almost 20mpg, low 14 second 1/4 mile time, 0-60 under 6 seconds... what's not to love.
2015 Light-Duty V-8 Challenge: Results - PickupTrucks.com Special Reports
Not a single one of our test drivers expressed the idea that the Chevy Silverado 1500 might be the favorite going into the 2015 Light-Duty V-8 Challenge. However, halfway through the week there was a groundswell of support. Although the Silverado did not collect the most points in our 11 empirical tests (the GMC won by just three points), the $54,310 Chevy won five tests outright and placed second in four others. As dominating as that might sound, it was the judges' scoring that separated the Silverado 1500 from its competitors. It scored in first or second place with four of the five judges.
The single area where the Chevy lost quantitative points was the payload category, because this vehicle was not equipped with GM's NHT max-tow package as the Sierra 1500 was. In our judges' scoring, the Chevy missed beating the Ford by a hair, largely due to the elevated quality and available options of the XLT interior. The Silverado 1500 felt like a solid all-around player that looks good working hard, but doesn't seem to stand out much or scream for attention; it did everything we asked of it and never seemed to be working too hard to get the job done. All of our judges mentioned the quietness of the interior and strength of the powertrain.
But this contest was not just about what our five judges thought or even how quickly the transmission slammed through the gears during wide-open throttle; this contest went to the pickup truck that performed the best in as many challenges as possible, and that's why the 2015 Light-Duty V-8 Challenge winner is the Chevy Silverado 1500 6.2-liter eight-speed, beating the GMC by just 11 points and the all-new Ford F-150 by 45 points.
There wasn't a lot mechanically different in the GMC Sierra 1500 we received for this test when comparing it to its Silverado 1500 sibling, but its unique qualities made all the difference in this closely contested comparison test. The standout features were clearly the big 6.2-liter V-8 and new eight-speed transmission. Of the 11 empirical tests we performed for this comparison, either the Chevy or the GMC won nine. The GMC Sierra 1500 included the NHT max-tow package, which gave the truck a stronger (and bigger ring-and-pinion) rear axle, stiffer suspension, a numerically higher gear set (3.42:1) and different tires. You wouldn't think that would make a big difference, but it was just enough to give it a little more launching power in some situations and a little less compliance in others.
Still, at the end of our 11 quantitative tests, the GMC finished in first place, just three points ahead of Chevy. In our qualitative judging, with the exception of one of our judges, the GMC Sierra 1500 did not garner enough points from our experts to finish better than fourth. Recognizable strengths included having the highest gross vehicle weight rating and resulting payload rating, but it did have some trouble with loaded braking. Our midlevel SLT trim package cost $54,655.
