2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Silverado 1500, and includes Chevy Silverado 1500 safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

One of the best-selling pickups on the market, the 2012 Silverado 1500 is Chevy’s light-duty, full-size truck. Key competitors are the Ford F-150, Nissan Titan, Ram 1500, and Toyota Tundra.

Chevy restyles the popular Silverado 1500’s front end for 2012, and adds standard Trailer Sway Control, Hill Start Assist, cruise control, and a spare tire lock to every model. Heated and ventilated seats are available on the upscale LTZ model, and the Silverado’s optional navigation radio system is new for 2012, employing a hard drive, a revised screen, and greater connectivity options. Buyers can even turn the Silverado into a mobile wi-fi hot spot this year.

A new White Diamond Edition is available on LT and LTZ models, and includes special tricoat paint, extra chrome trim, and on the LTZ, a high-performance suspension and 20-inch chrome-clad wheels. If White Diamond sounds a little too Liz Taylory for your manly self, rest easy, partner. Four other new colors are available including Silver Ice, Mocha Steel, Graystone, and Carbon Flash. Yep, the same Carbon Flash that’s used for the Centennial Edition Corvettes.

Cruise Grade Braking, which used to operate only in conjunction with the transmission’s Tow/Haul mode, is included with the 5.3- and 6.2-liter V8 engines. Now, the six-speed automatic transmission will automatically downshift when decelerating to use engine compression for added braking, reducing brake pad wear.

Finally, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Custom Sport Truck that debuted for 1967, a new Custom Sport Truck Package arrives and includes 20-inch chrome-clad wheels, additional chrome exterior trim, fog lights, a 5.3-liter V8, an automatic locking rear differential, heavy-duty trailering equipment, a locking tailgate, and a bunch of upgrades like Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a power driver’s seat. You can get it on Extended Cab models nationwide, and on Crew Cabs in selected parts of the country.

Chevy sells the Silverado 1500 in five trim levels, with four engines, three cab styles, two drivetrains, and one big gold bowtie badge on the grille.

In the basement resides the WT, or Work Truck, model, which can be had in Regular, Extended and Crew Cab styles. It looks basic, with a black front bumper, a black grille, black door handles, black mirrors, and silver (gotcha) 17-inch steel wheels. Inside, vinyl seats and flooring is standard, along with air conditioning, a stereo, a tilt steering wheel, cruise control, a driver information center, and cargo bed lights.

The Silverado WT can be upgraded with Bluetooth hands-free communication, mobile wi-fi, a nicer stereo, satellite radio, and OnStar telematics including Automatic Crash Notification service and Turn-by-Turn navigation. Carpeting, cloth seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls are available, along with chrome bumpers, a chrome grille, and chrome wheels. Additional options include power door locks with remote keyless entry, heated power side mirrors, camper mirrors, dark tinted rear window glass, and an EZ-Lift locking tailgate. Hardware improvements include V8 engine upgrades, a locking rear differential, transmission and engine oil coolers, a Handling and Trailering suspension, a trailer brake controller, and both Skid Plate and Snow Plow Prep option packages.

The Silverado LS is available only as an Extended or Crew Cab truck. The LS includes a 4.8-liter V8 engine, a stereo with a CD/MP3 player and satellite radio, OnStar with Automatic Crash Response, chrome exterior trim, chrome wheels, and dark tinted rear glass. The LS also comes with power windows, power door locks with remote keyless entry, heated power mirrors, carpeting, cloth seats, and manual lumbar support for driver’s seat. A Handling/Trailering suspension is also standard on this model. Except for those items that are included on the LS, the options list mirrors that of the WT model.

The most popular Silverado is the LT, available in Regular, Extended and Crew Cab models. In terms of standard equipment, the upgrades are modest. Premium cloth seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, illuminated visor vanity mirrors, and remote vehicle starting are the highlights. The thing is, the LT serves as the gateway to a wide range of options that you can’t get on the WT and LS.

For starters, the Silverado LT is available with numerous option packages. The Convenience Package (power adjustable pedals, rear park assist sensors, a HomeLink universal remote, remote vehicle starting) and the Interior Plus Package (six-way power driver’s seat, a CD/MP3 player, Bluetooth cell phone connectivity, steering wheel audio controls, EZ-Lift locking tailgate, fog lights) are offered nationally, along with the White Diamond Edition and Custom Sport Truck Package outlined above, and the All-Star Package (Interior Plus Package plus aluminum wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 5.3-liter V8, a locking rear differential, and trailering equipment).

Separately, the LT can be equipped with dual-zone automatic climate control, a Bose premium audio system with a USB port and auxiliary audio input jack, six-way power front seats, leather upholstery, and a center floor console. A reversing camera, rear park assist sensors, a HomeLink universal remote, and remote vehicle starting are available, along with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power sliding rear window, and heated power camper mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators. Additional chrome trim and a selection of 18-, 20-, and 22-inch wheels are available, and the Silverado LT can be outfitted with a 5.3-liter or 6.2-liter V8 engine, a high-performance suspension, an off-road suspension, or the Z71 Package (off-road shocks and jounce bumpers, recovery hooks, skid plates, decals).

The XFE Crew Cab is the fuel-economy champion. It’s got a 5.3-liter V8 with Active Fuel Management, a six-speed automatic transmission, a 3.08 rear axle ratio, a bed tonneau cover, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Transmission and engine oil coolers, a heavy-duty automatic locking rear differential, and trailering equipment are also included. The XFE is offered with the same interior upgrades as the Silverado LT, but the LT’s special packages and most of the LT’s exterior upgrades are not available lest they disturb aerodynamics and ruin the XFE model’s 22 mpg highway fuel economy rating.

At the top of the lineup, the Silverado LTZ is available in Extended and Crew Cab format. This is a well-equipped truck, and it includes body-color exterior trim, 18-inch chrome-clad wheels, fog lights, and heated side mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators. Inside, there’s leather, dual-zone automatic climate control, a Bose sound system with a USB port and an auxiliary audio input jack, Bluetooth connectivity, 10-way power front heated seats, memory for the driver’s setting, a center floor console, and more.

Though well equipped, the Silverado LTZ can be enhanced with several options. The LTZ Plus Package includes a HomeLink remote, an EZ-Lift locking tailgate, power pedals, and rear parking assist. Additionally, this version of the Silverado is available with a navigation system, a rear seat entertainment system, rear audio system controls with headphones, heated and cooled front seats, a power sunroof, and extra chrome trim. There’s also a White Diamond Edition truck that’s based on the LTZ.

Anchoring a four-engine lineup for the 2012 Silverado, the standard 4.3-liter V6 engine installed in regular- and extended-cab versions of the WT model is an embarrassment to Chevrolet. Not only is it saddled with a yestertech four-speed automatic, not only does it make a meager 195 horsepower at 4,600 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm, but it also gets just 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. Add four-wheel drive, and mileage ratings fall to 14-city/18-highway.

The upgrade engine, which is standard on LS and LT models, is not more fuel efficient, but it’s plenty more powerful. The 4.8-liter V8 generates 302 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 305 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm, channeled to the rear or all four wheels through a four-speed automatic. Fuel economy ratings are 14-city/19-highway with 2WD and 13-city/18-highway with 4WD.

Most Silverado buyers get the 5.3-liter V8, which is paired with a more sophisticated six-speed automatic transmission. This engine is good for 315 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 335 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Active Fuel Management shuts down half of this V8 engine’s cyinders when they are not necessary, conserving fuel. That results in mileage estimates of 15-city/21-highway with 2WD (22-highway for XFE models) and 15/21 with 4WD. This V8 is optional on the WT, LS and LT models, and comes standard on the XFE and LTZ.

Optional on the Silverado LT and LTZ, the 6.2-liter V8 whips up 403 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 417 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm. Mileage ratings are 13-city/18-highway with 2WD. With 4WD, the numbers are 12-city/18-highway.

If you decide to get 4WD on your 2012 Silverado 1500, a manual transfer case is included on WT and LS models. Other Silverado models benefit from an automatic system called Autotrac, which is controlled using a rotary dial on the dashboard.

Every Silverado is protected by a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

The 2012 Chevy Silverado is comprehensively equipped with it comes to safety features. Every models includes six airbags, antilock brakes, traction and stability control, Trailer Sway Control, and Hill Start Assist. OnStar telematics with Automatic Crash Response is included on all except the Silverado WT, and this feature allows a live operator to send rescuers to the Silverado’s exact location even if the truck’s occupants are unable to respond.

In crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2012 Silverado receives an overall rating of 4 Stars. Individually, the Silverado gets a 4-Star rating for the frontal-impact test, a 5-Star rating for the side-impact test, and a 4-Star rollover resistance rating.

Results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) indicate that the Silverado protects occupants well, up to a point. The truck receives a Good rating in the offset frontal-impact test, an Acceptable rating in the side-impact test, and an Acceptable rating in terms of rear-impact injury protection. The problem is the Marginal roof crush strength test result.

Reliability predictions from both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates indicate that the Silverado will perform at average levels in this regard.

The Silverado’s new-for-2012 mobile wi-fi option allows multiple users to access the Internet from the truck’s cab or anywhere within 150 feet of the truck.

Maximum payload and towing ratings, when equipped with the available Max Trailering Package and the 6.2-liter V8 engine, are 1,937 pounds and 10,700 pounds, respectively.

Though the Chevy Silverado 1500 is one of the older full-size pickups on the market, it’s still an impressive piece of work. Our biggest complaint is with the tiny buttons and displays on the dashboard. It’s as if Chevrolet designers don’t realize that some people wear gloves and glasses. Otherwise, if you’re a Chevy Guy or Chevy Gal, you can buy the Silverado and retain your sense of pride and dignity.

By Christian Wardlaw