2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ

The Silverado 1500 is Chevrolet's full-size pickup, the one you'll cross-shop with the F-150 and Ram 1500. It rides like a proper truck, with a sturdy feel over bumps and a confident, planted stance on the highway. The cabin is straightforward and roomy, with big controls and plenty of space for three across the bench seat. You get a real bed out back, and the tailgate drops low for easy loading, so it earns its keep as a workhorse. The LTZ is the top-trim Silverado, the one you pick when you want leather seats and chrome trim instead of the work-truck look of the WT. This LTZ has the 5.3L V8 with an automatic transmission and four-wheel drive, giving you a strong, torquey powertrain that pulls a trailer without breaking a sweat. Expect a cushier ride than a base Silverado, with the LTZ's extra sound deadening and a suspension tuned more for comfort than payload capacity.