Ford may have the best-selling pickup in America, but a whole lot of Americans still prefer a Chevrolet. While Dearborn's most recent light-duty pickup has taken on a windswept, aerodynamic look, and Dodge has carved a niche with its vaguely retro, little big-rig theme, Chevrolet has stuck with a more conservative shape, bluff in the nose and square in the shoulders. Chevrolet feels its customers are more comfortable with traditional truck styling. So when the Chevy pickup was totally re-designed, re-engineered and even re-named for 1999, its styling was updated but not radically changed.

At the same time, however, Chevrolet caught up with (or even surpassed) the technology and refinement of the more radical looking Ford and Dodge. The Silverado, as Chevy calls its pickups now, is a great achievement, better than the previous "C/K" truck in every respect. It rides better, handles better and stops quicker; it's faster and it's more comfortable. In fact, the Silverado ranks as one of the most luxurious pickups we've ever driven.

For 2001, Silverado adds even more power, convenience and durability. All extended-cab models now have two auxiliary rear doors, rather than just one on the curbside. Extended-cab 1500s with four-wheel drive are available with a Pro-Tec fully composite box that's virtually impervious to dents or corrosion. OnStar is available on newer LT models. Finally, the 6.0-liter V8 that is standard in 2500 models has been given aluminum heads and more aggressive valve timing, for a nice, round 300 horsepower at 4400 rpm, and 360 pound-feet of torque at 4000.