2007 Silverado 2500 4WD LT2 Crew Cab

[Steve]

After spending about 30 minutes driving the Silverado 2500, I had to pull-over and take another look to convince myself that I really was driving a 2500 HD Chevy truck. (The key ring said Silverado 1500 – it was wrong). Yup, it was a 2007 Chevy Silverado 2500 4WD LT2 crew cab, and it a blast to drive.



The Truck
· 2007 Chevy Silverado 2500 4WD LT2 Crew Cab
· MSRP: $49,629


Somewhere between the market for a standard full-size truck, the Silverado 1500, and a full-size 1-ton, the Silverado 3500 HD, exists a space for buyers who want the best of both worlds. Maybe you want a bit more hauling capacity than a standard 1500 offers, but don’t want the stiff ride from the 1-ton 3500. I imagine that a lot of contractors fit into this space, as do the weekend warriors with a 30’ boat to take to the lake. If that’s you, then check out the Silverado 2500 and give it a spin.

What's it like to drive?
Just like the 3500 this truck is big, there's no getting around that. However, it’s not as big as the 3500, nor do you have to worry so much about hitting the drive-though post with the rear dually fender, which can be difficult when doing a lot of city driving.

Yes Virginia, you are driving a truck. The ultra car-like driving experience that you find in the newer Silverado 1500 has NOT made its way into the HD line of trucks, that's for sure, and it really can't.

Just like all new Silverados, they are extremely quiet, that’s thanks to the hydroformed boxed frame design and extra sound insulation. Every year the vehcles get quieter and the 2007 model helps eliminate road noise pretty dramatically. It's even quieter than my 2002 Trailblazer. This "extra" quiet makes the add-on bose stereo package even more enjoyable, as it’s one of the clearest factory sound systems I’ve heard to date, of course it's a $2,000 add-on package, so you would expect that.

Starting up that duramax lets you know that you're driving a diesel, I love the deep sound. The truck has plenty of power for normal driving. I had no problem getting on the pedal slightly to pass a car or to get up to freeway speed in good time. With a GVW of 11,400 for the dually, you've got enough power to really move some weight around.

Stopping is not hard either with the 4-wheel ABS brakes with rear proportioning, but remember it’s a large truck still, give yourself a lot of room when driving in stop-and-go traffic.

I managed to get a little bit of mud on this 2500 Silverado. No problems, just pushed a button to drop into 4WD and I was able to go off-road and I never had to worry about losing traction.

What’s it like to sit in?
Being on the upper scale for height/weight, I had no problem fitting comfortably into my seat. When seated, I have a good view of the cockpit-looking instrument panel, stereo control and navigation (although I have to stretch my arms a bit and lean forward to use the stereo) and all of the center console’s nooks and crannies, which there are several.

You do sit up fairly tall in the 2500 HD 4WD, and I imagine that drivers and passengers under six-feet tall may have more issues getting into the cab, especially if it’s parked on a grade on in a valley-type parking spot. But, once you climb up, you feel like you're in something solid and stout. Running boards may be a good idea with the 4x4.

Because of the height and size of the center console, it was a stretch to move over and open the glove box (both of them). But I had enough room in the center console to store a cell phone, a Pocket PC, an electric razor and perhaps lunch for five.

Headroom is impressive, I easily have two-plus inches of space over my head. Hip and shoulder-room is equally as spacious. I was able to go through a drive-through and actually pull my wallet out without taking off my seat-belt, that’s how much room there is.

Legroom and foot-room is another matter. The parking brake is awkwardly located and I struggled to get my left foot to rest comfortably when going down the highway. Other tall drivers may experience something similar. There is no left-foot "dead-pedal" location that is popular on other GM platforms. A lot of the discomfort could go away if the parking brake were to come up higher when released.

Toys and Gadgets
Ok, I'm hooked on the XM, built-in DVD system and GPS navigation system. I've been an XM avoider for the past few years, but this built-in system was so impressive that I was sold and became a raving fan after only 15 minutes. Other lesser systems do exist, but this one takes the blue ribbon at the county fair.

The DIC is also very impressive as well. From a glance you can get a view of report of the active MPG you're getting, tire pressure, transmission temp or a variety of other stats that you may need to know when going down the road. One of my big complaints has to do with the instrument panel though. The gauges are so far recessed that large shadows appear across the face of the smaller displays. I found I had to struggle to read the output during daylight hours. With the lights on at night, this problem went away.

Overall impression?
After driving several of the 2007 Silverados, I can simply say that these trucks are incredible! They're comfortable, quiet, have plenty of power and they looks great too. They're great trucks for hauling the kids and a boat to the lake, or for a contractor to work from.

Some Notable Standard Equipment
Vortec 6.6L V8 w/ 6-sp Allison transmission
Z85 Handling / Trailering Suspension4 wheel ABS
TirePressureMonitorSytemDriverInformationCenter (DIC)1-year OnStar Safe & Sound

Some of the Options
Remote Vehicle Starter
Heated Window Washing Fluid (hah! in Texas?)
Full curtain airbags
Navigation Radio CD/DVD/MP3 with rear seat entertainment system
Power sliding rear window
Leather seats
XM Satellite Radio
Cargo Management System