Chevrolet Silverado LT 1500
This year Delphi's Quadrasteer made its 4x4 of the Year test debut wrapped in an Arrival Blue Silverado 1500--and it passed with flying colors. At $4,435 the four-wheel steering is an expensive option to add to a pickup, but it became hard to live without once we experienced its tighter-than-a-TJ (37.4-foot) turning radius. Quadrasteer becomes even more attractive when you consider that checking off this option ditches the 10-bolt rear axle for a 9 ¾-inch Dana 60 and larger rear discs brakes. Going into the test, some judges were skeptical about how this Silverado with four-wheel steering would handle, fearing that it would be twitchy and unpredictable at highway speed. We found that nothing could be further from the truth because at low speeds the rear tires steer opposite the fronts for a tighter turning radius, and that as the vehicle speed approaches 40 mph the angle at which the rear tires turn decreases. Above 40 mph the rear tires steer the same direction as the front tires for better lane changing stability and less influence from heavy winds. We experimented with the dash-mounted selector that lets you choose between different steering modes: regular, towing (which uses less aggressive rear steering), and a third setting that defeats the system for traditional two-wheel steering. The other big changes for 2003 are an updated interior/exterior treatment. Love it or hate it the Avalanche front styling is here to stay, but don't worry about it because you'll be too busy playing with the new driver's information center and XM satellite-equipped Bose stereo to notice. The Silverado's drivetrain is largely a carryover from last year and features the 4L60E transmission and NVG 246 Autotrac transfer case. In back-to-back comparison the 5.3L Vortec engine's good mid-to-high rpm power felt stronger than the 5.4L Triton in the F-150, but was no match for the 5.7L Hemi in the Ram 2500. Why can't we get the 345hp 6.0L in a 4x4 pickup?
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Model: Silverado LT 1500 Ext Cab
Base Price: $34,278
Price as Tested: $41,318
Options as Tested: LT Decor package, Quadrasteer, manual selectable ride control, XM satellite radio, trailering special equipment (hitch platform, wire connector, transmission oil cooler, high-capacity air cleaner), limited-slip differential, P245/75R16 tires, 145-amp alternator, roof marker lamps, spare tire lock, 6,900-pound GVW rating, 3.73 gears
Type: OHV V-8
Displacement (liters/cubic inches): 5.3/323
Bore & Stroke (inches): 3.78x3.62
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Induction Type: Sequential, multiport fuel injection
Fuel Required (octane)/Capacity (gallons): 87/26
SAE Peak Horsepower: 285 @ 5,200 rpm
SAE Peak Torque (lb-ft): 325 @ 4,000 rpm
Type: 4-speed automatic overdrive
Model: 4L60E
Ratios: First: 3.06:1; Second: 1.63:1; Third: 1.00:1; Fourth: 0.70:1; Reverse: 2.29:1
Transfer Case
Type: Autotrac
Model: NVG 246
Low-Range Ratio: 2.72:1
Front Type: IFS w/AAM 81/4-inch centersection
Rear Type: Dana 60 w/Quadrasteer and limited slip
Hubs: N/A
Ratio: 3.73:1
Front: Upper and lower A-arms/torsion bars
Rear: Live axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs
Type: Power-recirculating ball (front), electrically powered rack-and-pinion (rear)
Turns Lock-to-Lock/Ratio: 3.25/14.2:1
Turning Radius (feet): 37.4
Size (inches): 16x7
Material: Cast-aluminum
Size: P265/75R16
Brand: Firestone Wilderness AT
Front: 12.1-inch discs with ABS
Rear: 13-inch discs with ABS
Curb Weight: 4,919
Advertised GVWR: 6,900
EPA Estimate (city/hwy. mpg): 14/18
As Tested (mpg): 9.96
Standing ¼-mile (seconds @ mph): 18.56 @ 79.94
Wheelbase: 144.0
Overall Length: 231.0
Overall Width: 93.5
Overall Height: 75.5
Front/Rear Track: 65.25/71
Front/Rear Overhang: 40.25/45.5
Minimum Front Ground Clearance: 9.625
*XM satellite radio
*Turning radius to brag about
*Dana 60 rear axle
*Needs lower axle ratio
*HVAC controls not intuitive
*Rear suspension hops under hard braking
3-point turns are now obsolete