New Car Overview of the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado LD Full-Size Pickup Truck

Description: Full-Size Light Duty Pickup Truck
Base MSRP Range: $18,770 - $38,570
Invoice Price Range: $16,987 - $33,749
Where built: USA

The best-selling vehicle for General Motor happens to be the full-size Silverado LD truck from Chevrolet. The series is extensive, with pickups cast in 1500 (half-ton) and 2500 (three-quarter-ton) weight classes and rigged with various cab sizes, plus short or long box and standard Fleetside body styling or rakish Sportside on the 1500 Silverado.

New models for 2005 include a gas-electric hybrid version of Silverado's 1500 Extended Cab. Hybrid power combines a Vortec, 5.3-liter, V8 with a 120-volt electric motor to improve fuel economy numbers by 10 percent.

Engines start with a 4.3-liter, V6 at 195-hp for Regular Cab. The Extended Cab has a 4.8-liter, V8 for 285-hp. Silverado's 5.3-liter, V8 reaches 295-hp (or 310-hp for the 4WD Silverado 1500 Extended Cab), while a 6.0-liter, V8 makes 310-hp. For even more power, there's Silverado SS packing a high-output version of the 6.0-liter, V8 hiked to 345-hp. The option of four-wheel-steering (4WS) continues with the Quadrasteer system that dramatically reduces the turning circle of a truck and brings improved high-speed stability plus low-speed maneuverability.

Other options range from a DVD-based entertainment system to XM satellite radio service.