The Best Year For The Chevy Silverado
Photo by Laurenz Heymann on Unsplash
The Silverado is one of the best, longest-lasting trucks on the road. They have been known to drive strong for 200,000+ miles. If you’re looking for a used truck, the best year for the Chevy Silverado is the 2018 Silverado 1500.
J.D Power ranks 2018 as the best third-generation Silverado out of the bunch. The 2018 year will be the last for the generation that started in 2014. Complaints are down significantly from the previous years, and they’re mostly transmission problems.
And if you buy used, the problem will most likely already be fixed because most reports of the problem came in around 10,500 miles.
What Makes 2018 the Best Silverado Year Model?
There are plenty of trim models and configurations to choose from. From engine to cabin size to 2WD and AWD, you can also choose from various special editions like the All-Star Edition, Rally Edition, and Midnight Edition.
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How Much Can You Save on a Used 2018 Silverado?
How much will you save by buying used? You will have to factor some features and statistics in, but it will mainly be determined by what kind of shape the Silverado is in, how many miles it has seen, what trim package you’re looking at, and what size engine comes with the truck.
Based on the model and shape, the base should run you about $19,500 with savings of around $10,000. As you go up in trim models, you can expect the savings to stay about the same.
Important Note: Base model vehicles are often used for work purposes and see a lot of hauling, rough usage, and driven miles in general. So you might want to use a CarFax report to find out precisely how the trunk was used before buying.
Also, it’s important to note that the higher you go up in trim models, especially when you go up to the High Country, you’ll probably be looking at a vehicle that has seen less action than the average truck. Don’t expect too much wiggle room on the price if you’re buying from a private owner.
Powertrain, Towing, and Gas Mileage
You will get an EcoTech3 4.3-liter V6 that puts out 285 horsepower and 305 lb.-ft of torque for standard models. Gas mileage comes in at an EPA-Estimated 18 city / 24 hwy / 20 combined mpg. Towing capacity comes in at 9,800 max pounds.
The good news is it’s not your only option. You might come across a 360-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 on higher trim models or a 445 horsepower turbo-diesel 6.6-liter V8 with 910 lb.-ft. of torque. In general, these two engines offer better gas mileage than their 2019 successors.
There are two different transmissions available: the less refined 6-speed transmission and the optional 8-speed transmission.
THE BEST USED SUVS UNDER $10,000
We looked into price, reliability, features, and more to create this list of the best used SUVs under $10k on the market today. Take a look - some of the best used SUVs have gone mostly overlooked or forgotten.
2018 Silverado Recalls
NHTSA Vehicle Safety Recalls:
Recall Number: 19V761000 Recall Date: 10/24/2019
Component
Hydraulic Brakes:
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Anti-Lock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip - Wheel Speed Sensor
Recall Number: 19V645000 Recall Date: 09/06/2019
Component
Hydraulic Brakes: Power Assist - Vacuum
Recall Number: 20V603000 Recall Date: 10/01/2020
Component
Hydraulic Brakes: Power Assist - Vacuum
What You Will Miss Out on from a 2019 and Up Silverado
For the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado, there is a four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, a little bit more cabin space, more interior room, and standard Apple CarPlay. Also, the 2019 Silverado comes with new safety features like a head-up display and surround-view parking.
As you get closer to a brand new Silverado, you will miss out on quite a bit of new features, both standard and available, but most of the need-to-have features come with a 2018 Silverado.
Although some of the features we like don’t come standard with the 2018 model, make sure you ask the seller or the salesperson about the vehicle’s features. Some people have features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Lane Keep Assist, and they cannot use them.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado Reliability
Ratings don’t mean everything. J.D. Power gives the Silverado 1500 a rating of 3.5 out of 5. It’s not perfect, but it is just above the average rating compared to its competition.
Our pick for the best year for the Chevy Silverado compares ratings with past Silverados that are still on the road today - this generation and last generations still seem to be doing just fine.
Ratings from customers are also way up for the 2018 Chevy Silverado. Minor complaints will always be there for every vehicle, but significant complaints about the Silverado are almost nonexistent.
Any Problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
The Silverado is an all-American pickup truck that keeps getting better. Although the 2018 Silverado has solid reliability across the board, it has its fair share of issues:
Improper Shifting
One of the most prevalent issues with the 2018 Silverado is a problematic transmission system that results in improper shifting. Whether you’re in manual or automatic, shifting from one gear to another should be buttery smooth.
Owners of the 2018 Silverado had a not-so-smooth shifting whenever they went into second gear. The transmission slams hard after spending considerable time in first gear. Grinding noises and jerking were also experienced during normal operations.
Unintended Braking
In 2019, General Motors issued a recall that included the 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 involving a software issue that led to unintended braking. If the driveline-protection system was activated by accident, it could lead to unintended braking, which may cause the vehicle to pull to one side.
Infotainment System and Warning Lights Issues
Although they’re less severe, the issues with the infotainment system and warning lights can be somewhat aggravating. According to several reports, the infotainment system and warning lights will stop working randomly. Soon after, they’ll start working like there’s nothing wrong.
THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET
Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.
Let’s Compare the 2018 Silverado to Some of its Competitors
The 2018 Chevy Silverado comes with an available automatic-locking rear differential which is not an option on the Ford F-150, Ram, or Toyota Tundra. The Silverado offers slightly less horsepower than its competitors but beats them out in MPG ratings. And when it comes to towing capacity, it still beats out the RAM and the Toyota.
How Safe is the 2018 Chevy Silverado?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave all cab styles five out of five stars in every test with the exception of the rollover test, where it received four stars.
Insurance Institue for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2018 Silverado the highest rating of Good in all categories except for the rollover test where it received a Marginal rating.
Standard safety features include a rearview camera and the Teen Driver feature which allows you to program your truck for speed, radio volume, and other vehicle aspects so your teen has to stay safe on the road.
Available advanced safety features include front and rear parking sensors, Lane Keep Assist, with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, low-speed automatic braking, safety alert seat (vibrates when safety features are alerted, and automatic high-Beam headlights.
Should You Buy a Used or New Silverado?
This will depend largely on what you are looking for in a truck. The best year for the Chevy Silverado for the money is going to be the 2018 model. You’ll still be looking at a truck that has a lot of abilities, some warranties will still be in place, and insurance costs will be lower than a new Silverado.
You’ll also find that most of the kinks that flagged the previous models have been worked out. If you are on the hunt for a used truck that is ready to drive and go to work for you, the 2018 Chevy Silverado is a for sure go-to.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Silverados Near You
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