And to help slow the rig when hauling heavy loads down long, steep grades, a grade braking mechanism automatically downshifts when you apply the brakes.

The redesigned instrument panel, cluster, seats and center console are much improved in material quality, fit and finish.

Silverado HD's share the updated styling of Chevy's half-ton models and a strong family resemblance with the popular TrailBlazer and Avalanche—the signature wide chrome grille bar, recessed fog lamps, crisp fender lines, angular wheel openings and restyled taillamps. To our eye, the look is clean and handsome, bolder than Ford's, less over-the-top aggressive than Dodge's pickups. The redesigned instrument panel, cluster, seats and center console will look familiar to previous GM truck owners, yet are much improved in material quality, fits and finishes. A new dual-zone heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, available with both manual and automatic climate control, allows the driver and front passenger to adjust temperatures to their personal preferences up to a 30F difference. Available on-board entertainment systems include Bose audio and a Panasonic DVD with a flip-down screen for crew cab models. All but the base radio feature next-generation Radio Data System (RDS) and can interface with optional XM Satellite Radio, which offers 100 coast-to-coast digital channels (71 music and 29 sports, talk, children's and entertainment) with close to CD sound quality. Rear-seat audio controls in crew cab models allow front- and second-row passengers (especially kids) to enjoy separate audio sources.


An advanced new multiplexed electrical architecture transfers data throughout the vehicle enabling the Driver Information Center to monitor and report on as many as 34 system functions while improving quality and reducing weight. A memory system remembers two sets of preferences for seat and mirror positions, and battery-rundown protection automatically turns off exterior and interior lights after 10 minutes if left on inadvertently. Available steering wheel controls allow personalization of functions and easy adjustment of infotainment systems.