Generally speaking, pickups are the most profitable vehicles for any manufacturer. They are also the best-selling vehicles in the industry by a significant margin. In the constant battle for attention and sales, the "Big Three” aim to fill any niche in the market, perceived or real. One such sliver is the off-road segment.
Chevrolet’s latest volley in this war is the Silverado Trail Boss. Essentially an LT on steroids, the Trail Boss starts off with the Z71 off-road package. This brings a unique suspension with Rancho shock absorbers, hill-descent control, an automatic locking rear differential, two-speed transfer case, skid plates to protect vital components and a bigger air filter in case your ventures include lots of dusty roads. Nothing new here, that package is available on a number of Silverados.
The Trail Boss adds a five-cm suspension lift, gloss-black, 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in Goodyear Duratrac off-road tires, a 355-horsepower, 5.3-litre V8 engine with chromed dual-exhaust outlets incorporated in the rear bumper and a host or trim bits to help it stand out visually.
The Silverado received an extensive makeover for the 2019 model year. New from stem to stern, it is taller, longer, wider, lighter, rides on a longer wheelbase, has more interior room, a bigger box and a greater payload.
There are eight trim levels, including the Trail Boss and your choice of six engine/transmission combinations.
The box is what defines a pickup and on the Silverado it has come in for some serious attention and upgrades. Volume is up to 20 per cent greater than the previous model thanks to an 18-cm wider floor made of higher-strength steel. The rear-bumper steps are larger, now able to accommodate steel-toe work boots. There are 12 fixed tie-down hooks, each one capable of up to 500 lbs. Nine more are available, as is a 120-volt outlet.
A power tailgate is optional. It can be lowered from the cab, key fob or the handle. On top trim levels it can also close itself!
Rear-seat occupants in the crew cab are the main benefactors of the longer wheelbase. There is genuine stretch-out room back there. Tall folks with hard hats will find of plenty of headroom. The rear seat area is also easily converted into a massive dry storage area. The 60/40 split rear seats lift up to reveal storage areas for small items and storage inserts in the seats themselves are available.
The cab is quiet with only a tiny bit of wind noise around the area of the mirrors. The fit and finish are excellent, but there is more plastic and hard surfaces than expected of a $70,000 vehicle. There is plenty of storage space, a rather small touchscreen offering access to WiFi and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Trail Boss gobbles up rough roads, whether surfaced in gravel or pavement. Frost heaves and potholes are barely felt. It does have a solid rear axle so the rear end can jump around if bumps are encountered mid-corner. This is a supremely capable and comfortable long-distance cruiser.
The 355-horsepower V8 effortlessly provides plenty of power. If you want more, a 6.2-litre version is also available with 420 horses in the corral and an additional 77 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy is never a bragging point with big pickups, and the Silverado Trail Boss is no exception. I managed to approach the 11.8 rating on a section of flat highway, but averaged 13.6 overall on the open road.
The Autotrac automatic four-wheel-drive system ensures traction as necessary in any condition.
While the Trail Boss is equipped for off-road work, it is more likely to be found on terra firma, purchased for the appearance and resultant image.
The specs
Model: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT AWD Crew Cab 147-inch Trail Boss
Engine: 5.3-litre, V8, 355 horsepower, 383 lb.-ft. of torque, regular fuel
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
NRCan rating (litres/100km city/highway): 15.3/11.8
Length: 5,885 mm
Width: 2,063 mm
Wheelbase: 3,745 mm
Weight: 2,184 kg
Price: $54,500 base, $71,845 as tested, including freight
Options on test vehicle: Power sunroof, $1,325; leather package, $995; Off-road appearance package (black assist steps, roll-up tonneau cover, off-road sports bar), $3,555; Convenience package with bucket seats (heated front seats, tilt and telescope steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power driver seat, heated steering wheel), $2,270; Convenience package II (Bose audio system, integrated trailer brake control, Infotainment system with 20-cm colour touchscreen, HD and satellite radio, power sliding rear window with defogger, two 120-volt outlets, HD rear-view camera, universal home remote), $1,895; Safety Package,(rear cross traffic alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind spot alert), $1,095; advanced trailering package (trailer tire pressure and temperature monitoring system, advanced trailering system, hitch guidance with hitch view), $350; Performance upgrade package (air intake system, cat-back performance exhaust), $3,195; rear under seat storage, $320
