Renewable Gossip

By Larry E. Hall and Brad Berman

The full-size American pickup is perhaps the most utilitarian vehicle on the market. Since most “lifestyle buyers” have left the segment—meaning fewer 110-pound soccer moms toting 60-pound kids in these 18-foot-long behemoths—the remaining truck buyers value functional capability above all else. While some treehuggers put fuel economy above all other considerations, many trades people, commercial users, farmers and ranchers absolutely require the capabilities of a pickup truck.

So General Motors made sure the first pickup trucks that use its Two-Mode Hybrid system would be nearly as capable as their non-hybrid brethren. The two-wheel drive (2WD) versions of the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid—and its twin toolbox, the GMC Sierra Hybrid—proudly trumpet the crucial stats for full-size pickups. They can tow up to 6,100 pounds, the bed can haul a little more than 1,400 pounds and still deliver 20 mpg (city) / 23 mpg (highway) with a combined rating of 21 mpg. Four-wheel drive (4WD) versions have the same fuel economy numbers but give up 200 pounds of towing capacity.

Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid.

For 2011, Chevrolet continues to offer the Silverado Hybrid in just one body style, a four-door crew cab with a short box. There are two trim levels, 1HY and 2HY, and a choice of either two- or four-wheel drive. The only change is an upgrade to GM’s OnStar 9.0 telematics system that the automaker says provides improved voice recognition.

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